GOALS FROM THE McVeigh brothers Paul and Brian sealed a come-from-behind win for Letterkenny Institute of Technology against a highly-fancied Dublin Institute of Technology today.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 2-1 Dublin Institute of Technology
Following last week’s dramatic 5-4 win over IT Carlow B in the semi-finals of the Colleges and Universities Football League semi-final, Shane Byrne’s side have another last four tie to look forward to – this time in the CFAI Umbro Cup.
This afternoon’s victory on the Port Road campus was a fine result against their opponents from the capital who ply their trade in the Premier Division.
In their ranks, winger Kaleem Simon was with Longford Town last season, Niall Cooney is on the books of Drogheda United while striker Gary Curran wore of the colours of Sligo Rovers, Longford, Finn Harps, Galway United and Mervue United.
However, LyIT stood firm. In the first 45 minutes, there were only half chances.
Just before the half-hour mark, Simon got on the end of a move that involved Aaron Brilly and Sam Simpson and drew a decent stop down low from Mark McElhinney.
Paul McVeigh, on 32 minutes, broke down the right but his shot was saved by Gavin Moor in the DIT goal.
And just before the half-time whistle, the home support squealed for a penalty claiming that Paul McVeigh’s effort on the turn was blocked by a hand of Cristian Lateffa. Referee Marty Quinn, though, shook his head.
That’s the way it stayed until the interval.
Two minutes into the second half, Anthony Appiah fashioned a great chance for himself having skipper free of DIT right-back Oho Tabi Amanetry.
Appiah got into the penalty area and ignored the calls to pull the ball back and his shot clipped goalkeeper Moore before rolling across goal and only inches wide.
On 49 minutes, the visitors took the lead. A crossfield pass from Martin O’Rourke found its way to Simpson and his centre was deflected into the path of Aaron Brilly to swivel and shoot past McElhinney for the opening goal from 13 yards.
With openings so sparce, it looked as though the cliff was getting even steeper for Letterkenny but on 55 minutes they were level when Paul McVeigh was bumped in the box by Cooney.
The DIT players vehemently appealed the decision but the penalty this time was awarded and it was expertly placed home by Paul McVeigh (see below) for 1-1.
There was a scare for the hosts on 61 minutes when Liam Doherty cleared as McElhinney had to stoop to get anything on an awkward cross from Curran before Appiah shot just wide at the other end following a pull-back from Doherty.
O’Rourke flashed a shot wide for DIT but just as it looked as though the contest was headed for extra-time, Brian McVeigh drove home the winner on 88 minutes in a crowded penalty area from 12 yards following a half-clearance that sat up perfectly after another Doherty pull-back.
The good times roll for LyIT. Next week they’ve the CUFL Division 1 final against Dundalk IT to look forward to and then they’ll continue their challenge in the Umbro Cup at the semi-final stage.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology: Mark McElhinney; Caolan McDaid, Jamie Boyle, Peter Doherty, Fearghal Harkin; Liam Doherty (Keelan McElwaine 90), Daire McDaid, Brian McVeigh, Anthony Appiah; Dean Larkin, Paul McVeigh.
Dublin Institute of Technology: Gavin Moore; Oho Tabi Amanetry, Niall Cooney, Cristian Lateffa, Jamie Cross; Aaron Brilly, Fionn Byrne, Colin McPartlin (Martin O’Rourke 37), Kaleem Simon; Sam Simpson, Gary Curran.
Referee: Marty Quinn.
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