LETTERKENNY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’S Trench Cup dreams were emphatically concluded at the semi-final stage this afternoon in Belfast.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 1-8 Waterford Institute of Technology 4-11
The side managed by Eamon O’Boyle were comprehensively beaten by Waterford Institute of Technology at the University of Ulster Jordanstown.
It was a nightmare first half for the north-westerners, who, despite having the bulk of the wind advantage, conceded four first half goals.
In truth the margin of defeat might’ve been even larger than it was as xx missed a penalty for Waterford and Blane Forkan in the LyIT goal made a number of good saves.
LyIt did rally in the second half for a spell and a goal from Daire McDaid on the run following a pass from Niall Harley did give some hope on 45 minutes. That made the score 4-8 to 1-7 and another LyIT goal might’ve made it interesting.
A minute later, Waterford goalkeeper Conor Sheedy made a brilliant double save to dent LyIT a second goal. Firstly he got down well to save from McDaid before springing to his feet to block from Adam Neely.
But even had they goaled then, in all probability it still would’ve been a hill too steep for LyIT.
Although Neeley pointed in the first minute with the wind at his backs, WIT soon got into their groove with centre-forward, Niall Harney from Wexford, particularly impressive.
He scored his side’s first three points, two from frees and one from play, despite the difficult conditions.
On 12 minutes, LyIT conceded a disastrous goal that essentially set the tone for the rest of the half. Goalkeeper Forkan’s short kick-out wasn’t gathered by corner-back Jack Scally and, in a flash, his pockets were pinched by Shane Ryan, who centred for Nigel Murphy to slap home a simple goal.
Two minutes later, with their knees wobbling, Murphy added a second goal. This time Jack Quinn had done well to save from Conor Murray on the line only for Murphy to gobble up the rebound to make the score 2-4 to 0-1.
LyIT were without Neil Gallagher, who was carrying a knock having just returned from Tenerife late last night.
The tide continued to flow. Although LyIT enjoyed their best spell of the match with concerted pressure midway through the half, once WIT broke – with fluid hand movement against the wind – Harney scored his side’s third goal when a long ball in from Joe O’Connor. On 20 minutes, it was 3-4 to 0-2.
A fourth goal duly arrived on 26 minutes and this time it was O’Connor who rammed home. A bad day was getting worse for LyIT. At half-time WIT were 4-4 to 0-4 in front and that might’ve been more had Forkan not saved late in the half from Linus Boidu.
LyIT did come out fighting in the second half but, on 42 minutes were fortunate not to further behind than the 4-8 to 0-6 they were when Martin McNally, the match referee, awarded WIT a penalty after Scally was penalised for lying on the ball. Ryan’s penalty went wide.
Daire McDaid and his brother Caolan, who had played in the Colleges and Universities Football League Division 1 final 24 hours beforehand in Clones, were carrying the fight well.
Daire McDaid’s goal, as said, gave hope, but when Sheedy made his double save moments later it was all over for LyIT and WIT saw out the contest comfortably and now play Dundalk Institute of Technology, who hammered Liverpool Hope University 2-16 to 0-2.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology: Blake Forkan; Jack Quinn, Sean Peyton, Jack Scally; Callum Gallagher, Jack O’Brien, Connall O’Boyle; Niall Harley, Raymond McNamee; Caolan McDaid (0-2), Willie Gillespie (0-1, 1f), Hugh Boyle (0-1); Daire McDaid (1-2, 1f), Adam Neely (0-1), Ryan Langan. Subs: John Campbell (0-1, 1f) for McNamee (4, black card), Daniel Clarke for Peyton (35), Ultan Larney for Boyle (44), Fintan O’Flynn for Scally (56), Mark McNicholas for Langan (58), Anthony Kilpatrick for C McDaid (60).
Waterford Institute of Technology: Conor Sheedy; Alan Brannigan, Pat Sexton, Simon Donohue; Graham Power, Jamie Snell, Paul Curtis; Joe O’Connor (1-0), Dylan Hassett; Ciaran Farrell (0-3), Niall Harney (1-5, 3f, 45), Conor Murray (0-1); Shane Ryan, Linus Boidu (0-1), Nigel Murphy (2-1). Subs: Cormac Flynn for Power (half-time); Monsurudeen Mustapha for Murphy (36); Daniel Lordon for Boidu (41); Craig Guiry for Hassett (51); Michael O’Rourke for Donohue (53); Tadhg O’Sullivan for Harney (57); Patrick Whyte for Murray (58).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
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