As expected this was a close hard fought affair between two evenly matched teams played out in sweltering conditions at Maginn Park on Saturday evening.
Aileach Youths 0-0 Illies reserves – Aileach won 3-2 on penalties
(Report courtesy of the Inishowen League)
While Aileach were the more cohesive unit and had more possession Illies certainly had the more clearcut chances over the course of the game.
The first chance came on 4 minutes when Aileach broke swiftly after an Illies corner and Benny Hegarty released Stephen O Donnell who evaded a tackle inside the area on the left but his dangerous cross was cleared over the bar by a defender. O Donnell then picked out Daibidh Grant in a central position but he was well off target with his effort. Illies first effort came after a loose ball broke to Shane Devlin thirty yards out but under pressure from a defender he failed to trouble Ryan Fox in the Aileach goal.
Defences were on top then for the next period of the game with Dominic Doherty and Seamus O Donnell in command for Illies at the back and at the other end Kevin Wallace and Declan O Donnell equally so for Aileach. On 34 minutes a Marty Coyle free was gathered at the second attempt by Fox before the best chance of the game fell to Illis on 36 minutes.
Coyle’s deep corner from the right eluded all defenders but Liam O Connor coming in at the back post fired wide. Aileach upped the tempo on the restart and after Hegarty released Darren Bradley on the right his superb cross as brilliantly headed clear by Paddy O Connor with O’Donnell ready to pounce. In a similar scenario on the hour mark an inswinging free from Grant was again superbly headed clear by Seamus O’Donnell in the heart of the Illies defence.
Illies showed they were still a force when a dipping Ronan Hegarty effort was well tipped over the bar by Fox at the other end. Play was swinging from end to end at this stage and when Hegarty released Bradley on the right he advanced into the area and saw his cross deflected over the bar by Paddy O Connor as he tried to pick out Stephen O’Donnell. Illies replied and another deep corner found substitute Martin Donaghy at the back post but he just failed to steer his effort on target.
The sweltering heat seemed to take its toll on the players in the final twenty minutes but Illies spurned the best chance of the game to snatch victory in the final minutes. Substitute Brendan Grant lifted a ball across the Aileach defence which found another substitute Joseph McLaughlin running clear but he fired straight at Fox first time when he possibly should have advanced before shooting. In the first period of extra time Kevin Wallace headed over, Darren Bradley fired just wide and Stephen O Donnell headed over as Aileach pressed Illies back.
But again it was Illies who had the best chance after Hegarty flicked a throw in into the path of McLaughlin who took a touch and drove an angled effort just past the far post.The second period of extra time saw both sides fail to create a chance of note and in the shootout with the scores tied at two apiece Stephen O Donnell stepped up to slam the final spot kick past Kevin Gallagher and claim victory for his side.
Man of the Match
There were excellent performances on both sides with Dominic Doherty, James Downey and Marty Coyle prominent for Illies who also suffered a blow when Ethan Doherty had to go off injured in the first half. For Aileach Kevin Wallave, Declan O Donnell, Callum Porter and Stephen O Donnell all had fine games but the award on the night goes to young full back Matthew McDermott who saw off three different opponents on the night, made some vital interceptions and willingly supported his attack when the opportunity arose.
