CELTIC put an end to Peter McHugh’s Under-14 Donegal Schoolboys’ hopes of Foyle Cup success in Saturday’s final at the Brandywell.
Donegal Schoolboys 0 Celtic 2
Both teams came flying out of the blocks with chances at either end in the opening minutes.
Celtic (pictured above) were the first to have a go and after Leon Chiwara broke down the right, his cross found Kieran McGrath but the big striker’s shot was brilliantly kept out at point blank range from Aaron Foy.
Donegal weren’t going to let Celtic have it all their own way however and had a chance soon after. The ball broke for Mark Walsh on the corner of the area but his lob didn’t have quite enough power and Jack McDowall was able to clear for the Bhoys.
The game certainly didn’t lack opportunities and it was soon Celtic’s turn. Again it was McGrath, this time he broke free on his own but after getting there ahead of the Schoolboys keeper he could only drag his left foot shot wide of the target.
Donegal looked bright too though and were getting joy down the left hand side, Walsh showing real pace and popping up in good positions. He didn’t seem to have the right support however as there were very little options available in the area.
The opener came on fifteen minutes and it was the young Hoops who got it. David McKay got on the end of a Joshua Jack free kick with a header to give his team a vital advantage in the final. Donegal pressed hard towards the end of the half, knowing they couldn’t let Celtic get another before the break.
It remained 1-0 though and it would still be all to play for in the second ’25.
The one thing Donegal didn’t want to do was concede in the opening minutes but that was exactly what happened and it came from a lack of concentration.
The ball was rolling back to Dylan O’Brien but the central defender didn’t have as much time as he thought. The ever-alert McGrath nipped in front of him and slid the ball beyond Foy for an easy second. Donegal had a difficult task on their hands from there on and it was hard to see them mounting a comeback.
This was especially due to the rock solid Celtic defence, marshalled continuously by Ruaridh McIntyre and McDowall. Celtic started to see the game out with about ten minutes to go, bringing on a few subs and protecting the two-goal lead.
The Schoolboys did have one last push but Walsh’s shot from distance didn’t trouble Ryan Mullen, Celtic’s impressive number one keeping another clean sheet between the sticks.
The young Hoops saw the game out comfortably at 2-0 to take the Foyle Cup title back to Glasgow as deserved champions.
Celtic: Ryan Mullen; Christopher McKenna, Ruaridh McIntyre, Jack McDowall, Andrew Kerr; Paul Kennedy, David McKay, Leon Chiwara, Joshua Jack, Brody Patterson; Elie N’Goy. Subs used: Brett McGuire, Michael Cunningham, Joshua Irons.
Donegal Schoolboys: Aaron Foy; Jack Parke, Odhran McGuinness, Liam McFadden, Aidan McHugh; Mark Walsh, Liam McFadden, Conor O’Reilly, Darragh Ellison, Ronan Gallagher; Jack Bradley Walsh. Sub used: Kelan Nelson.
