LORETO COMMUNITY SCHOOL, Milford produced a stunning comeback to defeat Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana in this afternoon’s Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Tom Ticher Ulster Junior Cup (Under-17) quarter-final.
Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana 3 Loreto Community School Milford 4
Connor Gormley’s late penalty gave the Milford students the win after they looked dead and bured at 3-0 down in Buncrana.
A brace from Bart Wesolowski and another by Denim McLaughlin had Willie O’Connor’s boys on their way.
When Connor Gormley (pictured above) drilled home a free kick late in the first half, it gave Loreto hope – but it wasn’t until a dramatic late comeback that they got their noses in front to sneak into the semis.
League champions Loreto had beaten Scoil Mhuire 6-0 in the League, but it was an entirely different story this afternoon. Loreto were asleep for much of the first half and Scoil Mhuire capitalised.
Scoil Mhuire went a goal up after just eight minutes. Wesolowski slipped Aaron McColgan through. While his shot came off the post, Wesolowski had followed in and he tapped the rebound to the Loreto net.
It was two-nil when, after Dane Dunworth, the Loreto goalkeeper, saved from McColgan, the Quigley’s Point man converted at the second attempt.
When McColgan won a penalty that was converted by McLaughlin it looked as if it was game, set and match.
Loreto had been caught cold, but they got a goal back just before half-time. Gormley hit the woodwork with an earlier free, but on this occasion a powerfully drilled effort flew beyond Jason Campbell in the Buncrana goal.
Shane McNamee and Sean Little combined for a Loreto chance that was well saved by Campbell, but Loreto were right back in the mix on 58 minutes as Little cut in from the right and brilliantly shot home.
Remarkably, they were level again when Little’s cross from the right found Brad Patterson and he converted from close range.
The comeback was completed in the final minute. Sub Ronan Gallagher weaved his way into the danger zone and was taken down in the box. Up stepped Gormley to smash the penalty past Campbell.
It sparked wild scenes from the Milford players and substitutes, but their manager, Padraig Curley, was left biting the fingernails. His team momentarily lost their concentration in the celebrations and Scoil Mhuire might have carved out a chance, but a free kick came back off the wall.
Loreto will now meet St Eunan’s in the semi-final after their win over Bailieboro Community School today.
Loreto Community School, Milford: Dane Dunworth; Sean Little, Ronan Doherty (Conor McHugh ’35), Ciaran Black, Brad Patterson; Jonah Serrinha (Ronan Gallagher ‘68), Ryan Toye, Connor Gormley, Ryan Flood, Cameron Gormley; Shane McNamee.
Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana: Jason Campbell; John Timlin, Denim McLaughlin, Shane Dillon, Stephen Doherty; Pat Loughrey, Denver Kelly, Oran Mullan, Ben Doherty, Bart Wesolowski (Joshua McLaughlin ’60), Aaron McColgan.
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