Buncrana Credit Union Cup Final
Denis Kelly from Buncrana Credit Union presents the Credit Union Cup to
Liam Mc Carron captain of Buncrana Hearts
Sunday 14th May
Buncrana Credit Union Cup Final
Buncrana Hearts 1 (won 6.5 on penalties)
Greencastle FC 1
As expected this was a close hard fought affair with Greencastle having more of the possession and playing some intricate stuff but failing to create clear chances in the final third. Buncrana had a clear chance in the opening minute when Stephen McHugh carved open the Greencastle defence with a superb ball into the path of Liam McCarron and he lifted his effort past J P O Doherty but wide. Greencastle had alot of possession then with Christy Hegarty, Matthew Henry and Michael Barr all firing long range efforts high and over the bar. Their best chance fell on 38 minutes when after a corner was returned to Henry his cross broke to Hegarty whose first effort was blocked by Eoghan O Doherty but he fired the rebound wide. Then a deep cross from Doherty from the left found Hegarty to the back post but he headed wide. Buncrana replied on the stroke of half time when McHugh fed Adam Duffy and his cross took a deflection and went just past O Doherty’s left hand post. In injury time Greencastle’s Jamie McCormick fired inches over the bar. McCormick then created another good chance when his cross in the opening minute of the second period found Hegarty but again he failed to hit target when unmarked twelve yards out. Buncrana replied and after Weesoloski broke on the right he pulled the ball back for McHugh but O Doherty parried and gathered at the second attempt. On 52 minutes Shaun Doherty unleashed a powerful effort which O Doherty tipped over the bar. Buncrana substitute John O Loughlin then got a yellow for a late challenge on Greencastle’s Doherty who was fortunate to escape with a yellow for his reaction.
Kevin O Loughlin headed over for Buncrana while Jmaie McCormick had a free tipped over by Eoghan O Doherty. The final chance of normal time fell to Buncrana when Ryan Curran advanced to nick the ball off a defender but at full stretch fired wide. In the first period of extra time Ryan Doherty’s looping cross was punched clear by JP O Doherty. Then on the stroke of half time substitute Kieran McDaid was needlessly upended and McHugh fired the spot kick low to the keepers right.It looked all over for Greencastle mid way through the second period when James henry collected a second yellow but in the final minute Barr headed a Shaun Doherty free across for Matthew Henry to volley home from ten yards and force a shootout. Both teams had eight spot kicks each with Gerard Boyle scoring the crucial one to give the Hearts the cup.
Man of the Match
For Greencastle keeper O Doherty, Michael Barr, Jamie McCormick and James henry were all prominent. Buncrana keeper O Doherty also had a good game with Gary Duffy, Kevin O Loughlin and Ryan Doherty were solid in defence. But the award went to tough tackling midfielder Ryan Curran who launched the Hearts forward repeatedly and constantly broke down Greencastle attacks.
Buncrana Hearts
