Glentoran upset the odds in the U-8 final against Maiden City to win the Foyle Cup

Glentoran overcame the odds in the Under 8 final against Maiden City to win the Foyle Cup.

Xander Williamson’s strike was the difference between the two sides, as the Belfast side claimed a 1-0 victory. 

Maiden City will feel unlucky to be on the losing side with their spirited performance, with the opposition keeper proving impenetrable.

Caodhan O’Neill almost got Maiden City off to the perfect start in the third minute as his left-footed effort from just outside the box was dealt with expertly by the keeper. 

While City started the quicker, Glentoran took an early lead with a sucker punch as the Maiden defence was exposed in the fourth minute, with the ball being worked to Ernie Campbell on the right wing for him to cross it to Williamson to finish the ball expertly first time into the net with his left foot. 

This goal would set the tone for the rest of the game as Maiden City went searching for an equaliser while Glentoran looked to play on the counterattack and remain resolute at the back. 

And in the eighth minute, a quick counter by Campbell saw the striker play the ball to his winger Ben Green, but the keeper closed the angle and the ball was fired wide. 

As the game edged towards the interval, Maiden City applied heavy pressure, but keeper Kayson Miller would prove imperative to the lead remaining as it stood with two fantastic saves to deny Lochlain McCready first and then Cian Deeney. 

Miller was the difference between the two teams, and as the second half got underway, his impressive performance would ensure Glentoran would lift the cup. 

In the 18th minute, Maiden City fans were cheering following an O’Neill free-kick, but the ball was nestled in the side net, and the score remained 1-0. 

The two teams fought hard throughout the second half as the players battled to get the upper hand, with the next big chance coming in the 26th minute as the ball was laid back to Maiden City captain Cian Deeney and his strike flew towards goal, but Miller was able to deal with it expertly. 

As the match worked its way to the final moments, Maiden City would have one more chance, and as the ball left Deeney’s foot, everyone believed it was about to nestle in the top corner of the goal, with Miller hapless to stop it, but it would bounce off the bar. 

Glentoran survived this onslaught, and as the final whistle was blown, the team and their fans were unable to control their excitement.

Maiden City: Conlaodh McGurk; Adam McKeever, Shea Carton, Lochlain McCready, Henryk Fujarczuk, Aedan Sheerin, Cian Deeney, Theo McCarron, Caodhan O’Neill, Allistair Mills, Adam Burke

Glentoran: Kayson Miller; Harvey Young, Omer Tahiri, Harvey McMurry, Logan English, Charlie Young, Ben Green, Ernie Campbell, Joe McKeown, Xander Williamson