Five-star showing from Derry City U15s in Foyle Cup Final

Derry City 5

Cliftonville 0

Derry City lived up to expectations as they dominated Cliftonville to retain the U15 title in a one-sided game at Wilton Park.

At the end of their seventh game in a hectic week, Peter Hutton’s side celebrated with the trophy after a thrilling display against a good Cliftonville side, having produced a cup final performance which any team would be proud of.

Having come through their group unscathed with three wins from three, the young Candystripes then breezed through the knock-out stages, defeating Maiden City, Ards and Donegal, scoring 24 goals and conceding just once on their way to the final.

That domination continued at Wilton Park, with Cliftonville unable to derail the incredible momentum of this Derry City side, who turned on the style in front of several first team players watching on from the sidelines.

The cup final could well have started with a Cliftonville goal as the Derry City defence was cleverly unlocked just 90 seconds into a very entertaining game. Leo McVickee’s flick sent team mate Conai McHugh in on goal, but the winger took his shot much too early and Derry and hit his effort straight at goalkeeper Cole Smyth.

Even if Cliftonville had found the net in that moment, it is hard to imagine it would have made any great difference in the final result, as Derry City dominated form that moment,

The local side took the lead 17 minutes in and from there they didn’t look back. The dangerous Donnacha Malone collected a throw in before crossing high towards Terence Doherty. The striker and defender Michael Sloane both challenged for the all in the air, but they only succeeded in turning it right into the path of Mark McGuinness, who drilled it low and accurately into the net from 10 yards to make it 1-0.

It was 2-0 less than 10 minutes later as Adam McColgan’s low free kick found the net from almost 30 yards, goalkeeper Aaron McLarnon unsighted as the midfielder’s effort went low past the wall and into the net.

The game was over as a contest by half time as Derry City made it 3-0 just before the break. It was another incisive move which had the Cliftonville defence run ragged, with Cadhan McKinney finding Malone, who sidestepped the goalkeeper before firing the ball across goal towards Doherty; defender Callum Coyle attempted to intervene, but could only turn the ball into his own net.

Derry City gave their opponents little time to even consider a comeback as they added a fourth just two minutes into the second half; it was a superb build up to the goal with the City players moving the ball right across the pitch from left wing to right before Malone was put through on goal. His effort from the angle was saved by McLarnon, who also saved Rossa Flening’s follow up, but it was third time unlucky or the Cliftonville goalkeeper, as Fleming found the net at the second attempt.

The fifth and final goal came midway through the half when substitute Eoghan Curran controlled the ball brilliantly in the area before finding John Strunks, who fired home from close range to put some real emphasis on a fine Derry City victory.

Teams

Derry City: Cole Smyth, Jack McGeough, Jaudon Deeney, Ethan Deane, Cadhan McKinney, Adam McColgan, Mark McGuinness, Terence Doherty, John Strunks, Jack Keeney, Cian Lafferty, Rossa Fleming, Bobby Fitzpatrick, Donnacha Malone, Eoghan Curran, Finn Nolan, Oisin McShane.

Cliftonville: Aaron McLarnon, Gerard Gorman, Callum McKillion, Jay Emmanual, Michael Sloan, Conor Rooney, Callum Coyle, Jake Patterson, Wiktor Pacek, Conai McHugh, Leo McVickee, Oluwajob Faulkner, Jack Green, Owen O’Reilly, Shea McGarry.

Officials: Barry Devenney, Brendan McCool and Gerard O’Kane.