Foyle Harps spot on again as they defeat Oxford on penalties!

U16 Winter Cup

Oxford United 0

Foyle Harps 0

Foyle Harps won 5-3 on penalties

Flynn Doherty and Noah Doherty were the heroes for Foyle Harps as they defeated Oxford United on a penalty shoot-out to win this year’s Under 16 Winter Cup at the Brandywell.

After 70 goal-less minutes, this final went straight to penalties to decide the winner and after seven perfect spot-kicks, Flynn saved from Ethan Walsh to give his team mate Noah the chance to win it.

Noah, one of the best players on the pitch during the final, may have felt some nerves, but he certainly didn’t show any as he sent Ronan McBride the wrong way to win the cup and start the celebrations for a Harps side who are getting used to winning silverware.

Harps came into this game hoping to finish the year with their third trophy in 12 months and they certainly deserved it based on a very strong second half performance. With this victory they have retained the Winter Cup they won at the end of 2021 and added it to their Summer Cup triumph from earlier this year, making it a fantastic treble for a young team that will just get better and better.

It was a difficult one to take for Oxford in contrast, who started this game well, but just couldn’t build enough momentum to get the goal which would have won this cup final.

Lively start

There was a lively start from both teams but it was Oxford who came closest to opening the scoring after just seven minutes. Harry Crampsey did well to win the ball in midfield and he picked out Tiarnan Brady, who cut onto his right foot from 18 yards and fired towards the bottom corner only for Harps goalkeeper Flynn Doherty to stop the ball with a strong left hand.

That only encouraged Oxford who kept the pressure on and they came close again just two minutes later when Oran Sweeney’s corner was met with a towering header by Daire Houston, but he was denied by the crossbar.

Harps stood strong however with Matthew Peyton showing no fear when going in for tackles and headers and his team began to build some momentum of their own as a result. Up top, Niall Friel was a real threat with his pace while Brandon Stewart was adding a creative spark as the Oxford defence was asked some questions of their own.

But there was just no separating the sides in the first half with the game there for the taking as both teams met half time with plenty still to prove in this final.

There could have been a goal within 15 seconds of the restart as Harps attacked and Tim O’Donnell had a run on goal but he was denied a cup final goal by Ronan McBride who came out bravely to make his first save of the game.

Harps were well on top in the opening stages of the second half and they thought they had their goal when goalkeeper McBride dropped a cross from Peyton, and the ball was forced in, but an offside flag denied them.

Still, they came at Oxford and another chance passed them by when Noah Doherty’s corner found Jack Kirby coming in at the back post, but the defender headed down and wide.

Whatever was said at half time was certainly having an effect on Harps who were a completely different side in the second half and they continued to dominate. It took a brilliant and brave block from Oxford defender Conor Harkin to deny O’Donnell the opening goal, after the striker had brilliantly controlled a cross from Tiarnan Furey and shaped to volley the ball into the net.

There was one last chance for Harps to win it in normal time when Matthew Peyton lined up a free kick on the right side of the Oxford penalty area. He sent a powerful effort straight into McBride’s hands, and the Oxford goalkeeper did well to gather it at the second attempt with a number of green shirts ready to pounce for what would have been the last kick of the game.

The final went to penalties and the young players from both teams showed tremendous courage and composure to step up under immense pressure.

Calvin Browne, Niall Friel, Tim O’Donnell and Jack Kirby all scored for Harps, while Tiarnan Brady, Daire Houston and Caelan McLaughlin were just as clinical for Oxford. It all changed however when Flynn Doherty dived to his left to deny centre-half Walsh, and that left Noah Doherty with the chance to finish the game and win the cup, which he duly did to make it a green and white success once again.

See tomorrow's Derry News for full coverage.

Teams

OXFORD UNITED: Ronan McBride, Conor Harkin, Ethan Walsh, Luke Gallagher, Tiarnan Brady, Euan Bonner, Caleb Curley, Harry Crampsey, Daire Houston, Lloyd Fisicaro, Oran Sweeney, Vincent Duddy, Louis Dobbins, Lochlann Jennings, Caelan McLaughlin, Eoghan Coyle, Ben Bowe.

FOYLE HARPS: Flynn Doherty, Kyle Redden, Jack Kirby, Matthew Peyton, Oisin Porter, Calvin Browne, Brandon Stewart, Noah Doherty, Tim O’Donnell, Tiarnan Furey, Niall Friel, Flynn Deery, Caoimhin Hogan, Jude Campbell, Luke Lyle, Shea Doyle.

OFFICIALS: Noel Moore, Martin Dunne and Gary Boyd.