Lough Derg waiting in Youth Cup Final

By Gary Culbert

Lough Derg travelled to Ardcroney on Saturday for the first semi-final in the Tipperary Youths Cup. The Shannonsiders managed to overcome the physically dominant and in form Ardcroney side, but only after extra time and penalties, having drawn 2-2 at full time.

Lough Derg started the brightest played some excellent football in a first half marred by torrential downpours of rain. The visitors lined out with a centre-back pairing of Ricky Shanahan and Sean Tormey, who adapted well to the arial battle.

Ardcroney goalkeeper Evan Maher, had to be at his best to deny Derg in the opening quarter, but despite his best efforts the breakthrough did eventually come in the 23rd minute with Darragh Hickey playing in Dan Fogarty, who unselfishly pulled it back to Sam Foley for an easy finish.

Derg exploited the overload on the wings thanks to the positive forward runs of Donal Houlihan and Andy Lynch from full back. Derg had more chances in the first half through the impressive trio of Paddy Bradley, Cian O'Donohue and Jack Grace; all three worked the keeper, but the score remained unchanged at the break thanks to Evan Maher in the Ardcroney goal.

In the second half, Derg continued to control the game and were rewarded on the hour when Darragh Hickey played in Sam Foley, who emphatically finished to give the Shannonsiders a two-goal lead.

Lough Derg were good value for their lead, but Ardcroney are a quality outfit and there was always going to be a fightback.

There were signs of fatigue appearing in the Derg ranks, Ardcroney sensed this and seized the momentum, which culminated in Liam O’Regan pulling one back for the hosts in the 70th minute.

The goal gave Ardcroney further belief of a comeback, however the Shannonsiders responded by bringing on the fresh legs of Diarmuid Coleman into midfield, which momentarily stopped the flow of wave after wave Ardcroney attacks.

The hosts threw caution to the wind and in doing so left gaps at the back, which Daniel Fogarty exploited only to be denied once again by a fine stop from the Ardcroney net minder.

Ardcroney grabbed a well-taken equalizer in the 83rd minute through Stuart Fox, which forced extra time.

Derg had good chances at the beginning and end of extra time, but Evan Maher was again equal to the efforts. Ardcroney went on to dictate play in extra time, enjoying some controlled possession and a series of corners which tested the visitor’s rear-guard, but neither side could find the breakthrough, so the dreaded penalty shootout was required.

Evan Maher saved both of Lough Derg’s opening two penalties. Ardcroney scored their first but missed their next two. Darragh Hickey and Andy Lynch netted for Derg to give them a 2-1 lead, so it all came down to fifth penalty: Derg ‘keeper Conor Shanahan saved Ardcroney’s effort before Dan Fogarty finally beat Evan Maher to send Lough Derg through to the final.

On the other side of the draw, Championship winners Arra Rovers came from two goals down to beat a threadbare BT Harps side 3-2 in Portroe.

Much of the talk in the build-up to this one was about the strikers for either side, Joe Burke wore the number 10 for BT Harps, and was a constant threat and could have had three or four goals but had to settle for just the one goal.

Brian McEvoy donned the number 10 for Arra Rovers, and despite being isolated for much of the game he did manage a crucial goal and two assists from corners.

Arra started the brightest with McEvoy constantly threatening in behind. But as the half wore on the powerful striker became more and more isolated in the 4-3-3 formation. BT on the other hand grew into the half and began to exploit Arra’s back four with long kicks from the keeper’s hands.

Joe Burke was on fire and should have had a goal or two to his name, but he came up against Luke Connelly in inspired form in the Arra net. Indeed, it felt at times like a personal battle between the two.

Arra came back into it towards the end of the half but in truth they were quite one dimensional, with the ball over the top to McEvoy their only real outlet. Ciaran Tapplin and Jack O’Brien both had chances for Arra as the half drew to a close and the sides went in scoreless.

BT took the lead less than five minutes in the second half with Joe Burke slotting home a penalty after he was brought down in the Arra box.

The visitors doubled their lead just two minutes later when Michael Cahill headed in from close range following a Shaun Jordan corner.

BT looked home and hosed at this point, but some sleepy defending two minutes later inexplicably allowed James O’Meara to ghost in and finish from close range, following a central set-piece dinked in by Brian McEvoy from thirty yards out.

McEvoy drew Arra level on the hour mark when BT gave away a silly free-kick twenty yards out. The powerful forward went low to the keepers’ side and found the net to level proceedings.

Joe Burke’s instant response was a rasping shot destined for the top corner, but again Connelly got there in time to tip over.

Oisin Tucker gave Arra the lead on the 70th minute with an unmarked header from close range, off the back of a McEvoy corner.

Harps lack of substitutes meant they never rallied to have the energy to make one last stand and in the end this game petered out in Arra’s favour.

Cathal Guilfoyle was the best for Harps, whilst Aiden O’Dwyer scooped the player of the match award for Arra. Next up for the young Portroe men is Killavilla at home in the semi-final this Saturday.