Just when all seemed lost and Inishowen looked to be heading for the Oscar Traynor Trophy’s exit door, Diarmuid O’Brien’s men salvaged this one from the embers to reach the final.
Inishowen League 1 Limerick District League 1 (after extra time, Inishowen win 4-3 on penalties)
By Chris McNulty at Maginn Park
A last-gasp equaliser from Terence Doherty rescued the chance and, in a gripping penalty shoot-out, Kevin McLaughlin saved from Kieran O’Connell and Danny O’Neill to send Inishowen into a final that will be played at Maginn Park.
O’Connell had given Limerick the lead in the sixth minute of extra time, but Inishowen, who have developed a real habit of not giving in, struck a dramatic equaliser.
Inishowen trailed to Kieran O’Connell’s header from the sixth minute of extra time, but they struck a dramatic equaliser.
Matthew Byrne’s hopeful ball into the box was a last roll of the dice for the home side.
John Gerard McLaughlin – immense throughout – challenged and the ball broke for the ever-deadly Doherty, who slipped the ball low under Gary Neville, the Limerick goalkeeper.
Maginn erupted, but a hush soon swept across the venue for the shoot-out lottery.
Nigel McMonagle saw his effort saved by Neville, but Brendan McLaughlin, Sean Doherty, Michael Byrne and John Gerard McLaughlin all scored as Inishowen reached their third decider in five years.
Just moments earlier, Inishowen were readying themselves for a stomach-churning exit.
O’Connell – who was introduced as a sub at the end of normal time – rose in a bunch to flick home from a John Tierney cross.
Inishowen goalkeeper Kevin McLaughlin, who had saved his team’s bacon a couple of times beforehand, appeared to get somewhat lost in the crowd and O’Connell headed in.
What had been an open contest full of chances in the opening half dimmed after the break and it became a cagey affair; a typical semi-final in other words.
Doherty ploughed an often-lonely furrow as the Inishowen frontman and the hosts were devoid of chances in the second half of normal time – but the Glengad frontman showed just how dangerous he is with that deadly leveller.
Legs were tiring and the bodies were aching as the game entered its extra period.
Brendan McLaughlin forced Gary Neville, the Limerick goalkeeper, to tipping his low shot around the post early in extra time, but O’Connell soon broke the deadlock.
This was a fifth semi-final in a row for Diarmuid O’Brien’s Inishowen, who reached the final in 2013 and 2015, winning the prize two years ago with a 2-1 win over Limerick at Maginn.
Only the AUL have a matching record in this competition, but a home semi-final loss to the Leinster Senior League stung hard around the Inishowen peninsula.
O’Brien’s men have shown resolve and longevity to sustain their endeavours in the midst of a busy domestic schedule and the prize here – a home tie for the final – certainly added to the attractiveness of this one.
Inishowen were denied in the 16th minute when Terence Doherty fended off Dermot Fitzgerald to prod home, but referee Paul Kilcoyne deemed Doherty to have unfairly barged his man aside.
A minute later, the Limerick contingent were calling for Inishowen centre-back John Gerard McLaughlin to be sent off for a handball on the edge of the box, but the Glengad man escaped with a booking.
From there on, McLaughlin was a real rock for Inishowen and led by example in a Man of the Match display for his side.
Limerick were probing with dangerous intent and Pat Boyle curled just wide from right-hand edge of the penalty box.
The Shannonsiders had a big chance in the 25th minute when Danny O’Neill’s cross grazed off the head of Shane Clarke and fell invitingly to John Connery.
While Connery’s shot beat Kevin McLaughlin, Inishowen captain Michael Barr blocked on the goal-line.
Greencastle’s Barr had an early attempt for Inishowen as he flashed inches to the wrong side of the target; the shot threating momentarily to creep inside the post.
From Barr’s intervention on the line, Inishowen turned the play. Matthew Henry and Brendan McLaughlin created the opening for Terence Doherty, but his shot was into the hands of Neville.
Home ‘keeper McLaughlin made a superb save to deny John Mullane, whose header seemed destined for the net, McLaughlin reaching in behind to claw away.
Limerick dangerman Clarke wormed his way past Michael Byrne and John Gerard McLaughlin, but his shot was diverted out for a corner. It was another warning shot across the Inishowen brows, though.
Clarke again was denied by McLaughlin on the hour while the pick of Inishowen’s lot in the second half was a glancing Terence Doherty header that was routinely gathered by Neville.
It was a game that could have swung either way, but it, finally, hinged in favour of Inishowen.
Inishowen League: Kevin McLaughlin; Michael Barr (Gavin Doherty 100), Michael Byrne, John Gerard McLaughlin, Matthew Byrne; Anthony Doherty (Aiden Friel 70), Dillon Ruddy (Sean Doherty 74), Matthew Henry, Nigel McMonagle; Terence Doherty, Brendan McLaughlin.
Limerick District League: Gary Neville; Danny O’Neill, John Mullane, Dermot Fitzgerald, Eddie O’Donovan; John Connery (Jonathan Grant 90), John Boyle (Kieran O’Connell 90), Pat Boyle, Eoin Hanrahan (Alex Purcell 70); John Tierney (Maxim Boghiou 107), Shane Clarke.
Referee: Paul Kilcoyne (Sligo-Leitrim League).
