The Donegal U16 soccer side are the new All-Ireland SFAI Interleague Champions.
They defeated Cork yesterday afternoon in a nail-biting penalty shootout after the sides were level following 90 minutes.
Cork got off to a flying start, dominating the first spells of play and opening the scoring in the 24th minute despite a valiant Donegal defensive effort.
Going a goal down was the spark Donegal required however, as a number of their efforts on goal towards the end of the first half just went amiss.
Four minutes into the second half that wouldn’t be the case though, as Donegal struck back through their talismanic leading goalscorer Dillion Doherty.
Despite their efforts in finding a winner, the game would go to extra time with the sides still level at 1-1.
Donegal hung on with grit and determination in extra time – especially so after Cork were awarded a controversial penalty which luckily was fired over the crossbar.
The sides were destined to go to penalties to decide the title, and again Donegal had to come from behind after missing their first attempt as Cork slotted through their first two efforts.
An opening for Donegal came when the third Cork penalty rattled off the crossbar, with no such issues on Donegal’s third effort leaving the teams at two apiece in the shootout.
The next penalty for both sides was converted, leaving a nail-biting sudden death finish as Cork stepped up for their fifth penalty.
Donegal keeper Lorcan Coyle was the hero in goal, saving Cork’s fifth effort to leave it in the hands of Dillion Doherty.
He converted his penalty with calm and composure, to help seal the Interleague Championship in the most dramatic of circumstances.
The U16 boys team will have a homecoming in Donegal Town later today as they are set to return from Limerick.
Their bus is set to arrive at The Diamond at approximately 4:30pm-5pm.
The Donegal U14 girls also found success yesterday as they claimed their own piece of silverware to take back to the hills.
They claimed the All-Ireland bowl to make it a double delight for Donegal’s youth footballers.
