Donegal Schoolboys earn fine win over Inishowen 

The 2009 Donegal Schoolboys Youth League team had their first home game in quite a while against Inishowen at the weekend but came away with a fine 4-0 over their Inishowen counterparts in Ballyare.

Donegal 4 Inishowen 0

The DSYL started on the front foot, creating a few chances in the first few minutes.  Their defenders were dominant in the early stages, as they played out from the back and then won a foul just inside the opposition’s half right out at the sideline of the pitch.  

Defender Odhran Boyle stood over the ball and kick a long ball into the box, as the ball bounced, the Inishowen keeper misjudged the bounce and DSYL found themselves 1-0 up.  A very confident start from Odhran Boyle backed up with a goal early in the game.

The game continued in the same vain as a dominant DSYL outworked their opponents in most areas of the pitch.

After a good kick out from DSYL goalkeeper Lorcan Coyle, the ball was played out to the right-hand side, where Lewis Cunea found himself one on one with the Inishowen defender. 

With a clever bit of skill and fierce pace, Lewis beat his man and shot from a difficult angle across the keeper and into the bottom left corner of the net, a fantastic finish to a really impressive piece of skill from Lewis Cunea.

The team continued their dominance both on and off the ball with a real efficient performance.  

A few minutes later after a battle in the middle of the pitch, DSYL won the ball back in the middle of the pitch and a clever ball was played out to the left hand side to find Niall Mc Brearty one on one with the defender. 

Niall put a terrific cross into the box and a fantastic leap and powerful header from Dylan Doherty beat the keeper and the home team were up by 3 and deservedly so.  Another well-worked goal and great finish from the Killybegs striker.

Not long after the restart, the visitors played a clever through ball which left the Inishowen striker bearing down on goal, the DSYL goalkeeper Lorcan Coyle was well positioned and was out very quick to block an attempt at a shot and cleared the danger.

DSYL were controlling the game and growing more confident with each passage of play, on a rare Inishowen attack in the latter stage of the first half. 

DSYL defender Donal Mc Bride put in a terrific tackle and won the ball back, he then gave a long accurate pass that let Lweis Cunea attack the Inishowen defense at the expense of a corner against the visitors.  

Daire Slevin who was impressive throughout the game, delivered a fantastic corner right into the six-yard box, after a failed clearance from the visiting defenders. 

Drew Dowds was there to pounce and connect perfectly to place the ball in the bottom corner, giving the home team 4 nil lead in the first half and the visitors a mountain to climb in the remainder of the match.  That was almost the was action of the first half and a well-deserved lead at the break.

The second half started just as the first half ended, with DSYL the dominant team and controlling the game both in defense and in attack.  

The theme for the home team, now playing against the wind was to control the game and limit the chances the visitors could develop, which they did with crisp passing while in possession and intense pressing while out of position.

A very secured defensive display from the back three, and the midfield meant the visitors rarely entered the final third of the pitch, but credit has to be given for the level of football played by both teams and Inishowen were not making this match easy for the home team.

With 25 minutes left DYSL made their first sub, with Cian Mc Mahon coming on for the graceful and energetic Daire Slevin.  

Cian provided exactly what the home team required with an impressive display, including nine interceptions, four out of four aerial duels won, winning 17 out of 19 tackles made and completing 16 out of 16 passes attempted.  

An excellent display for 25 minutes and shows exactly what this DSYL team have with their ranks in the squad.  Throughout the remaining time, DYSL were able to use their entire bench while continuing to control the game which shows the quality of the squad with some impressive performances from the bench.

The visitors didn’t rest though, the never-say-die attitude was a real credit to the team and it almost paid off in the last minute, with a fantastic cross from the right hand side.

Inishowen attackers almost connected and narrowly went wide of the post, this was the last action of the match as the referee blew the final whistle on an impressive display from the home side, who seems to be hitting their stride at the right time of the competition.  

Some excellent performances throughout, however special mentions to Donal Mc Bride with a determined and confident display in defense, Lewis Cunea with a terrific performance on the right wing, and Cian Mc Mahon’s impressive display in midfield after coming off the bench.