THE Galway Schoolboy League came through a dramatic sudden death penalty shoot-out with Cork to book a SFAI Kennedy Cup final showdown with the DDSL at the University of Limerick on Friday.
Tresor Sangi kept his composure superbly to slot home the decisive spot kick which gave the Galway side a nail-biting 5-4 victory on penalties over their gallant Cork opponents. The Leesiders missed three of their seven penalties, with Galway failing to convert two.
The two sides had finished deadlocked 0-0 at the end of normal time. Defences held sway throughout a tense semi-final played out before a large and enthusiastic attendance.
Both sides struggled to create a clear-cut scoring opportunity in blustery conditions.
Galway, seeking to win the Kennedy Cup for the first time, face the DDSL, who are hoping to win the interleague U-14 title for the 30th time on Friday.
The DDSL recovered from a 1-0 half-time deficit to see over local rivals, the NDSL, 2-1, in another highly competitive semi-final.
2011 winners, the NDSL, took a first half lead through Darragh Curtin. It was the first goal the DDSL had conceded in their five SFAI Kennedy Cup games this week.
The DDSL refused to panic and backed by a strong wind hit back with two goals in the final quarter. Exciting striker Troy Parrot played in Brandon Holt for the equaliser in the 45th minute, with the goalscorer producing a composed finish.
Holt turned provider for Parrot four minutes from full time when he crossed for the Belvedere player who was fouled inside the penalty area.
The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Parrot netted the winner at the second attempt, after his initial effort was saved.
Elsewhere, on Friday, the Midlands and Kilkenny Leagues will contest the Bowl final, while the Shield final will be between Mayo and Longford.
Limerick District and Dundalk will meet in the Trophy final.
SFAI Kennedy Cup Day 4 Results:
Trophy semi-finals:
Inishowen 0-1 Limerick District;
Dundalk 3-0 Drogheda
Trophy quarter-final losers:
NEC 3-2 Carlow;
Limerick County 2-0 WWEC
Shield semi-finals:
Longford 0-0 Clare (Longford win 4-3 on pens);
Mayo 4-1 South Tipp
Shield quarter-final losers:
Roscommon 2-1 Wicklow;
Sligo/Leitrim 2-1 North Tipp
Bowl semi-finals:
Kilkenny 0-0 Kildare (Kilkenny win 5-4 on pens);
Midlands 3-0 West Cork
Bowl quarter-final losers:
Athlone 0-2 Cavan/Monaghan;
Donegal 0-1 Waterford
Plate semi-finals:
Kerry 1-2 SDFL;
Limerick Desmond 0-1 Wexford
SFAI Kennedy Cup semi-finals:
NDSL 1-2 DDSL
Galway 0-0 Cork (Galway win 5-4 on pens)
Play-offs:
(27th-28th positions)
Drogheda 1-0 Inishowen
(29th-30th positions)
NEC 0-1 Limerick County
(31st-32nd positions)
Carlow 5-0 WWEC
(19th-20th positions)
South Tipp 0-5 Clare
(21st-22nd positions)
Roscommon 1-1 Sligo/Leitrim (Roscommon win 5-4 on pens)
(23rd-24th positions)
Wicklow 2-4 North Tipperary
Plate semi-final losers (7th-8th positions)
Kerry 1-0 Limerick Desmond
Bowl semi-final losers (11th-12th positions)
West Cork 4-2 Kildare
(13-14th positions)
Cavan/Monaghan 0-7 Waterford
(15th-16th positions)
Athlone 0-3 Donegal
Further details available from: http://www.sfai.ie/index.php/kennedy-cup
