Patrick Quigley the hero in shoot-out

Goalkeeper Patrick Quigley was the hero for Buncrana Hearts as he both scored and saved a penalty to send his team through to the last four of ther Buncrana Credit Union Cup. Quigley’s heroics came at the end of a forgettable game in which neither Hearts nor Carrowmena could rouse themselves enough to push on for a winner. One goal would have settled this gme but both teams struggled to get into their regular game and the gme as a spectacle suffered as a result. This was a very lethargic game with both teams cancelling each other out and few clear opportunities being created. However, that is not to say the match was without incident and Carrowmena in particular will be ruing their luck after seeing efforts hit the woodwork on more than one occasion. Carrowmena dominated the opening period and good work by Matthew Henry saw his cross find Brian Kone but the striker fired wide from point blank range. On the half hour a corner by Henry found Michael O’Doherty but although his header beat Quigley, it crashed off the bar before being scrambled clear by a relieved Hearts defence. On the stroke of half time Hearts created their first notable chance of the gme when Stephen McHugh saw a free kick well saved by George McLaughlin in the visitors goal. But the game needed something to liven it up, with the home side in particular knowing they needed to raise their game. But again it was Carrowmena who began on the front foot and for the seocnd time in the game, Hearts were grateful for their good luck as minutes into the second period Henry was also unlucky to see his twenty five yards free crash off the bar. That incident aside, the second half was even more forgettable than the first as both sides cancelled each other out. But still Carrowmena could have stolen the victory in the dying minute when Kone saw a shot skim the outside of the post from twelve yards. In extra time there was nothing created in the first period as both sides became ultra cautious but the second period was more open with the visitors Henry seeing a low effort well saved by Patrick Quigley. Buncrana replied with McHugh feeding Kieran McDaid in the clear but from ten yards he blazed wide when he really should have scored. In the end it was down to a penalty shoot out to decide the semi-finalist and keeper Quigley converted one and saved one to enable Brendan Murphy fire home the winning spot kick for a delighted Hearts. Carrowmena: G McLaughlin, JP Thompson, R Dougal, M O Doherty, A McLaughlin, P Duffy, J Gillen, J McLaughlin, H Henry, P McGowan, B Kone. Buncrana Hearts: P Quigley, K Kelly, R Fullerton, B Murphy, G Doherty, P McMyler, M Folery, A Murphy, C McLaughlin, S McHugh, C McConnell