FAI Youth Cup Preliminary Round
Cullen Lattin 2
Lough Derg 3
Cullen Lattin welcomed their north counterparts to Aisling Park last weekend and came out on top after a gruelling encounter that was decided on penalties.
The home side were on the front foot from the start and almost took the lead as early as the second minute when a Tom Ryan header rattled the crossbar.
However it wasn’t along before they got their noses in front when Max Reardon set up Dylan McGrath to fire into the top corner.
The goal sparked the north side into action and they enjoyed a good spell of possession forcing Cullen keeper Gary Quirke into a smart save on 25 minutes.
Lough Derg continued to press for an equaliser and they were rewarded just before the half- time break when Cian McCauley was quickest to react after Quirke had denied Jacus Slagg. The away side came back out for the second half in flying form and just three minutes in, another Slagg effort was parried away to the feet of McCauley, and again he made no mistake from six yards to give his side the lead.
Max Reardon then replied for Cullen with an unstoppable pile driver.
The game ebbed and flowed after this and with no more goals the game went to extra time. However, neither side were able to gain an advantage and when the game went to penalties, Tristan Stokes, Thomas O’Mahoney, Adam Lohan and Dylan McGrath converted for the home side to give Cullen a hard earned victory.