Brian McCormick Cup - Donegal Town Area 1/4 Final :: Donegal Town 2-1 Copany Rovers (AET)
Brian McCormick Cup - Donegal Town Area 1/4 Final 17/08/08 @ 1:30PM -- Donegal Town 2-1 Copany Rovers (AET) -- David Graham (19) -- Venue: Frosses
Donegal Town advanced to the Area Semi Final of the Brian McCormick Cup with an extra time victory over Copany Rovers in a keenly contested encounter, played on an excellent surface in Frosses.
Copany opened the scoring with an excellent individual goal from David Graham on 19 minutes. Graham picked up the ball on the left hand flank, and dribbled inside past two defenders before firing low past the Donegal 'keeper from 12 yards.
Graham was causing the Donegal defense no end of problems, and his pace created a chance out of nothing, meeting a ball over the top before dragging his shot wide from the edge of the area.
Donegal finished the second half with sustained pressure, but could find no way past a resolute Copany defence, so the away side led 1-0 at the interval.
Copany were caught cold at the start of the second half, and a quick throw in down the Donegal left was whipped into the box, and a Donegal attacker was free to force the ball in from close range.
Donegal shaded the second half proceedings, but found it tough to breach the Copany reaguard, with Gary Ward in fine form in the Copany goals.
Francie Johnston went closest to grabbing the winner for the away side, but his thunderbolt was narrowly deflected over the bar, following good play from David Graham.
The match went to extra time, and Donegal got the all important winner 8 minutes into the first half of extra time with an excellent long range strike from 25 yards into the corner of the net.
Donegal's superior fitness showed, and Copany found themselves on the back foot in the second half of extra time. A couple of half chances for Copany near the end were unable to be put away, which means Donegal advance to play St. Catherines in the Area Semi Final on Wednesday night.
The Cobras put in an excellent performance all over the park for 90 minutes, with David Graham terrorising the Donegal defense with his pace and trickery, 16 year old Alan McGirr putting in a mature performace in the Cobra engine room, and Ballyshannon goalkeeper Gary Ward outstanding in between the Copany sticks.
Brian McCormick Cup - Donegal Town Area 1/4 Final
