In a pulsating cup encounter at their home ground on 23 February 2025, Donohill FC emerged victorious over Dualla with a final score of 7-5. The match, which kicked off at 3:00pm, was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring a flurry of goals and a dramatic finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Donohill FC lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for quick transitions into attack. Paul Delvin occupied the goalkeeping position, shielded by a back four comprising Edmund Lowry on the right, Darragh Mooney and Alan Wallace in central defence, and Phil McGrath on the left. The midfield was structured with Kevin Fox and Micheal Bradshaw on the right and left flanks respectively, while Denis Cross and David Buckley operated centrally, tasked with both creative play and defensive duties. Up front, the striking partnership of William Barry and Joe Shanahan was expected to exploit any defensive lapses from the opposition.
The substitutes for Donohill FC included Brian Buckley, Noel O'Brien, and Liam Cross, who would be called upon to make an impact as the match progressed.
The match began with an explosive start as Dualla took the lead just five minutes in, catching Donohill FC off guard. The visitors continued to apply pressure, and by the 22nd minute, they had doubled their advantage, leaving the home side reeling. Just two minutes later, Dualla struck again, making it 3-0, and their dominance was further emphasised when they scored a fourth goal in the 26th minute.
Donohill FC finally found their footing in the match when Micheal Bradshaw pulled one back in the 30th minute, igniting hopes of a comeback. However, the first half concluded with Dualla leading 4-1, leaving Donohill FC with a mountain to climb.
After the break, Donohill FC made a tactical substitution, bringing on Brian Buckley for Micheal Bradshaw in the 51st minute. The change seemed to invigorate the team, and in the 61st minute, Joe Shanahan scored, narrowing the deficit to 4-2.
As the match progressed, Donohill FC continued to press forward, and Shanahan struck again in the 71st minute, making it 4-3. The momentum shifted dramatically when Shanahan completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, levelling the score at 4-4 and sending the home crowd into raptures.
Dualla, however, were not to be outdone and managed to regain the lead in the 81st minute, making it 5-4. But Donohill FC responded valiantly, with Denis Cross finding the net in the dying moments of regular time, equalising at 5-5.
With the match tied, the teams entered extra time, where Donohill FC made another substitution, introducing Liam Cross for Noel O'Brien in the 100th minute. The decisive moment came in the 101st minute when David Buckley scored, putting Donohill FC ahead for the first time in the match at 6-5.
Denis Cross then sealed the victory with a second goal in the 107th minute, extending the lead to 7-5. The final whistle blew, confirming a remarkable comeback for Donohill FC, who will now look forward to the next round of the cup with renewed confidence and momentum.
