After a 45 minute delay this match finally kicked off at a wet and very windy Cassidy park. Shannon Town created the better of the chances in the opening minutes by going close to scoring on two occasions only to be denied by the Lifford goalkeeper. The pressure continued on the Lifford goal and Tadgh Fitzgerald ⚽️finally gave Shannon Town a deserved lead by firing home from close range after some good build up play from Shashikant Shinde. Conditions were difficult and both teams were fully committed with some strong challenges and last ditch defending throughout the first half ,the Shannon Town back four of Niall Fitzgerald, Aaron Shinners, Conor Lysaght and Luc Fitzpatrick defended brilliantly and stand in goalkeeper Ben O’Connell kept calm throughout. Lifford to their credit equalised just before the break to leave the sides level at half-time.

Shannon Town began to dominate right from the restart and control midfield, the midfield trio of Sean Alymer, Luke Keating and U13 player Liam Murphy began to find space and play some passes in behind the Lifford defence. Still recovering from a sprained ankle , 1st choice goalkeeper Liam Ryan Cooke came on early in the second half which allowed Ben O’Connell to return to his normal striker position. Shannon Town took the lead soon after through Cian Austin ⚽️ cutting in from the left and finishing with an accurate shot.

The lead was extended 10 minutes later when Ben O’Connell ⚽️ followed up quickly to dispossess and round the Lifford goalkeeper making the score 3-1.

Special mention to another U13 player Jacob Setkowicz who stepped up to help the team seal an important win.