NW CUP FINAL: Institute are spot on in cup

Institute's teenage striker Alex Pomeroy was their hero as he fired home the winning spot-kick to claim the North West Senior Cup.
North West Senior Cup winners Institute.  Picture by Lorcan Doherty/Presseye.comNorth West Senior Cup winners Institute.  Picture by Lorcan Doherty/Presseye.com
North West Senior Cup winners Institute. Picture by Lorcan Doherty/Presseye.com

In what was a disappointing affair, the youngster showed super composure to fire home from 12 yards to secure the 4-2 win over Coleraine.

Pomeroy’s winning spot-kick along with his goal in the first half meant that he deservedly picked up the man of the match accolade.

Both sides made a host of changes to their starting line-up’s, with Pomeroy, Sean McCarron, Sean Roddy, Aaron Jarvis and Ciaron Harkin all coming into the Stute side.

As for Oran Kearney’s team his spine was experienced with Stute old boys Michael Doherty, David Ogilby and Sammy Morrow all starting, along with ex-Derry City pair Ruaidhri Higgins and Jordan Allan also in from the start.

Institute took the lead on six minutes when Sean McCarron’s left wing cross found Alex Pomeroy inside the box and he diverted the ball home from 10 yards.

The home side should have added a second on 23 minutes as McCarron got in behind the Bannsiders’ defence, but with only Michael Doherty to beat, he dragged his shot wide.

Coleraine levelled things four minutes later after a defensive mistake when Darryl McDermott’s poor headed clearance from Ruaidhri Higgins’ free-kick, only found an unmarked Sammy Morrow, who gleefully headed home from close range.

On 40 minutes, Doherty was called into action when he made a stunning save to claw away Ryan Doherty’s 25 yard curler.

Coleraine missed a glorious chance to take the lead on 48 minutes after Jordan Allan broke in behind the Stute defence, but his attempted lob over keeper Martin Gallagher flew just over the bar.

Just after the hour mark the Drumahoe men should have regained the lead but centre-back Dean Curry headed over from close range, after Ryan Doherty’s corner picked out the defender.

In the closing stages the home side were inches away from winning it as substitute Gareth Brown played in Doherty, but just as the midfielder was about to shoot, Coleraine left-back Mark Edgar put in a super last ditch tackle to divert the danger.

Moments later Morrow went close to winning it for the Bannsiders, as his stinging drive from 25 yards was well kept out by Gallagher.

In the second half of extra-time, Stute substitute Caolan Cooley saw his low drive from the right hand side of the box, easily saved by Doherty.

On 116 minutes Stute captain Stephen O’Donnell, who has scored a few goals this season, should have done better, but he dragged his shot well off target.

Neither side created much during the extra-time period, then in the spot-kicks Sammy Morrow fired wide, while Mark Edgar’s effort was saved by Gallagher.

Institute: Gallagher, Morrow, McDermott, Curry, Roddy; C Harkin, Doherty, Jarvis (Cooley 67); McIntyre (O’Donnell H-T), McCarron (Brown 67), Pomeroy.

Coleraine: Doherty, Surgenor (Weir 62), Edgar, Higgins, Ogilby, Lindsay, Whiteside (Gawne 81), Law, Allan, Morrow, Woods (McElfatrick 60).

Referee: Declan Hassan (Londonderry).