FOYLE CUP: Parkhouse the hero as Maiden City Academy defeat Dungannon Swifts to lift U12 Cup

Maiden City Academy 3, Dungannon Swifts 2

A familiar name rang out around The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Saturday as Stephen Parkhouse proved the Maiden City Academy hero in a thrilling O'Neill's Foyle Cup U12 Final victory over Dungannon Swifts.

Stephen, whose dad Stephen played with Derry City, Institute and Glentoran, created two goals and helped himself to the second half winner as MCA came from two goals down to grab a sensational win they fully deserved.

Alongside Parkhouse, MCA captain Caelan Fleming was superb, dictating play and encouraging his team-mates forward after they found themselves two goals in arrears. Then you had two goal Carter Riddles, constantly knitting play together and always finding space. His finishing and eye for goal brought MCA back into a match that looked to have got away from them.

In truth it was difficult to find any MCA player not on top of his game and while the final result was tough on a Dungannon side who contributed fully to a top class game which saw some excellent football played by both sides on the superb Brandywell pitch, Maiden City were worthy winners.

The Co. Tyrone club could barely have got off to a better start when a mix up in the Maiden City defence on two minutes presented Swifts dangerman James McKeown with the simplest of tap-ins to hand Dungannon a dream start.

The goal was tough on a Maiden City side who had settled well into an eye pleasing brand of quick passing football and they immediately set about trying to redress the balance.

First the impressive Parkhouse got himself on the end of a Paudie Lynch through ball but could only find the side netting with a well struck shot. Next up to test the Dungannon defence was midfielder Riddles whose lovely twisting run was only missing a finish as Maiden City once again found the side netting.

But all the while Dungannon looked a real danger on the break, with that man McKeown always on the shoulder of the last defender. Indeed he should have doubled his side's lead when he beat the MCA offside trap on five minutes and raced away into space only for Maiden City keeper Leo Mulvenna to advance ad make a superb block. McKeown wasn't to be denied for long though!

Barely a minute later, McKeown was afforded too much space in the box and made Maiden City pay by floating a delightful finish over Mulvenna and in off the far post for 2-0.

Yet, if Maiden City were rattled, they never showed it. Instead they set about raising their game and were level by half-time.

Dungannon had already had received a few warning signs by the time clock reached 20 minutes and a goal Maiden City thoroughly deserved. Again it was a Lynch pass that stated the move and again Parkhouse the main creator, the winger doing brilliantly to keep the ball alive, turn his man and pick out Riddles whose lovely header was the finish the move merited.

Back in the game now, it was all Maiden City and no great surprise when the Derry side equalised on the edge of half-time. Once more Parkhouse was the instigator, his run down the right ending with a dangerous ball into the box. Cree Beagan's shot brought a breathtaking save by Dungannon keeper Ben Kelly but unfortunately for the Swifts' No. 1 Riddles was following up to slot home his second of the game.

The half-time break proved little respite for the Swifts as Lynch crashed a wonderful effort off the crossbar with seconds of the restart before Maiden City hit the front for the first time two minutes later with what would prove the winning strike from - guess who - Parkhouse!

The winger, now operating on the left side in the second half, charged down a Dungannon clearance some 50 yards from goal but accelerated away from everyone before sliding a lovely low finish under the keeper for 3-2.

Dungannon were then indebted to centre-half Oscar Kelly for clearing another effort off the line following a scramble at a Maiden City corner and it was the Derry side who continued to create the better chances over the closing period. Lynch sent one effort inches wide after being sent clear by a brilliant Henry Peoples pass but it mattered little. Maiden City had done enough to claim a thrilling Foyle Cup triumph

Maiden City: Leo Mulvenna, Kyle Gutherie, Stephen Parkhouse, Carter Riddles, Oliver Taylor, Jensen Dunlop, Paudie Lynch, Cree Beagan Lucas Kennedy, Caelan Fleming, Harry Devenney. (Subs) Henry Peoples, Luke Gardiner, Hendrix Moore, Keelan McLaughlin.

Dungannon Swifts: Ben Kelly, Oscar Kelly, Ryan McCullagh, Frazer McLean, Ollie Newell, James McKeown, Jonathan Blair, Paudie O'Neill, Travis Dougan, Max McVeigh, Edas Leimys. (Subs) Elijus Skriank, Senan Murphy, Bill Fitzpatrick, Seamus McCann.

Referee: Aodhan Mullan