Dergview boss Ivan Sproule has paid tribute to his players, his coaching staff and his physio following their dramatic Irish Cup win over rivals Ballinamallard United at Ferney Park this afternoon.
A titanic tussle went to penalties after goals by the Mallards’ Darragh McBrien and Ross Taheny cancelled out strikes by Matthew Kirk and Cathal Farren.
In the shootout it was the visitors who ultimately held their nerve 9-8 with Graeme Crown hitting the winning spot-kick.
Sproule felt his team deserved the narrowest of victories.
“We took the lead twice in the game and rightly so during those periods in the game,” said the former Hibernian man.
“Ballinamallard came back, they stuck to their style and their shape but over the 90 minutes I think we deserved the rub of the green on this occasion.
“We didn’t take it in last year’s North West Senior Cup Final when we missed our chances.
“My players have given the same commitment and dedication as Ballinamallard’s have.
“We have had to work hard to get the group up and going and we had to make some big calls today. I pay tribute to not only the players but the staff, the physio, those are the people who helped us get it over the line today. I’m extremely proud of them all.
“Let’s get this correct, that’s a good Ballinamallard side with a lot of experience and with a lot of players that played in the Irish Cup Final two years ago. We were a bit stretched this week with injuries among other setbacks which might have had some people scratching their heads.
“The bottom line is you don’t win games like this unless your 100% committed and my players showed that today.”
Dergview have been drawn at home to St James’ Swifts in the last 16.
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