Inny FC U12 Reds ready for Connacht final
From seven away trips to three penalty shootout victories, Inny U12s are one win away from making history
Inny FC U12 Reds will take to the field in Westport this weekend, aiming to complete one of the most remarkable underage football journeys seen in recent years on Sunday, May 3 (KO 2pm).
Sunday’s game is the start of what promises to be a busy week for the Inny Reds, as they remain on course for an unprecedented potential triple.
Following Sunday’s final in Westport, they face Newtownforbes in the Longford League Shield Final in Abbeycarton on Tuesday, May 5, before taking on Mostrim later in the week in the semi-final of the Tynan Cup.
They go into Sunday’s final in excellent form, having won all five games played in April, including two Tynan Cup fixtures and a league semi-final.
For this young Westmeath side, the Connacht Trophy final represents the culmination of a campaign built on resilience, belief, and an ability to overcome adversity time and again.
All seven matches in the competition have been played away from home, involving long trips across Galway, Mayo, and Sligo. Despite the travel and the quality of opposition, Inny have consistently found a way to progress.
Composure under pressure has defined their run. Three knockout ties have gone to penalties, and on each occasion the players have shown maturity well beyond their years.
The defining moment came earlier in December against St John’s of Sligo. Travelling with just eight players due to illness, further injuries reduced Inny to effectively six fully fit outfield players.
What followed was an extraordinary defensive display, holding a highly rated St John’s side to a scoreless draw. Goalkeeper Daniel Brady produced a series of crucial saves, while Donagh Bourke led a heroic effort across the pitch. Inny then won the shootout 4–2, a result that transformed belief within the group.
Momentum continued in the following rounds of Connacht’s most prestigious underage competition. The following round was a 0–2 win in January in Enniscrone in extreme Atlantic conditions as the dying embers of storm Eowyn faded.
That was followed by a victory in Castlebar against Kilmurray FC, where Inny recovered from 0–1 down to draw 1–1 before winning on penalties.
A quarter-final win away 0-1 to Longford’s Melview FC secured a semi-final place. The semi-final against Strand Celtic in Sligo brought further drama, as Shane O’Neill scored a late equaliser for it to finish 1-1 in normal time before Inny held their nerve in an 8–7 penalty shootout win.
It was a real team performance, with players such as Sean Gaffney, Sean Reynolds, and Shane O’Neill delivering standout displays.
Standing in their way now are Galway side Corrib Rangers, a physically strong and high-intensity team. Inny will need to match that challenge while staying true to their strengths of discipline, teamwork, and pace.
One game from history
Manager Eamonn Brady said his side are underdogs: "Nobody would have expected us to progress. In the 90-year history of the competition, no Longford League side had ever won a Connacht competition until Inny’s U14s claimed the Connacht Cup last year and went on to win the 2025 SFAI Under-14 Cup, beating teams like Shamrock Rovers and Home Farm.
"Our U12s are now following in their footsteps in a competition traditionally dominated by Galway, Mayo, and Sligo sides. Now these young players from Westmeath are one game from history.
Thriving under pressure
Eamonn added: "They have won every round away from home, performed in difficult conditions, and delivered under the pressure of penalty shootouts. I have coached this group since U8 level, and they have always shown potential.
"This is a big step up, but they thrive on big games. Win or lose in Westport, they have done themselves and their club proud."