Penalty Shoot Out Goes Against Ayr!

Ayr United travelled to Donegal on 19th July 2003 to play the local side, Donegal Celtic, in a pre-season friendly in aid of the children’s charity ‘Shine a Light’.

Donegal Celtic had just been promoted to the Northern Irish First Division on their way back to the top after they withdrew from the league a few years earlier.

Withdrawal was largely due to the fact that other clubs in the league had refused to play on Donegal’s home ground because of the troubles, given that the club is in the heart of the nationalist area of the city.

After a very dodgy first 20/25 minutes, Ayr dominated the game and could have been out of sight at half time with a bit of luck. Despite this Donegal went in 1-0 up.

Ayr continued to outplay Donegal in the second half. Kean equalised 10 minutes into it, running through one on one to slot past the keeper. Ayr squandered a host of other chances and the game went to extra and penalties, with Ayr ultimately losing by 4-2.