Northern Ireland teenagers Jamie McDonnell and Dale Taylor played a key role in helping Nottingham Forest make history in the FA Youth Cup last night.
McDonnell wore the captain’s armband and Taylor was on target as Forest U18s recorded a memorable 3-1 win over highly-fancied Chelsea in Monday night's semi-final at the City Ground.
It is the first time the Nottingham club, who will play Manchester United in the showpiece at Old Trafford, has reached the final of English football's most prestigious knockout competition.
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Taylor, who earned his first Northern Ireland senior cap in a 1-0 friendly win over Lithuania in November, levelled the scores with a sweeping close range finish in the 86th minute.
And a late brace from Detlef Esapa Osong in the 90th and 93rd minute saw the Forest youngsters make history in dramatic fashion in front of their home supporters and first team boss Steve Cooper.
On Instagram, McDonnell, who has represented Northern Ireland at U19 and U17 level, wrote: “What a night, onto the final.”
Taylor and McDonnell, who are both 18, have played pivotal roles in helping Warren Joyce’s side reach this season’s final.
Taylor also scored against Bristol City and Peterborough in previous rounds, while McDonnell was on target in a shootout win over Cambridge United.
Forest boss Joyce, a former reserve team coach at Manchester United, described Monday night’s victory as “fantastic” and a “really enjoyable night”.
“I thought we were really unfortunate to go a goal down with a deflected shot and you can easily get deflated, particularly when you’re playing a side like Chelsea,” he said.
“You can look at it and give up and think ‘that’s it’. We didn’t. It was a team effort and they dealt with highly skilled international footballers who were older than them.”
On securing an historic result in front of a home support at the City Ground, Joyce added: “They were supported by the first team players and the manager as well.
“Two or three of the (senior) players came in to speak with the lads before the game and it was a big help.
“The lessons they learned tonight are invaluable, the pressures they were under from being 1-0 down and having to fight back.
“It doesn’t surprise me, because they show me that every day.”
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