DRUMOGHILL FC OPENED the door in the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division with an emphatic win over Castlefin Celtic this afternoon.
Drumoghill FC 5-0 Castlefin Celtic
Read Chris McNulty’s match report here
Gweedore Celtic 0-4 Milford United
Milford United flew from the traps to defeat Gweedore Celtic at An Screaban this afternoon. Four first half goals gave the away team all three points and set them up as title contenders.
Gweedore’s game was littered with mistakes, all of which were duly punished by a hungry Milford team. All the goals came in a 10-minute spell midway through the half when Milford enjoyed a purple patch.
The scores came courtesy of Kyle Black, Adam Serrahina, Ryan Flood and Gary Merritt. The second half saw Milford resting on their lead and run out easy winners. Best for Gweedore were Chris McFadden ,Joe Bonar and Ciaran McHugh and an all-round team performance from Milford.
St Catherine’s 3-1 Cappry Rovers
St Catherine’s played host to Cappry Rovers in Emerald Park on Sunday afternoon.
The game was only six minutes in when Cappry were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Darren O’ Leary who saw his penalty saved by the St Catherine’s keeper Michael Mullin.
On 13 minutes St Catherine’s were given a penalty and Shane O’Rourke saw his kick saved by the Cappry keeper.
Cappry took the lead a minute later when Aaron Kelly scored from inside the box. St Catherine’s came into the game after that and on 31 minutes Barry Rose got the ball on the edge of the box and hit a shot that went into the bottom corner of the Cappry net to level the scores at the break.
The second half started with both teams trying to get in front. Barry Cannon found space inside the Cappry box on 70 minutes and he fired his side into a 2-1 lead. Cappry had a couple of chances but they could not find an equaliser as Mullin in the St Catherine’s goal made some good saves. With 85 minutes gone Rose got the ball and he shot through a crowed Cappry penalty area to put St. Catherine’s 3-1 up and settle the contest.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 4-4 Glenea United
Kilmacrennan Celtic and Glenea United shared eight goals in an entertaining Premier Division contest – with Kilmacrennan coming from behind to level four times.
Glenea opened the scoring on 12 minutes when Ciaran Mc Geady was played in by Lee ‘O’Brien and he slid the ball home. Kilmacrennan equalised on 25 minutes when Ciaran Kelly hammered the ball home from close range after Ciaran Gallagher had made a good save.
Glenea retook the lead on 37 minutes when Padraig McGee scored from the penalty spot. Kilmacrennan once more equalised on 43 minutes when Michael McLaughlin scored direct from a corner.
Glenea went ahead on 50 minutes when Darren Mc Geever headed home a free-kick. Glenea extended their lead on 75 minutes when Ciaran Mc Geady turned on the edge of the box and found the corner of the net.
Kilmacrennan pulled a goal back on 89 minutes when Ryan Shields headed home a corner. Kilmacrennan equalised on 97 minutes when Timmy Burke scored from close range. Team efforts from both sides.
Kildrum Tigers 4-2 Rathmullan Celtic
Kildrum Tigers posted a fine home win over Rathmullan Celtic at Station Road with Reece Laird scoring a hat-trick.
Rathmullan started brightly and took the lead when Eamon Sheridan fired home from 30 yards.
Kildrum struck back straight away when Laird latched onto a short back pass and finished precisely. Rathmullan restored their lead when Eoin Sheridan finished after a mix-up in the Tigers defence.
Kildrum struck back again straight away when after great play on the left hand side McIntyre found Gary Crossan who made no mistake with a header at the front post.
Kildrum starter brightly in the second half and took the lead after a great passage of play along the back line and Crossan played a brilliant ball through to Laird who again made no mistake.
Rathmullan piled on the pressure to try and get the equaliser but Kildrum stayed resilient and got another when the evergreen Glenn Bovaird played Laird through and again he made no mistake.
Best for Kildrum were Reece Laird, Glenn Bovaird, Conor Crossan and Gareth Colhoun. Best for Rathmullan were Shea Coyle, Eamon Sheridan and Ryan Mc Cullagh.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Bonagee United 2-0 Keadue Rovers
Bonagee United got the points as Keadue Rovers visited Dry Arch Park.
The hosts opened the scoring on eight minutes when the ball broke to Austin Marron just outside the box and he shot home to the top corner of the net.
Two minutes later Shane Boyle saw his strike from 10 yards saved by Carr in the home goal. Keadue came close to levelling the game on 14 minutes when a great strike from Ryan Greene beat the keeper but defender Paddy O’ Loan cleared off the line.
Lee McMonagle and Noel O’ Donnell had chances but their strikes on goal were well saved by Ciaran Sharkey in the visitor’s goal. Shane Boyle again came close on 20 minutes only to see his header from a throw in just go over the crossbar.
Keadue also had good efforts from Rory Gallagher and Conor Greene but again Carr was in great form in the home goal. Bonagee got their second goal on seventy five minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a push inside the box and Eamon Cannon shot home from the spot. Team efforts by both sides.
Cranford United 5-1 Kerrykeel ’71 FC 1
Cranford United got their better of their neighbours and rivals Kerrykeel Club ’71 with Andrew Kelly scoring three.
Cranford started well with a double each from Andrew Kelly and Niall Doherty, the second from Kelly a fine chip over the advancing keeper.
Kerrykeel got a lifeline when Niall Doherty converted a penalty but this was short lived as Kelly completed his hat-trick to restore the gap. Kerrykeel pushed well in the second half but couldn’t manage to find the goals they needed.
Gweedore United 1-3 Donegal Town
Donegal Town came to Carrickboyle following a heavy defeat last week and took all three points following a good spirited hungry performance.
The visitors got off to the best possible start when Joe McIntyre broke the off side trap with a good run and he finished well after only two minutes.
United began to push and a minute later Gavin McBride’s excellent free kick was brilliantly saved by Dermott McCafferty and Jonathon Harkin missed the rebound. In the eighth minute Frank McGee’s shot was parried onto the post by Mc Cafferty to keep his team one up.
As the home side continued to push they were caught on the break in the 11th minute when a pacey David Graham finished well to make it 2-0. It was an uphill struggle for the home side from here on in against a well organised Donegal side.
United had decent chances through Michael Barry, Ciaran McFadden and John McFadden but were unlucky on each occasion. In the second half the home side continued to push and pulled one back in the 54 minute when an excellent Darren Ferry corner was headed in by McGee.
United looked as if they were getting back into the game however Danny Byrne secured the three points for Donegal when he finished well in the 77th minute to make it 3-1. The visitors had good chances following their third goal however Charles Doherty in the United nets was excellent on each occasion. It was an excellent team performance from Donegal Town with Shane O Donnell, Charles Doherty and debutant Adi O’Gara excelling for United on the day.
Convoy Arsenal 1-1 Lifford Celtic
Orchard Park, under the lights, hosted an incident packed game on Saturday night.
Convoy Arsenal sitting top of the table took on a struggling Lifford Celtic.
As we all know in football the form books mean nothing and Lifford started the brighter of the two teams as Convoy Arsenal failed to find any rhythm. Convoy did get a foothold after a shaky start and should have taken the lead when Johnny Robb failed to convert a one on one.
Minutes later it was Lifford who took the lead when Paul Martin headed home from a corner. Convoy were given a route back into the game in the 34th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately Johnny Robb was again foiled by the Lifford goalkeeper who pulled off a fine save.
Convoy piled on the pressure for the remainder of the first half but couldn’t find the equaliser despite hitting the woodwork twice. Lifford came out in the second half looking to hold on to their lead meaning an extended period of Convoy pressure.
On the hour mark Convoy won their second penalty of the night when Ryan Carlin was brought down in the box. Carlin dusted himself off to take the penalty himself but then proceeded to blaze the spot kick over the bar. It was starting to look like one of those nights for Convoy until the 70th minute when Darren Harvey’s free-kick found the back of the net for Convoy’s equaliser.
Convoy pushed on for the winner but Lifford held firm and the game finished all square. Lifford should be really encouraged by what they seen especially the back line and keeper who contained Convoy well. Convoy on the other hand need to pick themselves up and go again so they can continue the great season they are having.
Lagan Harps 1-0 Raphoe Town
A goal from the penalty spot on 58 minutes from Kevin Kelly was the deciding moment in a closely fought affair.
Played on a sticky pitch with both defences largely on top one goal always looked like deciding it. Lagan had a goal chalked off when Mark Hunter headed home on 20 minutes but he had fouled keeper Roy Duffy. David Craig had a diving header deflected for a corner and Jason Quinn saved Jamie Gallagher’s shot from the corner, as Raphoe responded.
Kenny Doran had Lagan’s best chance but volleyed wide when Mark Hunter knocked a corner on. The decisive moment arrived when Kenny Doran was taken down on the box and although Roy Duffy got his hand to Kevin Kelly’s shot it made the back of the net.
Both teams battled hard for the next goal and although Marty Brogan went close and Mark Hunter hit a post Lagan couldn’t get the second. Frank Mc Brearty and Oliver Quinn had good efforts for Raphoe but there were to be no more goals. For Lagan Paul Rodgers, David O’ Herlihy and Mark Hunter were best. For Raphoe Frank Mc Brearty, Christy Bogle and Emmett Kelly were best.
CT Ball Division Two
Glenree United 1-1 Deele Harps
Read Charlie Collins’ match report here
Letterbarrow Celtic 0-7 Erne Wanderers
Erne Wanderers took advantage of a weakened Letterbarrow Celtic in Tymeen with a strong attacking performance – in particular from hat-trick hero Sean Kane.
Letterbarrow took a blow early with an injury to their keeper which later forced him off and with no reserve keeper on the bench left the home side vulnerable.
Despite having a couple of early chances Letterbarrow fell behind on fifteen minutes when Michael Ward pounced on a sliced clearance. Further goals from Ward, Dermot Slevin, David Spratt and a hat-trick from Sean Kane sealed a dominant victory for the visitors.
Whitestrand United 3-2 Curragh Athletic
Whitestrand United’s first game after the Christmas break saw them play Curragh Athletic on a cold brisk day at McGarvey Park.
Whitestrand started on the front foot and they missed one or two good early chances. The first goal came after good work by Shane McGlade ended with the striker firing past the Curragh keeper on 23 minutes.
Curragh equalised when a looping shot from Garvan Tinney went over the despairing dive of the Whitestrand ‘keeper against the run of play. Curragh then settled into the game and the game was more even as in got closer to half time. The second half started in a similar vein to the first with Whitestrand on the front foot.
Again the pressure told when the excellent Kevin Loughrey crossed for Paul Lynch to nod home a towering header leaving the keeper with no chance. The game was then delayed for an injury to the Curragh keeper who had to be substituted.
Whitestrand then made the game safe with a third as Kevin Loughrey crossed for Shane McGlade to fire home. Curragh kept plugging away and eventually did get what proved to be a consolation when Jason Sweeney fired home. Best for Whitestrand were Kevin Loughrey and Shane McGlade.
Dunkineely Celtic 2-4 Ballybofey United
Ballybofey United went to Darney Park and came back with a well-deserved win.
The away team took command after this with Shaun McGowan dictating things in midfield. They opened the scoring on 14 minutes when Mc Gowan played a great ball down the inside left channel which was knocked across the six yard line and Damien Glackin taped home.
Dunkineely fought to get back into the game and Johnny Cassidy had a shot from distance well saved. Ballybofey also had chances and could have added to their tally with better finishing.
They got a second on 37 minutes in a move similar to the opener with the final touch coming off a defender. They struck for a third on the stroke of half time when Mickey Lynch scored from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
Dunkineely made a couple of changes at half time and improved their performance considerably. They created a number of half chances and got the breakthrough on the hour mark when Paul Murrin crossed from the left and Aaron Byrne headed home from six yards.
They added a second shortly after when Aaron Byrne pounced on a defensive mistake and finished well from 10 yards. Despite their efforts Dunkineely could not force an equaliser due to poor finishing and some last ditch defending.
Ballybofey broke in the final minute and Damien Glackin finished from 10 yards to seal the victory. Best for Ballybofey was Damien Glackin who a thorn in the Dunkineely side all day and for Dunkineely Pauric Conaghan put in a solid shift.
Eany Celtic 4-1 Copany Rovers
On a day perfect for football Eany welcomed their neighbours to Eany Park.
The home side had a comfortable victory in the end but it was late in the game when Paul Mc Groarty, hitting a hat-trick, secured the win.
The visitors survived a blistering start by the home side in which Eany had several chances, but it was the Eany goalkeeper that had to the first fine save on 20 minutes when clearing ball from just below his bar.
The home side continued to press and they got their reward in the 35th minute when Brian McCabe fired home from a Conor McGowan cross. The second half started similar to the first with Eany in control.
On the hour Copany were awarded a free kick just outside the box and Roger Leonard gave the Eany netminder no chance when his shot went in on the angle between the crossbar and the right hand post. The game remained tight for the next period.
In the 70th minute Paul McGroarty put Eany back into the lead when he latched onto a cross from the wing. It was Mc Groarty again in the 80th minute who put Eany 3-1 ahead when he finished a fine team move.
McGroarty completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute to round off a good performance and leave the final score 4-1. Good team performances from both sides.
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