THE NEW SEASON in the Donegal Junior League kicked off this weekend with the opening round games in the Brian McCormick Cup. Area Shield games were played in the four areas.
Picture caption: Ballybofey United’s Paul Kelly brings the ball out of defence against Curragh Athletic. Picture by Gary Foy, newsandsportfiles
LETTERKENNY AREA
Drumkeen United 1 Whitestrand United 0
Drumkeen edged into the next round of the Brian Mc Cormack Cup with this hard earned win over visitors Whitestrand at St Patrick’s Park on Sunday.
The opening minutes were quiet enough with no real chances at either end
As the half went on Drumkeen began forcing several corners and despite some good deliveries by Benny Bonner no one could manage to get on the end of any of them.
Bonner also had a free kick which no one got on the end of and it bounced in front of goal and went just over the bar.
Anthony Browne nearly capitalised on a defensive mix up but he hit his shot straight at ‘keeper Paddy Kelly.
At the other end Kevin McCarry and Kevin Loughrey both put chances wide for Whitestrand. The visitors had arguably the best chance of the first half after some good work by Shane McGlade out on the right set up Jonathan Sweeney in the middle but his effort was well saved by Michael Gibson.
They did have the ball in the Drumkeen net shortly after but McGlade’s effort was ruled offside. As the half drew to a close Bonner and Browne had further efforts for the home team but neither were on target.
Drumkeen took the lead early in the second half when a Kevin Boyle passed the ball up the line to Browne, who ran into the box and beat a defender before firing his shot past Kelly.
The lead could have been short lived when a defensive mix up almost allowed the visitors to equalise but Gibson recovered well and managed to play the ball off the attacking player and earn a goal kick.
For a good part of the second half, Drumkeen seemed the more likely to score another goal.
Niall Bonner had a good effort saved and Jason Moore had an effort following a goalmouth scramble which eventually ended up in the keeper’s arms. Peter McNamee also had an effort saved by Kelly.
Milford United 0 Lagan Harps 3
MICHEÁL Doherty, Darren Doran and Mark Hunter scored the goals for Lagan in this one. No report was received.
[adrotate group=”37″]Drumoghill FC 4 Bonagee United 1
DRUMOGHILL took the lead on the 15 minute mark when last year’s top goal scorer Pajo Rafferty latched onto a Jaydee pass in behind the Bonagee defence to fire Drumoghill ahead.
Drumoghill’s second arrived on the half hour mark when Jaydee made a great run into the box where he was fouled giving ref Paddy Duffy an easy decision on pointing to the penalty spot.Richard Moore fired home to make it two nil.
Drumoghill’s third arrived on the stroke off half-time when Rafferty beat the offside trap to run onto a Carlos Rodgers pass to get his second goal of the day.
Bonagee started the second half the quicker and grabbed their goal when a Shane Kelly pass sent Darren Ashmore through on goal to fire home from close range
Drumoghill grabbed their fourth of the day when Richard Moore latched onto a Liam O’Donnell pass and rounded the defence before a cheeky chip over the outrushing keeper to get his second off the day .
Kerrykeel 71 FC 0 Rathmullan Celtic 8
RATHMULLAN Celtic outclassed Kerrykeel ‘71 in the Brian Mc Cormick Cup with Rathmullan showing their credentials with an emphatic victory.
The first half was a tight affair with Rathmullan scoring two late goals from Dara Patton and Jude Patton to take a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Rathmullan ran riot in the second half scoring six more with goals coming from Eoin Sheridan, Reggie Miller, Niall Caruthers, Jude Patton and two more from Dara Patton.
Rathmullan will be a force to be reckoned with this season with Kerrykeel having to dust themselves down and prepare for the League opener. Best for Kerrykeel: Hayden Curran, Sean Little, Bernard McGettigan. Team performance from Rathmullan.
[adrotate group=”46″]DONEGAL AREA
St. Catherines 4 Dunkineely Celtic 2
NO report was received from this game.
Letterbarrow Celtic 0 Cappry Rovers 2
TWO young sides played out a very entertaining match at Tymeen to begin the season. The visitors took the league on 40 minutes when Colm Melaugh headed home at the far post from an excellent free kick. Letterbarrow pushed hard and the visitor’s keeper saved well when Josh was through one on one after fifty minutes.
As the home side attached seeking an equaliser, Cappry scored the second on sixty minutes when Colm Melaugh grabbed his second when he tapped in from six yards after a good counter attack. Melaugh was best for the visitors with Dylan McGroary and Nathan Carr best for Letterbarrow.
Donegal Town 7 Eany Celtic 1
DONEGAL Town took on Eany Celtic on a wet Friday evening at the Hospital Field. The Town started brightly and went close on 8 minutes when David Graham had a shot blocked after good work from Ben Sweeney on the right.
Daniel McHugh forced a corner for the Town after 12 minutes as the pressure mounted for Eany. Donegal took the lead on 17 minutes when Deccie Brown scored with a cracking strike from 30 yards.
Brown was then denied three times in as many minutes before he put Donegal two up after 27 minutes with a header from a corner.
Brown completed his hat-trick on 39 minutes after a rebound from a long range effort from Eoin Slevin.
Gary Harron made it four, two minutes later riffling into the top corner after a cut back from Adrian Ward. David Graham made it five from close range after a Ben Sweeney cross from the right on 44 minutes.
Daniel McHugh latched onto a long ball over the top, controlled and volleyed in one movement to lob the keeper for the Town’s sixth just before half-time.
McHugh got his second and Donegal’s seventh five minutes into the second half from close range after Ben Sweeney had a shot well saved by the Eany ‘keeper.
Eany, to their credit kept going and after five minutes of sustained pressure got on the scoresheet, Cathal Lowther converting from the penalty spot on the hour mark.
[adrotate group=”38″]Erne Wanderers P Copany Rovers P
GWEEDORE AREA
Glenea United 3 Kilmacrennan Celtic 1
GLENA got their new season underway with a hard earned victory in the McCormick Cup.
In an open game both sides had chances to open the scoring, Rab Sandilands’ deflected effort after 8 minutes was well saved by Joe Coll.
Glenea then went close with both Aodhan Ferry and Chris Cannon seeing their efforts well saved by the away keeper. Glenea opened the scoring on 15 minutes when after good play between Ryan McFadden and Darren Mc Geever, McFadden saw his effort come off the post but Chris Cannon was on hand to drive the ball home.
Glenea extended their lead on 20 minutes when Darren McGeever picked the ball up around 25 yards out and unleashed a strike right in to the top corner.
Kilmacrennan were handed a lifeline on 25 minutes when Timmy Burke was fouled in the box but Joe Coll saved the resultant penalty.
Ed Doherty was next to force Joe Coll into another good save with halftime approaching.
On 52 minutes the home side were awarded a penalty after a handball. However the Kilmacrennan keeper made a good save from the penalty.
Kilmacrennan were award another penalty on 58 minutes but once again Coll saved his second penalty. The away side finally pulled a goal back on 65 minutes when a through ball found Timmy Burke just inside the box and he clipped the ball home.
Glenea regained their two goal lead on 70 minutes when Tommy Rodgers’ long range effort was deflected into the net.
Kilmacrennan pushed hard for another score but found it hard to create any clear cut chances against the home defence that was well marshalled by Paul Sweeney and Darren Doogan. Best for Glenea were Martin Maguire, Michael McClafferty and Dean McCarry while Ryan Shields and Timmy Burke were best for Kilmacrennan.
[adrotate group=”70″]Gweedore United 4 Cranford United 2 (after extra time)
THIS game played in Carrickboyle on Saturday night in front of a good turnout saw the home side advance thanks to a goal each for Ciaran McFadden and Michael Barry in extra time.
The game started brightly with both teams looking for the opener. In the 21st minute Ciaran McFadden opened the scoring with a good shot following good play by debutants Ryan Kelly and Mark Mc Fadden.
Ten minutes later Cranford equalised when Joe Gallagher rounded two defenders and shot into the top corner to make it 1-1.
In the 34th minute Michael Barry made it 2-1 to the home side with an excellent shot from 18 yards into the bottom corner following a good team build up started by Brendan Devine.
In the second half Cranford pushed hard in search of an equaliser and United had a number of opportunities on the break.
Cranford introduced Philip Buchanan in the 75th minute and he made an immediate impact when he crossed the ball to Bryan Mc Ginley who shot into the top corner to make it 2-2 in the 80th minute.
The game went to extra time and the home side finished strongest with a second goal each for both Ciaran McFadden and Michael Barry to make it 4-2.
Darren Lynch and Brendan Giles played well for Cranford while Mark McFadden, Ryan Kelly, Jamie McGee and Aaron Bowyer were outstanding for United.
Gweedore Celtic 1 Keadue Rovers 2
IN great conditions for football at the brilliant pitch at the Screaban the home team and Keadue Rovers served up an entertaining match.
Celtic, with a few older heads, were served by a mostly youth team and they done the club and their manager Hugo Diver in his first game as manager proud.
Keadue broke the deadlock on 30 minutes through Greene and it remained 1-0 at the interval. Keadue extended their lead 15 minutes after the restart.
The young Celts did not lie down and Kyron Glennon reduced the deficit on 80 minutes after a terrific run by Conor Duggan.
Keadue held on to take their place on the semi-finals. Team effort by Keadue with Ciaran Ferry and Cathal Campbell best for the home side.
[adrotate group=”43″]LIFFORD AREA
Ballybofey United 7 Curragh Athletic 1
Castlefin Celtic P Raphoe Town P
MATCH postponed and will be played on Wednesday night
Deele Harps 2 Convoy Arsenal 1
NO report received from this game
Kildrum Tigers 2 Lifford Celtic 1
KILDRUM went one up in the first 10 minutes thanks to good work from Declan Curtis who broke through and finished well. Lifford had a few chances but didn’t trouble the Kildrum keeper.
Kildrum went two up at the end of the first half through Gary Crossan.
Sean Hamilton pulled one back for Lifford. Lifford piled on the pressure late on but couldn’t get an equaliser.
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