AILEACH CAME from behind to overcome managerless Buncrana Hearts at The Lakeside this evening in Group C of the Clubman Shirts Legaue Cup.
Aileach FC 2 Buncrana Hearts 1
Buncrana led at half-time thanks to Alan Friel’s 32nd minute header, but in a six-minute spell from the 59th minute Aileach turned the tables.
James Gillespie made one and scored one as Mickey Barr’s team got the new season off to a winning start.
Gavin Doherty leveled thinks up when he powered Gillespie’s free kick past Owen O’Doherty (below) at a time when Aileach were turning the screw.
And they hit the front on 65 minutes when Gillespie rose highest to head in at the back post.
Buncrana, under Gary Duffy’s watch, as their search for a new manager continues, had chances to get back on level terms.
Substitute Eoin Murphy drilled over when a corner was only partially cleared and Murphy was closer still when, with Aileach’s rearguard retreating, Murphy popped wide of the far post from 15 yards.
[adrotate group=”37″]Full-back Harry Forshaw fashioned a chance when he got across the edge of the Aileach penalty area, but his low shot deflected out for a corner.
With the night darkening around The Lakeside, Buncrana went in a valiant search of an equaliser, but Kieran McDaid, after connecting with a deep cross, steered into the arms of Aileach netminder John Roulstone.
Hearts (below) had gone close in the 12th minute when Friel nipped around the back to latch onto a ball over the top. Friel got there ahead of the advancing Roulstone, but his hooked effort clipped the post.
Two minutes later, after Roulstone clawed back a corner from Steven McHugh, Declan Fullerton’s header was narrowly wide.
Fullerton had drawn an earlier save from Roulstone and it felt only a matter of time before the Castle Park residents his the front.
[adrotate group=”38″]They did just that through Friel and they could have doubled the lead when Aileach were caught cold again, but Roulstone was out ahead of McHugh, who beat the offside trap.
As the first half came to a close, Aileach came more into it, but Cathal McElhinney’s header didn’t trouble O’Doherty, although the Aileach goalkeeper did save from James Gillespie.
In first half stoppage time, Aileach’s Dermot Doherty drilled a powerful attempt across goal after retrieving a deep ball in by Anthony Doherty.
[adrotate group=”46″]Aileach were a different side after the break. Paddy Slevin sailed over from the left-back side before Gavin Doherty just failed to get a touch on Conor Gallagher’s teasing cross.
Soon, though, Aileach were level and then in front; their season off to a winning start.
Last season, Aileach won the Buncrana Credit Union Cup, their first final win in nine attempts and now Barr and company have begun the new term fuelled by an aim of challenging for silverware again.
Aileach FC: John Roulstone; Conor Gallagher (Conor Bradley 66), Damien Barr, Cathal McElhinney, Andy Barr (Darren Gallagher 73); Paddy Slevin, James Gillespie, Thomas McMacken, Dermot Doherty (Adam Barr 60); Anthony Doherty (Ciaran McGrory 82), Gavin Doherty.
Buncrana Hearts: Owen O’Doherty; Harry Forshaw, Ryan Doherty, Donald Doherty, Robbie Fullerton (John O’Loughlin 76); Alan Friel (Eoin Murphy 60), Liam McCarron, Kieran McDaid, Calvin Gallagher; Steven McHugh (James Adair 65), Declan Fullerton (Christy McKinley 89).
Referee: Danny McLaughlin
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