JOHN GERARD McLaughlin headed home a late winner for champions Glengad at home to Carn yesterday while Aileach’s good start to the season continued with a fine home win over Culdaff.
Here’s how the action unfolded in the Jackie Crossan Premier Division:
Aileach 3-0 Culdaff
AILEACH started brightly and after five minutes Stephen McKendry had a snap shot from 20 yards fly just a fraction wide.
On 20 minutes Dermot Doherty raced clear and was unfortunate to see his lobbed effort clip the bar on the way over.
On the half hour the same player just failed to get a finishing touch to a Gavin Doherty right wing cross.
The second half followed a similar pattern until substitute Darren McMonagle fired in a 30-yard free kick which Pauric O’Donnell did well to get a hand to pushing it onto the bar but the ball dropped behind the line for the lead goal.
Culdaff responded well and from a right wing corner the which caused confusion in the Aileach defence the ball clipped McGeedy’s right hand post before being cleared to safety.
With Culdaff pressing for an equaliser there was always going to be gaps at the back and with 15 miniutes left Anthony Doherty raced clear before rounding O’Donnell and tapping home.
With time running out Anthony Doherty ran on to Caomhin McFeely’s pass and finished well across O’Donnell to the bottom corner to seal the win.
[adrotate group=”38″]
Glengad United 1-0 Carn FC
GLENGAD started at high pace but struggled to break down a resolute defence.
The champions could only muster a single serious attempt on goal in opening half which came mid way through when Terence Doherty beat a defender on the edge of the area but his effort was straight at Daniel Houghton.
Carn were first to show after the interval when Ronan Newman accepted a pass from Christopher Doherty but his shot from 18 yards was just over the crossbar.
The visitors had another opening on the hour mark but a free taken by Christy Winkers was dealt with by Kevin McLaughlin in the home nets.
With the game seemingly heading for a scoreless draw Glengad struck for the vital winner with a minute remaining.
Seamus Doherty delivered a corner into the near post where John Gerard McLaughlin (pictured above) headed to the net as the home side claimed all three points.
[adrotate group=”46″]
QPS 0-2 Buncrana Hearts
THE home side had the first chance when Caolan Dohery’s corner to the back post was headed wide by Paul Grant when well placed.
Buncrana replied with Alan Friel’s half volley just wide, the Swift’s Caolan Doherty brought a fine save from Buncrana’s keeper Eoghan Doherty on 15 minutes.
Buncrana’s Donal Doherty failed to connect with John O’Loughlin’s free from the left, and Decky Fullerton’s curling 20 yard shot was just off target.
Buncrana took the lead on 26 minutes after a good period of pressure. Robbie Fullerton’s ball in from the left for Stephen McHugh to tap in from six yards.
The home side responded and Chris O’Donnell picked out Joe McKinney but he shot over when well placed.
Chris Monteith had an effort from 20 yards held by O’Doherty in the visitors net, then it was the turn of Caolan Doherty to fire over for the home side. Joe McKinney pounced on a mistake in the Buncrana defence but the keeper saved well.
Buncrana had a good chance at the start of the second half but Mc Hugh dragged his shot wide.
Buncrana missed a great chance when Fullerton’s corner found Alan Friel, who headed back across box to Donal O’Doherty who blazed over from six yards.
They spurned another good chance moments a poor throw in back to the home keeper was intercepted and pulled back to Kieran McDaid who shot wide with just keeper to beat.
Buncrana increased their lead on 64 minutes when McHugh and Alan Friel combined to set up Adam Duffy to knock the ball in at the far post from eight yards.
QPS’s Monteith had a header saved from a Buchanan cross and on 84 minutes Alan Friel broke on the right and set up Fullerton who brought a fine save from Oisin Burke in the home net.
[adrotate group=”70″]
Clonmany Shamrocks 3-3 Greencastle
CLONMANY took an early lead in the 10th minute when Michael Devlin got played in at the left corner of the box.He drove in a low cross which went across the face of the goal to the far post where Jason Devlin rolled a pass into the path of Greg Bradley and he slotted home from close range.
However the lead only lasted two minutes with Greencastle equalising when a free kick on the left side was hoisted into the box and Mark Henry’s firm header from the penalty spot went to the top left hand corner of Paddy Harkin’s goal.
Greencastle continued to press and had the majority of play for the rest of the half and went close again in the 26th minute when Marty Henry’s free kick was driven lie into the goal mouth and Joe Doherty tried a back heeled effort that was cleared off the goal line by Aaron Friel.
Clonmany made a substitution in the 40th minute with Mark McLaughlin replacing the injured Jason Devlin.
Clonmany looked to have come to terms with Greencastle dominance at midfield as the second half progressed and regained the lead in the 55th minute when Mark McLaughlin got on the end of a long clearance, evaded the tackle of the only defender between him and the Greencastle goals and with JP Doherty coming out to block him, he switched the ball to his other foot and rtruck a rising shot into the roof of the net.
On 67 minutes Clonmany struck for a third goal. Mickey Devlin sent a ball to the right for Mark McLaughlin to attack the Greencastle goal.
Again J P Doherty came out to block and parry the shot but the ball came across to Greg Bradley, who saw his shot blocked. The ball fell to substitute Mickey Friel and he shot across the face of the goal and into the bottom corner of the net.
Greencastle continued to show great spirit and pulled a goal back in the 74th minute when a free kick from the right was headed through a crowded goalmouth by Matty Henry and into the net despite the efforts of Paddy Harkin and defenders on the line.
Greencastle saw their right back James Curran sent off in the 79th minute after two quick yellow cards resulted in a red.
Clonmany’s Mickey Devlin went close in the 81St minute when he got on the end of Aaron Friel’s cross but his volley was just off target.
Greencastle also pressed and went close after Front Doherty set Christy Hegarty up for a shot which whistled past the right hand post.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 89th minute when Hegarty and Doherty combined again down the right side of the Clonmany box and Ronan Doherty turned the Clonmany defence and sent a low shot to the net to make the score 3-3.
In added time they almost snatched a winner when Ronan Doherty shot from the edge of the box but Paddy Harkin made a superb block on the goalline to deny him.
[adrotate group=”81″] Tags: