THE SECOND ROUND of the FAI Junior Cup took place over the weekend.
The Donegal League and Inishowen League sides were in action, while in the CT Ball Division 2 there was a minute’s silence at Dunkineely Celtic in memory of the late George McMullin.
Photo caption: Action from the Donegal League match between Raphoe Town and Deele Harps. Photo: Donegal Junior League
FAI Junior Cup
Greencastle FC 2 Lifford Celtic 0
Greencastle dominated for long periods of the game and only the excellence of Dylan Earley in the Lifford goals kept this game.
In the first half Joe Doherty fired wide and then had an effort crash off the bar while Matthew Henry was denied on two occasions by Earley as the half ended scoreless. In a rare foray forward Lifford’s Kevin McBrearty was unlucky when an attempted lob beat JP O’Doherty but came back off the bar.
Greencastle responded and brilliant work by Joe Doherty on the right saw his cross find the inrushing Puaric Gillen and he fired low to the net from eight yards.
Three minutes later they made it 2-0 after Henry advanced past three challenges and fed Doherty who controlled well , turned and superbly lobbed the advancing Earley. Lifford battled hard to the end with Mark McNulty also impressive but Greencastle advance.
Cockhill Youths 0 Cranford United 2
The home side started well with Daniel M Doherty, Darragh McDermott and Michael O Doherty all had very good chances but failed to convert with McDermott’s effort cleared off the line.
Cranford settled and took the lead on 25 minutes when Joe Gallagher fired low past Declan Caldwell from 20 yards. In the second period Cockhill had a lot of pressure with Doherty and McDermott both denied by the keeper.
Cranford countered and in a swift attack on 75 minutes Brian McGinley fired home from 12 yards. Cockhill pressed hard but failed to create any clear chances and this was a game of missed chances for the home side as they bow out.
[adrotate group=”53″]Arranmore FC 0 Glengad United 1
The first half saw Glengad with the majority of possession with the home defence sitting deep. Glengad’s first chance on 15 minutes saw Patrick Mc Dermott hit the bar from the edge of the box with keeper Johnny Greene beaten.
Good play in midfield from Shane Canning played Patrick Mc Dermott through but he pulled his shot wide when he had more time than he realised. Glengad upped the tempo in the second half and put the home defence under more pressure with Brian Proctor and Danny Rodgers in defence dealing with Glengad forwards. After a number of corners Glengad got the only goal of the game on 65 minutes when from a Stephen Fildara cross John G McLaughlin bundled the ball over the line off an unfortunate defender.
Arranmore threw caution to the wind looking for the equaliser and Glengad should have added to the score late on but for some poor finishing.
[adrotate group=”38″]Clones Town 3 Kilmacrennan Celtic 1
Kilmacrennan fell two goals behind before Ryan Shields put them on the score-sheet. Unfortunately that was the only goal that they could muster and Clones Town scored again to win by three goals to one.
Ballybofey United 1 Castlefin Celtic 4
Castlefin Celtic came to Ballybofey on Sunday for the second time in four weeks for yet another Cup clash. Having been dislodged from the Brian Mc Cormick Cup on the last occasion the Premier Division side arrived with the intention of redressing the balance.
Matthew O’ Rourke got them on their way but his was to be the only goal of the opening half. After the break JP Malley doubled the advantage and Ronan Tourish made it three five minutes later.
Damien Glackin pulled a goal back for Ballybofey before Malley added his second to complete a comprehensive victory. PJ Mc Menamin was best for Castlefin with Sean Mc Gowan best for Ballybofey.
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Erne Wanderers 9 Culdaff F.C. 2
Erne Wanderers hosted Culdaff in the FAI Junior Cup on Sunday at the Lakeside Centre and ran out comfortable winners by nine goals to two.
Erne opened the scoring on five minutes when Phillip Patton broke behind the visitors defence and squared for Barry Mulligan to slide home from 6 yards. Erne were now attacking at will and creating numerous chances but failed to take them.
Malcom Reilly then found himself through one on one on 25 minutes but his rocket of a shot cannoned back of the crossbar and the visitors went straight up the other end and equalised through Benny Mc Laughlin. Erne finished the half strongly and scored twice just before halftime through David Dolan and Malcom Reilly.
The second half was much the same with the home side bossing it and scored on 50 minutes when David Dorrian played a through ball to David Dolan and he squared for Mark Dorrian to tap home. The fifth came on 61 minutes when a stray back pass landed in the net with the keeper stranded. Erne got number six on 70 minutes when McInerny got in behind and squared for Mulligan to tap home for his second.
McInerny got number seven with 15 minutes left when he finished well from the edge of the box. Culdaff got their second on 80 minutes when their midfielder got in at the back post to finish well. Wanderers got the next two goals when Mc Inerny and Eamonn McGrath scored to round it all off.
A good all round display from Erne with Mulligan, Reilly, Dolan and Dorrian standing out with Culdaff battling it out to the end.
Milford United 3 Rathmullan Celtic 2
Please click here to read Charlie Collins’ match report
Drumkeen United 3 Gweedore United 0
Drumkeen progressed to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup with this victory over visitors Gweedore United.
The home team dominated most of the first half but for all their domination they only had one goal to show for their efforts. The goal they got was a good one though when an Anthony Browne effort from 30 yards out on the right side flew into the net.
This was no more than Drumkeen deserved and they also had a couple of other good efforts from Micheal Patton and Anthony Browne during the first half hour. Towards the end of the half Gweedore started to get more into the game and had a good spell during the last 10 minutes of the half but the home team finished strongly when Michel Patton had a chance saved and Ryan Kettle put an effort over the Crossbar.
Drumkeen began the second half strongly and earned a free kick right on the edge of the box when Aaron Doherty was fouled. Benny Bonner took the free kick which proved to be an easy enough save for the keeper.
[adrotate group=”45″]They doubled their advantage shortly after that when Peter McNamee was fouled in the box. Referee Martin Mc Annaney pointed to the penalty spot and McNamee himself made no mistake with a well taken penalty giving the Gweedore Keeper no chance. At the other end Drumkeen keeper Michael Gibson was quickly off his line deny Jamie McGee and keep the two goal lead intact. Drumkeen were creating plenty of chances now and a third goal was always on the cards.
The third goal when it came was a well worked one as Benny Bonner on the half way line played a great ball in to Peter McNamee in the box and McNamee finished well into the right hand corner of the net. Gweedore did not give up though and Gary McFadden earned a corner when his shot came off a defender and went wide.
The corner from the left had to be tipped over the bar by keeper Michael Gibson. The keeper also had to make another save shortly after. At the other end Drumkeen could have had a couple of more goals with substitutes Kevin Bonner and Marty Gallagher both having opportunities and a Ryan Kettle free kick just went the wrong side of the post. The home side just proved too strong on the day.
CT Ball Division Two
Dunkineely Celtic 3 Eany Celtic 0
This game at Darney Park had an early start and a minutes silence was observed before kick off in memory of the Late George Mc Mullin R.I.P.
Dunkineely started this game very brightly and they took the lead after only 8minutes. A good ball into the box found Andrew Mackey unmarked and he made no mistake. Dunkineely had Eany on the back foot and some nice football from Allister Rodgers and Baker Boyle in midfield was putting it up to Eany and only some good defending from Paul Mc Groarty and Mark Ward kept Eany in the game.
Dunkineely were then awarded a free outside the box and Andrew Mackey scored a screamer to the corner of the net .Eany had a good effort through Des Mc Groarty just wide and another good shot from Mark Ward well saved by Gavin Mulreany in the home goals. 2- 0 to Dunkineely at halftime.
Eany came out much more brightly in the second half and had a good effort from John Rose tipped over the bar by Mulreany. The game flowed from end to end with good chances and Dunkineely got a third goal to seal the points.
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