THERE WAS ANOTHER busy day of action in the Donegal League today, while there was one game in the FAI Junior Cup. Here’s a full round-up.
Picture caption: Cappry’s Eoin Gallen saves from Strand Rovers’ Brendan Glackin at Cappry Park.
FAI Junior Cup
Raphoe Town 2 Bonagee United 0
RAPHOE Town progressed to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup courtesy of a victory over Bonagee United. Keelan Kelly got their first goal when he latched onto Christy Bogle’s left wing cross.
The game remained tight and it wasn’t until Christy Bogle added a second from the penalty spot to give Raphoe a two goal lead, after Jamie Gallagher had been fouled in the box, that Raphoe could breathe easy and look forward to the next round of the Cup.
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Drumoghill FC 2 Castlefin Celtic 1
DRUMOGHILL maintained their 100 per cent start to the season by virtue of another home win, and again it was a brace from Ritchie Moore that won them the game.
A goal in each half was enough to seal the points, but it has to be said that Paul McCauley’s performance in goals was as much a factor in this victory as was Moore’s up front.
Two brilliant saves in the closing minutes from McCauley made sure that Drumoghill held on to the lead that was given to them by Moore’s eventual winner on 78 minutes.
He first tipped a long-range effort from Tourish over the bar before saving at point blank range from Ian Ward’s effort in the last minute. Castlefin will feel they did enough to secure at least a point from this game, if not more.
With the scores tied at 1-1 Castlefin should really have taken the lead on 76 minutes when a long ball was not dealt with by the Drumoghill rearguard and Ward’s deft chip beat McCauley but also beat the crossbar. Drumoghill breathed a sigh of relief.
Castlefin were to pay the ultimate price for failing to convert that opening when Drumoghill scored from their next attack. There seemed little danger when Moore gained possession around 40 yards from goal. He exchanged passes with Rafferty and set up a shooting chance.
Moore resisted the chance to shoot first time but sent McAnaney one way then the other before driving the ball inside the near post.
The first half was an even contest in terms of chances created with Drumoghill shading the possession stakes.
Both teams scored in the final minute of the first half, Moore breaking the deadlock direct from a corner before Ian Ward drilled home to ensure the scores were level at the break.
The second half maintained a similar pattern before the late action at both ends of the pitch ensured Drumoghill ran out winners.
[adrotate group=”38″]Glenea United 2 Milford United 1
GLENEA got their home programme underway with this hard earned victory over Milford. In blustery conditions for football the away side started well and went close through efforts from Garry Merritt and Kyle Black.
As the half progressed the home side came more into the game and on 20 minutes Ciaran Mc Geady got free but saw his effort well smothered by the keeper. A little later Ryan McFadden got down the left but Mc Geady was unable to convert the pull back. Gary Merritt then tried with a long range effort but Joe Coll made a fine save.
Glenea opened the scoring on 35 minutes when Lee O’Brien flicked on a corner and Darren Mc Geever fired home from eight yards,
In the second half Milford started well and had the home defence under pressure and were finally rewarded on 60 minutes when Kyle Black got down the left and his pullback was drilled home by Gary Merritt.
Milford almost took the lead on 67 minutes with a carbon copy of their goal but this time Merritt was unable to convert. Both sides pushed hard for a winner and on 80 minutes Glenea regained the lead when Eamonn Cannon’s corner went directly into the net.
In a frantic closing period Glenea had chances on the break to seal victory but failed to take them and were almost made to pay on 88minutes when Mark Flood headed a free-kick against the bar.
Best for Glenea were Dean McCarry, Eamonn Cannon and Ciaran McGeady, while Paul Nash and Gary Merritt were best for Milford.
Referee: Joe McHugh.
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Lagan Harps 1 Kildrum Tigers 3
ON TEN minutes Lagan had a great chance following a goal mouth scramble but Philip Doran dragged his shot wide with the goal gaping.
Paddy Collins then created space inside the Kildrum box but again shot wide when in a good position. On 20 minutes Gavin McGlanaghey burst through on goal but Paul Simon Tracy in the Kildrum goals made a great save.
Lagan paid for not taking their chances when a lofted free ended with Damien Crossan forcing the Lagan keeper into a great save but the ball fell to Oran Higgins who slotted home.
Kildrum increased their advantage from a free delivered by James Melly and headed to the Lagan net by Declan Curtis to leave the half time score line 2-0 to Kildrum.
Lagan pressed after the break but the Kildrum defence, who were excellently marshalled by Michael Lynch and James Melly, repelled all Lagan threw at them.
Kildrum scored their third goal to wrap up the points after a mix up in the Lagan defence and the ball ended at the feet of Michael Lynch who shot home from 20 yards.
Lagan got a consolation goal when, after good work by Seamie Peoples, his cross was missed by the Kildrum keeper and Gavin McGlanaghey headed home.
Best for Kildrum were Damien Crossan and Michael Lynch with Declan Curtis outstanding for Kildrum.
For Lagan, Gavin McGlanaghey pressed hard throughout.
Referee: Mick Langan
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1 Rathmullan Celtic 6
RATHMULLAN made it two wins from two in the Premier Division with a strong second half performance at the Flagpole, player-boss Dara Patton easing his side to victory with a hat-trick.
Eoin Sheridan added a brace while James Gallagher was also on target for the hosts in the closing stages. Mouse McLaughlin converted a penalty for Kilmac on the hour-mark, by which stage both sides had been reduced to ten men by referee Vincent McLaughlin.
With the aid of the breeze it was Rathmullan that started best. Having failed to create any proper chances in the opening quarter hour, Patton stooped well to head home Eoin Sheridan’s inswinging cross from the left wing and put his side in front.
Kilmac settled into the contest much more thereafter and were arguably doing the best work over the next 20 minutes without extending Mark Gallagher in the home goal.
In first half stoppage time Patton found himself with time and space 16 yards from goal and he curled a right foot shot around Jason Hegarty to double the lead.
That seemed set to be the last action of the half but a clumsy tackle from Kevin Doran drew retaliation from Kilmac’s Ryan Shields and, after some skirmishes on the half way line, referee McLaughlin had little option but to brandish red to Shields and the Hoops JP Doran.
Five minutes into the second half a misjudgement from Hegarty in the visiting goal saw the ball break to Patton 18-yards out and he wasted little time in sealing his hat-trick as he fired home between two retreating defenders. Rathmullan were now well on top and Eoin Sheridan’s persistence inside the box saw him pick up possession and round the ‘keeper before applying a neat finish past the covering defenders on the line with the outside of his right foot on 57 minutes. Kilmac’s goal arrived from the penalty spot on 60 minutes.
Some pushing was spotted from a corner and Mouse McLaughlin slotted home the resulting spot-kick. Kieran Dillon’s side pushed hard for a second goal that would have brought on some nerves for Rathmullan but the contest was all over on 70 minutes when Eoin Sheridan once more showed his composure inside the box to collect a cross from Paddy Sheridan and slot into an empty net after evading some despairing challenges.
At the other end Timmy Burke looked certain to register another for Kilmac but he was denied by a point-blank stop from Gallagher in the Hoops goal on 77 minutes.
With time just about up Gallagher made ground on the right to collect Eoin Sheridan’s pass before skipping inside Enda McCormick at full-back and rounding Hegarty to give himself the simplest of finishes.
Referee: Vincent McLaughlin
[adrotate group=”70″]Convoy Arsenal 2 St. Catherines 2
CONVOY welcomed St. Catherines to Orchard Park with both teams hoping to build on results from their first round of games.
It was Convoy who started the brightest and they had the away team under some pressure in the opening exchanges.
They got the breakthrough in the 20th minute after some fine work by Lee Guthrie set up Anthony Bogle to fire home at the second attempt.
The lead didn’t last too long and within 10 minutes the teams were level. A short corner caught the Convoy defence off guard and Eamonn Bonnar curled a lovely effort past Chris O’Donnell from outside the box. Convoy nearly hit straight back a couple of minutes later when Darren Harvey hit the crossbar from a fine free-kick and Anthony Bogle couldn’t keep the rebound down.
The half settled a bit after this and the teams went in level at the break. The second half started end to end with half chances being created by both sides but it was Convoy who took the lead around the hour mark when player-manager Ryan Carlin scored a cheeky overhead kick.
This didn’t dishearten St. Catherines and they managed to get an equaliser when a long ball up field caused some confusion in the Convoy defence and Ryan Farrelly nipped in to score the equaliser.
Things went from bad to worse for Convoy when Conor Cairns handled near the edge of the box to earn himself a very harsh red card and gift St. Catherines a penalty. But as happened many times last year Chris O’Donnell came to the rescue for Convoy with a great save from Conor O’Rourke’s penalty.
Convoy showed great determination from then on and even though they were reduced to 10 men looked the more likely to score for the rest of the game.
They did nearly sneak it with the last attack of the game when Gary Brolly hit the post. Both teams will be happy with a hard fought point in a game that could of went wither way.
Best for St. Catherines were David Conwell with James Kee and Paul O’Leary standing out in really strong team performance for Convoy.
[adrotate group=”82″]Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Gweedore Celtic 4 Keadue Rovers 2
GWEEDORE got off to a good start when Neil McGee was fouled on the edge of the area. Odhran Mac Niallais converted the free kick on 15 minutes. Keadue Rovers equalised on 33 minutes through John Yank Boyle.
In the second half Eamon McGee scored on 65 minutes after Colin Ferry and Odhran McNelis set him up. Keadue Rovers equalised on 68 minutes through Daniel Bonner.
Micheal Roarty dribbled into the box and set up Colin Ferry to score on 84 minutes.
On 87 minutes Gweedore secured the points when Thomas Diver set up Eamon McGee to score.
Referee: Dessie McLaughlin
Gweedore United 1 Erne Wanderers 5
THIS game played at Carrickboyle saw the visitors collect the three points following a good second half performance.
United started this game the strongest and had a number of good early opportunities. In the 13th minute Jamie McGee’s free kick seemed to be gliding into the bottom corner but Peter Boyle pulled off an excellent save.
This was followed by good chances for Michael Barry, Frank Mc Gee and Niall Friel however Boyle in the visitors nets did well on each occasion.
Malcolm Reilly had two decent chances for Erne but put both chances over the bar. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Darren Ferry put Michael Barry through one on one and Barry finished well to make it 1-0.
This lead was short lived as Erne scored from the next attack as a good cross from the right wing from David Dolan was tapped in by Seamus Kane from close range.
United continued to push and saw good chances fall to Kieran Gillespie and Darren Ferry however it was a day of missed chances for the home side.
In the second half the visitors took full advantage of the missed opportunities by United as they took the lead in the 62nd minute through a good shot from Barry Mulligan. Erne made it 3-1 in the 67th minute with a good finish from Malcolm Reilly.
United had decent chances through Barry, Kieran Gillespie and Gary Mc Fadden however the Erne defence did well on each occasion.
In the 78th minute Erne extended their lead with a good finish by Seamus Kane following a defensive error. Malcolm Reilly finished the scoring in the 80th minute with a good finish past Bowyer in the United net to end the scoring at 5-1 to the visitors.
A good team performance from Erne with Jamie McGee and Gary McFadden playing well for United. Referee: Ed Moore.
[adrotate group=”38″]Glenree United 2 Deele Harps 6
THE home side will rue an abysmal 10 minute period in the second half which cost them the game.
They took the lead through Aaron McClafferty when he did well to finish from 18 yards on 20 minutes. The away team responded quickly and were back level through Shane Gallagher on 27 minutes.
On the stroke of half time John McClafferty put the home team ahead.
Glenree had a few chances to go 3 up before they collapsed and conceded 5 goals in 10 minutes in the second half, Shane Gallagher, Brian Duffy and Eathan Durning the scorers.
Damien Nelis and John Mc Clafferty nearly got consolation goals but a good save and the crossbar denied them. A spirited team performance from Deele.
Referee: Liam McLaughlin
Cappry Rovers A Donegal Town A
(Match abandoned due to an injury to the referee)
CT Ball Division Two
Eany Celtic 3 Drumkeen United 4
DRUMKEEN United raided Eany Park on Sunday afternoon but midway through their raid they almost allowed their opponents to halt their progress. Ryan Kettle, Benny Bonner and Niall Bonner all scored to see United race three goals ahead.
Benny Bonner then notched his second after 55 minutes to seemingly secure the pot. Five minutes later to quickfire goals from the McGroarty twins, Liam and Paul saw the deficit halved.
Paul went on to score again on seventy five minutes to rattle the Drumkeen charges at their very foundations. Despite creating numerous chances to get the equaliser that they deserved Eany could not find the net again and so it was back to St. Patrick’s Park that the spoils went but not without almost having their raid ambushed.
Curragh Athletic 0 Ballybofey United 4
THIS game was played in near perfect conditions at the Curragh Sports Complex in Killygordon. Ballybofey United scored two in each half to claim all three points.
Damien Glackin opened the scoring and Dan O’Brien got the second. After the break Alan Patton made it three and with time almost up Michael Lynch completed the scoring.
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. P Copany Rovers P
(Match postponed due to bereavement)
Whitestrand United P Dunkineely Celtic P
(Match abandoned due to bereavement)
Cranford United 1 Lifford Celtic 5
LIFFORD started well and put pressure on the Cranford defence which payed off with a cross to the back post and a good header to make it 1-0.
Cranford responded well and got a goal back through a Philip Buchanan penalty.
It was then Lifford who responded well with a long ball falling kindly to a Lifford forward who netted. After halftime Lifford got off to a similar start and went 3-1 up.
As Cranford pushed they left gaps at the back and Lifford punished them with two good breaks and goals to close out the game
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