JUST THREE points separate the top five in the Jackie Crossan Premier Division after Sunday’s games – here’s a full roundup of all the Inishowen League action.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Culdaff FC 3 Carn FC 2
In windy conditions this was a close hard fought game with in truth little in it but the home side will be delighted with their first win of the season. Carn started with the wind and Brandon Browne almost dispossessed a defender but Paul Mclaughlin recovered before Ronan Doherty fired over the bar from fifteen yards. Matthew Mclaughlin tried his luck from wide on the left but Darragh McLaughlin held comfortably.
The visitors best chance came on the half hour when a Shane Doherty ball from midfield released Girtz Dzerins running from deep but Darragh McLaughlin made a fine tackle on the edge of the area.
Culdaff were dangerous on the break and Brendan Mclaughlin fired narrowly wide of the angle before Michael Coyle headed over as the half ended scoreless. Culdaff upped the ante at the start of the second period with Coyle heading an inswinging McLaughlin free wide before a powerful forty yards wind assisted free from McLaughlin was well tipped over by JJ Doherty.
The home side took the lead with a stunning thirty five yards chip from McLaughlin to the roof of the net on 68 minutes.
This inspired the visitors and Matthew McLaughlin broke on the left but fired into the side netting. McLaughlin then went down the left and cut back before crossing for Ronan Doherty to sweep the ball low into the bottom right hand corner. Culdaff regained the lead in the 85th minute when McLaughlin converted a penalty after he had been upended by keeper Doherty. Carn responded and Ronan Doherty flashed a well hit effort inches past McLaughlin’s right hand post.
Culdaff then struck for a third after Mclaughlin robbed a defender and advanced to lay the ball off to Paul McLaughlin who guided the ball past the advancing Doherty and into the corner.
In injury time Ronan Doherty ran at the home defence and played a superb ball into Dzerins and his cross came off a defender and into the net, but the home side held on for a crucial three points.
[adrotate group=”80″]Clonmany Shamrocks 1 Glengad United 3
This was a big result for the visitors but the home side had the first chance on 11 minutes when Mikey Friel got in behind the defence but hesitated and Kevin McLaughlin smothered. But Glengad broke the deadlock on 18 minutes after Stephen McLaughlin was upended in the area and Patrick McDermott converted.
The Shamrocks were dealt a further blow after Andrew Doherty had to retire injured and they were dealt a hammer blow when another penalty was awarded for handball which McDermott again converted. Glengad started the second period well and both McLaughlin and McDermott had efforts well tipped over the bar by Harkin.
On 64 minutes a Terence Doherty cross cum shot almost deceived the back pedalling Harkin but he managed to tip the ball over. On 79minutes Clonmany got a lifeline when Mark McLaughlin raced onto a long ball and beat keeper Kevin McLaughlin to force the ball home.
Glengad sealed the win after McDermott advanced into the area before turning and feeding Stephen McLaughlin to hammer a stunning effort into the top corner.
Greencastle FC 0 Buncrana Hearts 1
Greencastle started this game well and Ronan Doherty had an effort smothered by Cory Wilson before Christy Hegarty fired narrowly wide after a corner. On 15 minutes Matthew Henry saw a twenty five yards effort clip the outside of the post before a dangerous cross from Hegarty eluded all. Buncrana responded and in a quick break Stephen McHugh saw his chip come back off the post.
Greencastle replied and Matthew Henry had a twenty five yards free just over. Brother James then had one shot brilliantly saved by Wilson before seeing another crash off the post. Neil Harkin and Adam Duffy both went close before the break while at the other end Shaun Doherty headed wide from a corner before Hegarty was also narrowly of target. Buncrana started the second period well with substitute Bart Wesolowski latching onto a long ball but lobbing his effort just wide.
Greencastle got back on top with Michael Henry volleying wide and James Henry twice off target with efforts from the edge of the area. Buncrana had a decent spell then with Harkin firing over, Duffy seeing a shot saved and Liam McCarron shooting weakly at JP O Doherty.
In the 89th minute the Hearts struck to claim the points when McHugh advanced on the left and crossed for Duffy to fire home on the half volley from eight yards. In a late melee the visitors John O’Loughlin and Hegarty and Matthew Henry from the home side were all red carded.
[adrotate group=”85″]Dunree United 1 QPS 2
The point got off to a dream start when in the opening minute the ball deflected off a defender and into the net. Dunree settled into the game and midway through the half a Darryl Moran effort was well saved by Oisin Burke.
The home side spurned a good chance after a Kai McDaid cross found William Doherty but he fired wide when well placed. Before the break the point replied with Stephen Grant having a twenty five yards effort saved by Philip Doherty. After a slow start to the second half the home side got back on terms when William Doherty despatched a low twenty five yards effort to the bottom corner.
They had another great chance when Doherty flicked the ball onto Evan Barry but he fired wide from a good position. Then in the final minute the visitors snatched the points when Stephen Grant fired low to the net from a tight angle past Doherty.
Strand Hotel Division One
QPS Reserves 0 Moville Celtic 3
The visitors started the game at a lightning pace. Finn McLaughlin and P.J Barr had early chances but failed to trouble Swifts goalkeeper David Bell. On eight minutes, Kevin Wallace made a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Michael McNaught after the Moville midfielder had created a good opening. Another superb block from Aaron Barr on McLaughlin three minutes later kept the score-line goalless.
Moville’s blistering start was rewarded with two quick-fire goals. On fourteen minutes, a Connor Doherty free-kick from the edge of the box wrong-footed Bell and flew into the bottom right corner. Five minutes later, John Gillen floated a free-kick from the right hand side and Billy McCann took advantage of hesitant defending in the home penalty box, rising to power a header past a helpless David Bell.
The away side continued to apply relentless pressure, looking to finish off a shell-shocked Swifts side early. Finn McLaughlin played Michael McNaught in after a good run but McNaught’s low shot went inches wide. McCann then made a strong run on the left before playing in P.J. Barr, whose stinging shot drew a good save from Bell.
Two minutes before the break, Moville extended their lead. Barr dropped deep into midfield to collect the ball before playing a beautifully weighted pass through to McNaught who made no mistake from twelve yards, clinically finishing into the bottom left corner to make it three nil and cap a dominant first-half performance.
The Muff side began to claw back into the game in the second half, but were fortunate not to go further behind on fifty minutes. McCann found himself unmarked in the six-yard box from a corner but headed over the bar. At the other end, Gavin Grant’s long-range effort forced Moville keeper Liam Grimley into action, while Josh McLaughlin shot wide after good play from Jack McConnelogue.
On fifty-eight minutes, Billy McCann had another great chance to score for the visitors, but blazed over the bar from eight yards when placed to do better. David Bell was called into action again on sixty-nine minutes to deny substitute Shane Skelly. A minute later, Michael McNaught intercepted a loose pass from Gavin Grant but his lob drifted just wide of the goal when one-on-one with the Swifts keeper.
To their credit, Quigley’s Point ended the game strongly as they pushed for a consolation. Paul Hegarty’s free-kick drifted agonisingly wide on eighty minutes, while another free-kick from Jack McConelogue was well saved by Grimley three minutes later. The Moville keeper then tipped over a curling twenty-yard effort from James McGeady in the dying seconds before denying Stephen Slattery to ensure a clean sheet for the league leaders.
[adrotate group=”82″]Sea Rovers 1 Illies Celtic 1
In wet conditions the home side had an early chance when Damien Ward had an effort deflected wide.
The visitors took the lead on 33 minutes when after a deflection inside the area Stephen Doherty reacted quickest to slot the ball home.
On the stroke of half time Rovers got back in the game when Shay Rodgers released John C Doherty whose low cross found Daniel Glackin and he fired low past Johnathan Noone from the edge of the area.
There were few chances in the second period but Illies Michael Coyle had a long range effort wide. At the other end Daniel Glackin had a well struck effort saved by Noone on 77 minutes.
On 81 minutes Illies Stephen Doherty sidestepped a defender and unleashed an effort which crashed off the post. Doherty then had the final chance of the game but he was denied by a brilliant double save from Glen Watson.
Aileach Reserves 1 Redcastle United 2
This was a crucial win for Redcastle but the home side were short a few and at full strength will trouble most teams in this division.After a dour midfield battle for the opening thirty minutes Stephen Doherty fired narrowly over the bar for the home side.
At the other end a Seamus Doherty free was punched clear by David McGeady. Aileach broke the deadlock on 39 minutes when a Ruairi Bradley cross was only half cleared and Jordan McGeady volleyed to the roof of the net from fifteen yards. Redcastle had a chance before the break when Brendan Murphy beat the offside trap to race clear but fired poorly wide.
Redcastle got back on terms on the hour mark when Murphy released Shaun Curran and he advanced to slide the ball low past McGeady.
The home side responded and Bradley saw a well struck shot ricochet off three defenders before being cleared. The visitors took the lead on 81 minutes after the ball came off a defender and fell nicely for Curran to calmly slot low to the corner.
Aileach had a late chance to salvage a point but a Stephen Doherty header was brilliantly saved by Michael McCole.
[adrotate group=”83″]Rasheney FC 1 Cockhill Youths 3
The home side spurned two great chances in this game and from that perspective they will be disappointed. The first came on 8minutes after a Damien Friel effort was parried by Declan Caldwell into the path of Charlie Doherty but he blazed over.
Anthony Doherty then had a good downward header well saved by Caldwell on the line.
Cockhill replied and a Darragh McDermott header was well palmed away by Sean Friel beore at the other end Charlie Doherty had a vicious free tipped over by Caldwell. Doherty then delivered a free kick to the back post but Conor O’Neil just failed to get the decisive touch.
Cockhill then went close after a James McGonagle effort from the edge of the area crashed back off the post. Rasheney then spurned their second gilt edged chance after a Paul McConalogue low effort was parried by Caldwell into the path of David McLaughlin who skied the ball over an unguarded net from eight yards.
They paid the price on the stroke of half time when a McDermott cross was flicked to the net by Daniel M Doherty.
Rasheney pressed on after the restart and equalised on 56 minutes when a Damien Friel free crashed off the wall and fell perfectly for Charlie Doherty to fire high to the net from twelve yards. Cockhill responded and both McDermott and McGonagle had efforts blocked inside the area before a Jarlith Herrity effort from distance drew a stunning save from Friel.
Cockhill regained the lead on 68 minutes after the unmarked Shaun Doherty cut in from the left and fired a looping effort to the roof of the net.
There was controversy in the 81st minute after a home defender, believing the ball to be out of play, caught the ball inside the area and Daniel M Doherty converted the penalty.
Shaun Doherty, Herrity and Michael Noone all had late efforts off target as the visitors finished strongly.
Carrowmena FC 1 Clonmany Reserves 2
The home side had the first effort on 11 minutes when Conor Lafferty had a shot saved. Clonmany responded and the inrushing Dessie Doherty fired over the bar on 17 minutes.
The home side then had another chance when Harry McCormick and Oran McDermott combined to tee up Raymond Campbell on the edge of the area but he fired narrowly wide as the half ended scoreless.
Five minutes after the break Carrowmena took the lead after McCormick was upended in the area and McDermott cooly converted low to the corner.
Clonmany responded, taking control of midfield , they equalised in the 65th minute after a defensive error allowed Jack Doherty to roll the ball into the path of Dessie Doherty to fire past Mark Doherty from 8 yards out.They went ahead on the 76 minutes from an in swinging corner , when Conor Doherty rose highest to glance a header past Doherty and seal the points.
Donegal Sign Reserve Knockout Shield
Redcastle Reserves 0 Gleneely Colts 1
In a keenly contested game the visitors broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a Nathan Mclaughlin cross found Joe Mclaughlin and he fired to the top corner. The visitors suffered a blow on the half hour mark when keeper Mclaughlin suffered a knee injury and had to be replaced by Adrian Duffy. Redcastle started the second period well and on 54 minutes a superb Shane McCready strike is parried for a corner by Duffy with the colts defence clearing the resultant corner.Redcastle were finding it hard to create clear chances and on 86 minutes after a corner a Brian Farren effort was well saved on the line by Duffy.
[adrotate group=”38″]Greencastle Reserves 3 Carrowmena Reserves 0
Greencastle got off to a flying start on 8 minutes after Oran Henry released Cathal Mclaughlin and when the advancing Michael Noone mistimed the tackle McLaughlin slotted low to the net.
They went close again on 37 minutes when Daniel Rowan released Pauric Gillen who beat a defender and squared to Tom Heuston but his effort was well saved by Noone. Greencastle continued on top on the restart and when Gillen broke the offside trap his attempted chip was well clawed away by Noone.
The home side suffered a blow on the hour mark when Heuston was red carded for two cautions. But five minutes later they increased their lead when Eugene O Donnell fed Rowan in midfield and his pass split the defence for Gillen to race clear, round Noone and slot home.
Carrowmena tried to respond and when a kevin McCauley free found Raymond Campbell his header was superbly saved by Puaric Carey-Doherty. Greencastle sealed their passage into the semi finals when Gillen broke on the left and crossed for Kevin McLaughlin to fire low past Noone from six yards.
Moville Reserves 4 Aileach Youths 0
Moville flew out of the traps and opened the scoring on 4 minutes whena Kyle Harkin cross was volleyed high to the net from ten yards by Kevin McDermott.
The same player added a second on 11 minutes when he converted Harkin’s free kick at the back post. Aileach settled into the game after this and Daibheid Grant had one effort just wide before seeing a twenty five yards effort superbly tipped onto the bar by Ryan Coyle.
They had another chance before the break when Ryan Dowds broke clear but his low effort deflected off the legs of Coyle as he advanced. Moville got off to a great start to the second period also and made it three nil on 51 minutes when after the visitors defence failed to clear Michael Gillespie poked home.
Minutes later Kyle Harkin saw a 35 yards effort crash off the bar to safety. Aileach responded and Benny Hegarty had a good effort well saved by Coyle before Shane Bradley flashed a fifteen yards half volley inches past the post. But the home side sealed their progression to the semi finals when Harkin’s inswingng corner eluded all and landed in the net.
Cockhill Reserves 3 Culdaff Reserves 1
In a goalless first half there were few chances at either end with defences on top.
Although, on a number of occasions great interplay between the home sides James Barber and Ryan Mallet resulted in some dangerous crosses but Cockhill could not capitalise on the good build up play. Shortly after half time Cockhill settled down after some great passing moves Kevin McDaids shot on goal was flicked in to the net by Gary Breslin to open the scoring.
This goal settled Cockhill who started to create a few good more chances from work down both flanks and were rewarded midway through the second half when Ryan Mallet volleyed home from a Kevin McDaid cross after good work by Wesley Doherty.
Wesley Doherty soon made it three-nil to Cockhill when he finished well from six yards at the back post after good work by Kevin McDaid and Conor Allen to create the chance.
Just as Cockhill looked to have the tie finished Culdaff pulled a goal back with about 15 minutes remaining. Gary Smith finishing well after the Cockhill defence failed to clear a Culdaff corner. Culdaff had another chance to close the gap with a free kick just outside the box however, the Cockhill wall did its job and
saw the game out then with Wesley Doherty unlucky no to make it four late on but the Culdaff keeper saved well .
Inishowen Engineering Division Two
Glengad Reserves 0 Illies Reserves 3
The home side had an early chance when Christopher Doherty beat the offside trap but saw his effort crash off the post and Doherty hit the post again with the rebound.
Illies then took the lead after a defensive mix up allowed Gavin Doherty to fire low past Ronan Lafferty from eight yards. On 40minutes Illies Dominick Doherty broke clear but Lafferty saved well and when the loose ball fell to Adrian Donaghey Doherty but Lafferty recovered to parry.
On the stroke of half time Seamus O Donnell headed in off the underside of the bar from twelve yards after a deep cross.
After an even opening Illies made it three nil on 68 minutes when Gavin Doherty fired low past Lafferty.
Glengad tried hard and PJ McDaid and Joe Doherty went close with half chances before Paul McGonigle had a late effort saved by Graham Doherty.
Carn Reserves 1 Buncrana Reserves 2
In a well contested game the home side will be disappointed not to have gained something from it. They took the lead on 4 minutes after Rory Brady controlled a Niall McGuinness free kick before volleying past Ryan O Sullivan.
Buncrana replied and Alan Friel had an effort saved by Fergal Bradley before they equalised on 13 minutes when after the home defence failed to clear Friel slotted home from close range.
The remainder of the half was a close hard fought encounter with defences on top. Carn started the second period well and before the hour mark a McGuinness free looked destined for the top corner but O’Sullivan made a stunning save to tip the ball over.
The home side were out of luck then after a Conor Doherty twenty yards effort crashed off the bar before being cleared.
Buncrana then hit the woodwork with a cross cum shot from Michael Doherty on 83 minutes.
The visitors struck for the winner on 88 minutes when a Bradley kick out was headed back by James Doherty for Alan Friel to race clear and drill low past Bradley.
Rasheney Reserves 2 Dunree Reserves 3
The visitors opened the scoring midway through the half when Jerry Farrell converted a Neil Moran cross low past Rodger McGilloway. But Rasheney got back on terms when a Christy Ivers cross was hooked home from close range by Johnathan Toland.
The visitors had two efforts from Peter O Neill before the break one well saved by McGilloway before seeing another one fly over the bar. In the second half Evan Barry had a hooked effort well saved by replacement home keeper Kieran O’Neill.
At the other end a good move involving Niall Devlin and Karol Harkin released Jack Mclaughlin who sidestepped a defender and from eight yards blazed over. Rasheney kept pressing and Harkin had a free saved by James Doherty.
Dunree responded and Jerrry Farrell advanced into the area but fired into the side netting. Midway through the half Rasheney’s Harkin crossed to Niall Devlin and well placed his tame effort was saved.
The home side took the lead on 71 minutes after a superb solo run by Jack McLaughlin took him past two defenders into the area before drilling low past substitute keeper Neil Moran.
Dunree equalised on 81 minutes when a home defender lost possession allowing David Eccles to cross for O’Neill to control and slot home from fourteen yards and gain a point. They then scored the winner in the closing minutes after an Evan Barry effort took a wicked deflection on its way to the net for a fortuitous winner.
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