Cappry Rovers and Milford United took advantages of leaders Kildrum Tigers being in Cup action as they both closed the gap at the top of the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division – here’s a full wrap-up from Sunday’s games:
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Cappry Rovers 4 Kilmacrennan Celtic 3
Cappry Rovers came out on top in this seven-goal thriller to secure the points. Cappry opened the game brightly and could have been a goal or two up inside the opening minutes but good defending and poor misses kept the game scoreless.
Cappry then opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Paddy O’Connor scored following a corner.
Cappry kept the pressure on in search of another goal but had to wait until the 41st minute when Patrick Mc Nulty scored with a header.
In the 37th minute Cappry missed a penalty. Kilmacrennan got back into the game in the 43rd minute when they were awarded a penalty following an infringement in the box. Michael McLaughlin scored from the spot.
Cappry stretched their lead in the 63rd minute when Trevor Gethins scored when he beat the advancing keeper following a pass from his brother Alan Gethins.
Aaron Kelly got Cappry’s fourth goal in the sixty sixth minute when he reacted quickest to a goal mouth scramble.
That would have killed off most teams but the visitors had other ideas. Michael McLaughlin reduced the lead in the seventy third minute when he pounced to score putting the ball over the Cappry keeper Eoin Gallen to the top of the net.
The visitors started to get on top pushing the Cappry defence back and were rewarded in the seventy eighth minute when they were awarded a second penalty following a tackle in the penalty area.
Michael McLaughlin scored from the spot to complete his hat-trick and reduce the deficit to a goal. Cappry held on in the closing minutes to secure the points. Team Performance from Cappry. Michael McLaughlin and Daniel McCrossan.
Referee: Andrew Mullen.
Milford United 7 Lagan Harps 0
Milford started the game at a fast pace and were 3 goals ahead after 35 Minutes, Gary Merritt, Cathal McGettigan and Kyle Black with the goals.
Milford added a fourth before half time when Mark Flood headed home from a corner. In the second half Milford added three more through Gary Merritt, Darragh Green and an absolute screamer from Anthony Hegarty.
Best for Milford were Anthony Hegarty and Terence Shields. Ruairi Crawford played well for Lagan. Referee: Dessie Mc Laughlin.
Donegal Town 3 Rathmullan Celtic 0
Donegal welcomed Rathmullan to the Hospital Field and made it back to back wins in the league with an impressive display.
Although the conditions were difficult both sides produced an entertaining game full of chances at either end.
Donegal started the brighter and went close in the opening stages with Declan Brown heading narrowly wide from a corner while Stephen Curneen will fell he should’ve hit the target with another header shortly after.
James Gallagher went close from a free kick for the visitors forcing an excellent stop from Donegal keeper Dermot McCafferty.
Jaydee Alaywie caused the Donegal defence problems with his direct style. Ben Sweeney was the Town’s standout performer causing a lot of problems with his driving runs from right back.
With the sides scoreless at the restart Donegal continued to force the issue pushing forward in numbers.
The game changed on the hour mark when JP Doran was sent off for a second bookable offence after a deliberate pull on David Graham. Graham was instrumental in the opener as he worked himself some space in the centre of the field and spread an excellent pass wide to Joe McIntyre.
McIntyre crossed to the far post where substitute Aaron Slevin rose highest to power a bullet header back across goal into the top corner giving Sean Black no chance.
Daniel McHugh doubled the lead shortly after when he calmly slotted the ball to the corner of the net when it dropped to him on the edge of the box.
It was the introduction of Slevin in the second half that gave the home side the edge they needed and he doubled his tally late on with a sensational left foot volley to the roof of the net from another McIntyre delivery.
A well deserved victory for the home side with Slevin the difference. A team display from the visitors.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Gweedore Celtic 3 Ballybofey United 1
(No Report Submitted)
Convoy Arsenal 1 St. Catherines 3
St Catherines took the lead with 7 minutes played when a free kick was whipped into the area and headed home by Dan Breslin.
Convoy pressured for an equaliser but St Catherines broke out from defence and made it two in the 28th minute when Conor Doherty pounced on a save and found the net.
Convoy pulled one back on the 32nd minute when Eunan Kelly headed home Darren Harvey’s cross. St Catherines restored their lead on 34 minutes when Ryan Farrelly hit the back on the net leaving the score 3-1 at half time.
St Catherines found the net again in the 50th minute however it was judged to be off-side by the referee. Both teams challenged in the second half with nothing to show leaving the score 3-1 at the final whistle.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Cranford United 4 Letterbarrow Celtic 2
Cranford came out on top against Letterbarrow in tough conditions in Cranford Park. It was a tight affair in the first half but Cranford went in at half time 1-0 up after a goal from the ever reliable Keelan McGroddy.
It was 2-0 after 50 minutes when Mc Groddy scored again after a great ball from Danny McBride.
David O’Donnell scored after 65 minutes with a very good finish after good work from Iarlach O’Boyle.
Iarlach himself made it 4-0 after 70 minutes when he converted a penalty. Letterbarrow scored 2 late goals to make for an interesting finish.
Deele Harps 1 Curragh Athletic 3
(No Report Submitted)
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 0 Gweedore United 1
(No Report Submitted)