THERE WAS a truncated programme in the Donegal Junior League today, owing to the FAI Junior Cup matches in the county – but here’s a run-down of the League action.
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Milford United 0 Castlefin Celtic 3
The visitors (pictured) took the lead on 9 minutes when Corey Lee Bogan headed home from a free-kick. In a competitive first-half both teams were committed but created very few goals chances.
At the start of the second half Milford were awarded a penalty with which Kyle Black hit the post.
Five minutes later Raymond Foy stole the ball in midfield and drove forward to fire home from 18 yards past Milford’s stand in keeper Ryan Flood.
On the hour mark Ronan Tourish headed home from 5 yards for a well worked goal by Castlefin.
Milford battled to get back into the game and had good chances through Brandon Toye and Cathal McGettigan. Best for Milford were Paddy Peoples, Cathal Mc Gettigan and Brandon Toye.
Good team effort by Castlefin.
Referee: Mick Lagan.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Letterbarrow Celtic 2 Gweedore Celtic 1
Letterbarrow got their first three points of the season at home in a hard-fought game against Gweedore Celtic. Both sides had chances but Letterbarrow were frustrated at half time not to be in the lead after two great saves by the visiting keeper from James Mc Groary and Mark McHugh.
Letterbarrow started strong and after the break and Kevin McBrearty scored a great goal to put the home side in front. Gweedore struck late and felt they were splitting points with the home side but Cian Dolan scored an acrobatic bicycle kick to give the home side all three.
A good all round performance from Letterbarrow with Eoin de Burka and Cian Mc bride shining for Gweedore.
Referee: Tony McNamee
Rathmullan Celtic 1 Drumoghill F.C. 1
The home side went into a deserved lead on 42 minutes via Bryner Fotso’s first goal in the green and white but they were caught napping just 3 minutes later as Liam O’ Donnell curled home from 25-yards, a strike that would prove enough to take a point for The Moss’ men.
It was a subdued opening half-hour as both teams made little use of possession. Bryner Fotso had a shot on target for the home side, while at the other end Gareth Temple threatened for Drumoghill.
Rathmullan started to make inroads as the half wore on and they quickly made it count. In-form Reggie Miller got his head to a cross from James Gallagher and looked to have added to his fine goal-tally but the ball came off the crossbar. With Drumoghill static, Fotso was fastest to react and forced the ball home from six-yards.
That should have acted as a base for Rathmullan from which to take control but they were quickly jabbed with a counter punch from the men in red.
Richie Moore foraged for possession as Rathmullan looked to clear their lines and from the breaking ball Liam O’Donnell wasted no time in curling an early shot into the top corner that left Shaun Gallagher in the Rathmullan goal well beaten.
The breeze behind them in the second Rathmullan, raised the stakes and began to see chances coming with regularity. Kevin Doran and substitute Mark Wilson were threatening in possession while Adam Salhi’s prowess on the left wing produced some dangerous crosses into the Drumoghill box, with Chris Hunter and Chris O’Donnell doing their best to stave off the danger.
With 11 minutes left on the clock, the Hoops had their best chance to get in front, Doran was thwarted by Michael Toner in goal, only for the ball to break to another Rathmullan sub, Dara Patton, who saw his first-time shot just skim the cross-bar.
Kevin Doran had the final chance for the home side, his right-foot shot going wide from 12-yards after clever set-up play from Wilson on the left wing.
St. Catherines 0 Convoy Arsenal 3
The home team started brightly and should have been comfortably in the lead within the first five minutes.
Barry Canon hit the upright twice and had a third attempt cleared off the line.
The teams exchanged blows evenly up until the 45th minute when Christopher Murrin was accused of clipping the Convoy center-forward from behind and the ref blew for a penalty.
Anthony Bogle slotted home to give the visitors a half-time lead. Convoy were sharp out of the traps in the second half and scored twice within 2 minutes to make it 3-0 and ensure all three points.
Goals from Darren McElwaine and a second from Anthony Bogle really stung the home team and heads started to drop. Convoy sat deep and defended well for the last 20 minutes to see off any threat of a come-back.
Dean Bonner was excellent in midfield for Convoy while Conor Doherty was industrious and worked tirelessly for St Catherine’s.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Glenree United 1 Gweedore United 6
In blustery conditions, it was the away team that claimed all the points from this encounter. Gweedore scored in the 2nd minute when a cross was tapped in at the near post by Rowan O’Donnell.
They got their second in the 7th minute when a free-kick ended up in the back of the net from 18 yards through Ownie Gallagher.
Glenree got one back from a Keelan McGroddy free-kick from 20 yards, the keeper could do little about it in the 12th minute.
In the 18th minute Gweedore scored again from a penalty which Owenie Gallagher took. The away side scored their fourth of the half from a corner-kick in the 42nd.
The second half wasn’t a goal fest like the first half with only two goals scored.
Gweedore got their fifth goal from the penalty spot through Ciaran McFadden in the 79th minute and they finished the scoring in the 90th minute when Gallagher tapped it in at the back post from a well delivered free-kick for his 4th goal of the game.
Referee: Sean O’Donnell
Curragh Athletic 0 Whitestrand United 3
(No Report Submitted)
Dunkineely Celtic 2 Deele Harps 1
The game kicked off early at 1pm in a cold but dry Darney Park. Both teams took time to settle into the game but it was Dunkineely who had the first chance of note when Jack Boyle found himself free on the edge of the box however he pulled his shot wide.
Deele Harps had a good chance a few minutes later but the shot was dragged across the goal and wide also. After 17 minutes Adrian Nesbitt broke through on the Deele goal but his effort was well save by the keeper. Deele had the ball in the net after 26 minutes but it was ruled offside by the referee.
On the half hour Adrian Nesbitt was put through by a good ball from Jack Boyle, he crossed low into the box but the Deele ‘keeper got down well to save.
The game remained scoreless at half-time.
The deadlock was broken 7 minutes after the restart when a cross from Jamie Kelly when over the Deele ‘keeper and in at the back post.
Deele got their equaliser 20 minutes later and both teams looked for the winner.
Five minutes from time Paul Murrin took a free-kick from 30 yards out on the left, his effort sailed into the box where it bounced and went into the net. Deele pushed for another equaliser but it was not to come.
