Culdaff and Aileach FC will meet in the Charlie O’Donnell Cup final after triumphing in their semi-finals today:
Culdaff FC 2 Moville Celtic 0
In a poor game overall dominated by the windy conditions the home side just about deserved to go through.
Moville had the first chance on 12 minutes when a James Gillen effort from distance sailed just over Darragh McLaughlin’s crossbar.Culdaff replied and Brendan Mclaughlin ran through the middle but fired wide from 20 yards.
McLaughlin opened the scoring on 27 minutes when he converted a penalty after Eugene McLaughlin was upended.
Moville responded well to this set back with Gillen’s free tipped over by McLaughlin and Conor Doherty firing narrowly past the far post after racing onto a long ball up the left.
Moville with the wind started the better on the resumption but struggled to create clear chances.
Charlie Gill fired two long range efforts well over before the same player had a half chance but fired straight at McLaughlin.
On 57 minutes a superb Eugene McLaughlin cross found substitute Michael Coyle who fired over from six yards.
Coyle then suffered a suspected broken nose in an accidental clash and was replaced by Niall McLaughlin. Culdaff sealed the tie on 76 minutes when a Brendan McLaughlin free came back off the post for Dillon Ruddy to dive in bravely and head home.
Brendan McLaughlin then broke clean through the Moville defence but fired wide when he really should have scored.
Late pressure from Moville saw Ryan Killen get on the end of a deep corner kick but his close range effort came back off the post.
Illies Celtic 0 Aileach FC 1 (aet)
Premier Division Aileach were the better team for long periods but had to wait until deep into extra time to advance.
Gavin Doherty had an early free which rebounded off the post while Illies Michael Coyle fed Liam Doherty but his effort was saved by David McGeady.
Aileach were unlucky again on 39 minutes after Gavin Doherty burst through the home defence and when his initial effort came off the post the rebound was superbly saved by Johnathan Noone.
Ten minutes into the second half Jordan McGeady unleashed an effort which crashed back off the crossbar to Anthony Doherty but his follow up was brilliantly saved by the outstretched hand of Noone.
Midway through the half Coyle pulled the ball back for JP Donaghey but he fired over from 15 yards.
On 73 minutes McGeady was upended inside the area but Anthony Doherty’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Noone and his follow up was cleared off the line by Paddy Doherty.
Late in normal time Doherty broke clear again but this time Noone blocked with his legs.
Illies had claims for a penalty waved aside in the opening period but on 108 minutes Aileach struck for the winner.
Gavin Doherty beat four defenders inside the area and when Noone blocked his effort McGeady was on hand to slot the ball home.
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