Doherty hat-trick gets Aileach off to a flyer against Cockhill

GAVIN Doherty was the hat-trick hero as Mickey Barr’s Aileach got their season off to a flyer with a comprehensive win over Cockhill Youths in the Clubman Shirts League Cup.Aileach FC 4 Cockhill Youths 0

Beaten in a play off in the Jackie Crossan Premier Division last season by Glengad, Aileach (pictured above) are back with a bite this season – and they swatted aside Cockhill this evening

Aileach hit the front after just ten minutes. Caoimhin McFeely’s cross was headed against the bar by Gavin Doherty. From the rebound, he laid back to James Gillespie and he scored a cracker from just inside the box.

Aileach dominated after this and were two up in the 23^rd minute.
After good play down the left-hand side. Anthony Doherty payed the ball inside and Gavin Doherty hit a stunning strike from 20 yards to the roof of the Cockhill net.

Eight mins later, Anthony Doherty broke through from the left and, while he lobbed the ‘keeper, his shot headed off the line by David Laird.

The best chance for Cockhill (pictured below) came in the 37^th minute when a cross from the right found Dara McDermott but his effort was well saved by David McGeady.

Anthony Doherty went close again, but in the 43^rd minute Aileach went three up when, following an excellent four-man move, Anthony Doherty’s cross found his brother Gavin and he scored his second of the game.

The second half was a keenly contested affair as Cockhill came more into the game, but it was devoid of clear-cut chances despite the best efforts of both teams.

Fifteen minutes from the end of a game well handled by referee Benny McDaid, Gavin Doherty completed his hat-trick when, after a flick on by Tommy McMacken, he expertly chipped Declan Caldwell from 25 yards.

Aileach FC: David McGeady, Darren McMonagle, Andy Barr, Damien Barr, Cathal McElhinney, Darren Gallagher, Dermot Doherty, James Gillespie, Caoimhin McFeely, Gavin Doherty, Anthony Doherty. Subs: James Wallace for McFeely (60), Tommy McMacken for Gillespie (65), Davy Ryan for Barr (70).

Cockhill Celtic Youths: Declan Caldwell, Mickey Noone, David Laird, Mickey O’Connor, Mickey Gallagher, James O’Donnell, Ronan McLaughlin, Martin Doherty, Joe Doherty, Shaun Pearce Fullerton, Dara McDermott. Subs: Jack McDaid for McLaughlin (45), Alan Fletcher for McDermott (55), Shane Anthony Doherty for O’Donnell (65).

Referee: Benny McDaid.

Tonight’s Clubman Shirts League Cup Results: Moville 2-2 Glengad, Aileach 3-0 Cockhill, Buncrana 2-1 Redcastle, Illies 4-0 Carrowmena, Dunree 0-2 Culdaff, Carndonagh 1-2 Clonmany, Greencastle 8-0 Rasheney.