Glencar Inn Saturday Division One took place around the county this weekend with thrilling encounters including Oldtown Celtic’s close victory over Arranmore.
Full reports from Saturday’s action below…
Arranmore United 2-3 Oldtown Celtic
Oldtown kept up their impressive start to the season by taking all three points from their Island trip.
Oldtown raced into a two-goal lead at the break with Nelis and Mc Carron netting.
Sean Brady pulled a goal back for the Islanders before a cross come shot found the top corner from Barney Mc Menamin.
Arranmore got a second goal through Gavin Mc Glanaghey and Brady and Mc Glanaghey had late chances to salvage a point but Oldtown held on.
Fintown Harps AFC P v P Glenea United Reserves
(Match Postponed)
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 2-1 Keadue Rovers Reserves
On 25 minutes Paddy Gallagher crossed from the right for Daniel Clark to slot home. Keadue missed a chance to equalise on 41 minutes when Peter Mc Gee blasted over the Kildrum crossbar.
Michael Lynch then had a goal disallowed for offside on 50 minutes.
Keadue did get level on 85 minutes when Jordan Doogan converted from the penalty spot. Lynch had the final say however when on 89 minutes he scored again, this one proved to be the winning strike at Station Road.
Glencar Celtic P v P Donegal Town Reserves
(Match Postponed)
Milford United Reserves 1-3 Strand Rovers
Milford Reserves welcomed reigning champions Strand Rovers to Moyle View Park as they looked to bounce back from last weekend’s game against Donegal Town.
Milford started the game the brighter of the two sides, and were rightly rewarded for their efforts in the fifth minute when Brendan Murray coolly slotted home to give the hosts the lead. Milford pressed for a second and came close on several occasions with Lee Burke and Ciaran Blaney causing problems for the Strand defence. As the half went on Strand started to get into the game and could count themselves unlucky not to be level. Strand’s pressing game continued and on the 25th-minute mark they found themselves level.
A well-placed corner found an unmarked Strand man in the area and with Milford unable to clear the ball a well-placed shot found its way past Barry Gallagher in the Milford goal. With the game now swinging in Strand’s favour Milford found it difficult to play their normal free-flowing game.
To be fair, the football on display from Strand Rovers was excellent at times. Strand remained on top for the remainder of the half but were lucky to go in level when a Ryan Campbell header was well saved. Milford looked to start the second half as they had the first, but found themselves behind shortly after the break.
A mix-up in the Milford defence saw Shaun Mc Gee hit a well-placed shot from the edge of the box past Barry Gallagher.
With a change needed Manager Scott Mc Bride introduced Enda Merritt, and the footballing flair on show from the Moyle Hill man he gave Milford a much-needed boost.
And it was a through ball from Enda in the 52nd minute that sent Ciaran Blaney away from the Strand defence, however, his shot was well saved.
Milford could count themselves extremely unlucky again not to draw level a few minutes afterwards when a well-placed header from Millstone Cottages’ man Kevin Mc Gee was cleared off the line.
With Milford looking to press for an equalizer spaces began to show in the Milford midfield and only for some fine saves by Barry Gallagher the scoreline could have read a lot differently.
Milford did have further chances later on with Jason Mc Conigley a constant threat on the right-hand side however as the game drew to a close Milford were caught on the break with Strand adding a third.
A disappointing afternoon for the Milford lads but it’s fair to say, you can see why Strand are the reigning league champions.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Cranford United Reserves 3-2 Ballybofey United Reserves
Cranford recorded their first win of the season with a late winner in Cranford Park. Ballybofey came out of the blocks quick and were one up after six minutes.
Both sides were creating lots of chances but neither could take one until the 35th minute when Cranford equalised when Lorcan Connor went on a lovely run beating three Ballybofey defenders before slotting the ball home through the keeper’s legs.
Cranford came out strong for the second half and went ahead after 60 minutes. Darragh Morrison done great work down the right-hand side and delivered a good ball that eventually fell at Keith Buchanan’s feet and he powered home.
Ballybofey equalised ten minutes later through a penalty. After that the game was end to end with both sides looking for a winner, it was Cranford who got it with the last kick of the game when Lorcan Connor fizzed in a free kick that the keeper spilt and Dale Mc Fadden reacted the quickest win the points.
Drumkeen United Reserves 3-3 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves
A Michael Guthrie hat-trick ensured Drumkeen Reserves earned a point and preserved their unbeaten start to the season. Played at a drizzly St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday it was the visitors who drew first blood when they took an early lead through Gerard Mc Granaghan.
The home team then turned things around and two first-half goals from Guthrie had the hosts ahead at the break. Kilmacrennan began the second half well and Drumkeen found themselves under a lot of pressure throughout the half.
The visitors’ pressure finally paid off when Edwin Doherty levelled on the hour mark. Kilmacrennan continued to dominate and Drumkeen found it hard to get out of their own half. Drumkeen were forced to do a lot of defending with young goalkeeper Mark Gordon marshalling his defence well.
Kilmacrennan appeared to have scored a third goal but Jonny Black did very well to clear a ball off the line. The resultant corner, however, did not work out so well for Drumkeen as following a goalmouth scramble Timmy Burke put the ball in the net to give the visitors the lead.
With only seven minutes left it was looking ominous for the home team but they kept trying for an equaliser. As the clock ticked down a Drumkeen attack appeared to have broken down but a mix-up in the Kilmacrennan defence allowed an alert Michael Guthrie to nip in and fire the ball into the net for the equaliser.
Well done to both teams who battled away in difficult conditions. A draw was probably a fair enough result in the end.
Dunlewey Celtic 9-0 Copany Rovers Reserves
The wind played a factor in the first half with long balls being hard to judge and conditions on the slippy side. Dunlewey struck early on and took the lead through Chris Cannon, the first of his four goals on the afternoon. Mark Roarty then doubled the lead with a cool finish past the Copany stopper.
Chris Cannon then fired his side further ahead and John Cannon got in on the act with a great strike from outside the area. Brendan Mc Geady slotted home a penalty but even then a plucky Copany side still tried to play football and had a couple of chances of their own with Hugo Cannon pulling off a couple of saves to keep the clean sheet.
Conor Mc Mahon and Keith Sweeney wrapped up the win with the final two goals in what was a much-needed win for Dunlewey.
Drumbar F.C. 2-4 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves
On a very wet afternoon, Drumoghill started the brighter scoring their first after ten minutes against the run of play. It took Drumbar some time to get to grips with the game.
They created several chances but couldn’t score. With three minutes to go to half time, Drumoghill doubled their lead.
Drumoghill grabbed the third goal ten minutes into the second half before adding a 4th mid-way through the half. Drumbar weren’t giving up however and made a late comeback with two goals back through Joe Mc Ginty and Daniel Bennett.
It was too little too late for the hosts in what was a very good game with Drumoghill running out deserved winners.
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 0-2 Cappry Rovers Reserves
Cappry’s good start to the season continued on Saturday with a 2-0 away victory over neighbours Castlefinn Celtic.
Cappry started the brighter and took the lead in the 10th minute when a David Carr cross was headed home by Karl Mc Glynn. Castlefinn pilled on the pressure and went close with efforts from Lee Mc Laughlin and Reece Gallagher. In the 55th minute, Cappry’s Daire Mc Cafferty had a great shot well saved by Castlefinn keeper Gary Mc Croary.
In the 65th minute a Lee Kennedy free was well saved by Odhran Mc Glynn in the Cappry goal. Cappry sealed the points in the 80th minute when a Eunan Kelly free took a deflection and went into the net. Best for Castlefinn was Gary Mc Croary.
