There was plenty of action on Sunday from the Donegal Junior League as Cappry Rover came out on top against Donegal Town in emphatic fashion.
Full round-up:
Cappry Rovers 5-1 Donegal Town
Cappry Rovers claimed the points from an entertaining game played on a lovely day at a splendid Cappry Park. Cappry started the strongest and Patrick McNulty opened the scoring in the eighth minute from a header following a cross from Brendan Mc Laughlin. Cappry increased their lead in the tenth minute when Jamie Murray scored with a shot. Donegal came more into the game after those early setbacks and could have scored a few goals themselves but good defending and goalkeeping kept them at bay.
Cappry started the second half in the same fashion as the first half and they went further ahead in the forty-seventh minute when Patrick Mc Nulty got his second from a header. Donegal kept the pressure on and they got a goal back in the sixty-first minute when Oisin Roper scored to the bottom corner of the net. Donegal could have sneaked another few goals but there was no way through a resolute Cappry defence.
Alan Getins got Cappry’s fourth goal in the seventy-sixth minute when he scored past the advancing keeper following a pass from Calvin Bradley. Cappry got their fifth goal in the eightieth minute from the penalty spot when Aaron Kelly scored after Alan Getins was adjudged to have been fouled.
Patrick Mc Nulty, Alan Getins and Aaron Kelly were best for Cappry. Team performance from Donegal Town. Referee: Paddy Duffy.
Milford United 3-6 Drumkeen United
(No Report Submitted)
Bonagee United 1-3 Kilmacrennan Celtic
The home side took the lead on eleven minutes when Daniel Stolarchyk fired home from a free kick from twenty-five yards. The visitors levelled the match on twenty-three minutes when a cross into the box from the left was not cleared by the home defence the ball broke loose and Michael Mc Laughlin shot home from ten yards.
The visitors took the lead on thirty-one minutes when Terence Shields broke clear down the left and he laid the ball back to the edge of the box and Enda Mc Cormick’s strike found the top corner of the net.
It was 3-1 two minutes later when Shields again broke clear down the right he crossed the ball into the box and Kevin O’ Donnell beat the defender to the ball and shot home from five yards. The home side came close to scoring on thirty-seven minutes when an Aaron Wasson strike from twenty yards went just wide of the post. Caolan Mc Daid for the visitors was put clear by shields on forty-one minutes but he shot wide from just inside the box.
Daniel Stolarchyk had a good chance on forty-five minutes to score but his shot went just past the post from twenty yards. On fifty-two minutes a Grey Mc Gee cross from the left into the Kilmacrennan box fell to Ashmore but his strike from fifteen yards went over the bar. Enda Mc Cormick then saw his strike on sixty-three minutes from thirty yards saved by Carr in the home goal. Both teams had half chances but nothing to bother either keeper. Team effort by both teams. Referee: Dessie Mc Laughlin.
Kildrum Tigers 3-0 Keadue Rovers
After early exchanges where both teams had chances to break the deadlock it finally came on 18 minutes after McHugh’s through ball found Luke Toland who turned and finished neatly to put Kildrum ahead.
Ten minutes into the second half Kildrum doubled their lead after fantastic play from Oran Higgins, he crossed for Lynch to tap home. On 65 minutes Kildrum got their third and put the game to bed, Lynch was brought down inside the box and Kevin McHugh made no mistake from 12 yards.
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Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 2-1 Rathmullan Celtic
It was derby day delight for the ‘71 on Sunday with a brilliant win over neighbours and good friends Rathmullan. The men from the seaside started the better and were well on top for the first twenty minutes and could have been a couple of goals up. The home side began to grow into the game and finished the half on top with the Rathmullan goalkeeper being forced into a couple of great saves, the best being a brilliant one handed stop from a Paddy Heraghty header. Kerrykeel started the second half on top and Paddy Carr and Sean Little were winning the midfield battle.
They broke the deadlock with 60 minutes on the clock when Paddy Carr finished off a great move involving Marty Mc Ateer, Michael Sweeney and Evan Hewitt. Carr kept his cool and fired into the bottom corner. It was nip and tuck then with both teams going close. A major turning point in the game came in the 70th minute when Michael Mc Devitt saw red for the home side after he brought down Carruthers when he was the last man. From the resulting free-kick James Gallagher curled a brilliant effort into the bottom corner.
Advantage Rathmullan it seemed but the ‘71 dug deep and fully deserved to re-take the lead on 75 minutes when Sean Little found space on the left and beat Gallagher from six yards to send Rab’s Park crazy. Rathmullan never stopped and threw everything at Kerrykeel for the remaining 15 minutes but the ‘71 stood tall and to see out the remaining minutes and take all three points. An outstanding team performance from Kerrykeel with every single man standing to the challenge. James Gallagher and Eoin Sheridan were best for Rathmullan. Referee: Marty Mc Garrigle
Letterbarrow Celtic 1 v 2 Lifford Celtic
(No Report Submitted)
Drumoghill F.C. 2-2 Ballybofey United
Ten-man Drumoghill showed they lack nothing when it comes to character when they somehow salvaged a point from this contest with Ballybofey United at The Moss. Having led 1-0 at the break, the home side then saw the visitors go 2-1 up before having Dylan Mc Elhinney shown a red card. It would have been so easy to throw in the towel, but Drumoghill threw caution to the wind and deservedly grabbed an injury time equaliser when Conor Temple’s superb volley at the back post gave Chris Patton no chance in the Ballybofey goal. The visitors though will be kicking themselves.
They were the better side in the second half, having struggled to cope with Drumoghill’s work rate during the opening 45 minutes and will feel they should have taken home all three points when leading 2-1 against ten men.
Drumoghill deservedly led at the break after Liam O’ Donnell had headed home Ritchie Moore’s cross on the half hour. Ballybofey though came out refreshed for the second half and started to dominate proceedings. They equalised on 62 minutes when Mark Griffin was taken down in the box and Damien Glackin made no mistake from 12 yards.
They took the lead on 75 minutes when Jude Patton hammered home at the back post after good work from Griffin. Drumoghill now had no choice but to go on the attack in search of an equaliser and the game became more open.
Jason Doherty almost scored when sent clear by his brother Anthony but Patton was there to avert the danger. As Ballybofey started to counter at pace when the opportunity to break presented itself, Dylan Mc Elhinney was left exposed and had no option but to foul Conor Mc Glynn and left referee Vincent McLaughlin with no option but to punish the professional foul with a red card.
That should have been that, but not so, as Drumoghill’s found a late equaliser. Christopher O’Donnell and Chris Toner moved up from their defensive positions and it was O’Donnell’s header from Crawford’s cross that dropped invitingly for Conor Temple and his first-time effort flew into the net before anyone realised what had happened. Well played both teams on producing a dramatic encounter. Referee: Vincent McLaughlin
Glenea United P v P Convoy Arsenal
(Match Postponed)
Gweedore Celtic 6-1 St. Catherines
Two young teams battling it out at the wrong end of the table served up an entertaining encounter at An Screaban but it was the home team’s old guard who stole the show with five goals between them.
Thomas Diver, celebrating his thirty seventh birthday, hit a hat-trick with his striking partner Colin Ferry grabbing two goals. Gweedore raced into a two goal lead through Diver and Ferry but Catherines reduced the deficit thanks to a fine strike from Istvan Vajda.
The second half saw the home team dominating and a further two goals from Diver and one each from Ferry and a first league goal from Johnathon Gallagher sealed the issue for Celtic’s first points of the season.
Despite the defeat Catherines had great displays from Christopher Cunningham in midfield and Micheal Mullin in goals. Gweedore were well served by Cian Mc Bride in defence, Ciaran Mc Hugh in midfield and the evergreen Thomas Diver in attack. Referee: Liam Mc Loughlin.
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Dunkineely Celtic 1-0 Glenree United
This fixture was played in excellent conditions at Darney Park, Bruckless. The game was end to end and both teams had their chances but the scoreline remained 0-0 at halftime.
Following the restart Glenree hit the crossbar but then Dunkineely created a good chance on 66 minutes and Adrian Nesbit scored from the edge of the box.
Ten minutes later an Adrian Nesbitt header hit the crossbar but he was unable to convert the rebound. Best for Dunkineely were Aaron Mc Shane and Seanie O’Shea, a good team performance from Glenree
Lagan Harps 3-5 Gweedore United
Lagan started well and went close when Barney Meehan’s delivery was headed goalwards by Ross Hamlyn but the Gweedore goal keeper saved well. From a quick kick-out Barney fed Ronan Carlin who crossed for Richard Gordon to fire home. Lagan pressed for the second and spurned a few good chances and a ball through the middle beat the Lagan defence and Ciaran McFadden was upended and Ownie Gallagher converted the penalty. Lagan went 2-1 up when Ross Hamlyn fired home after a quick free from Marty Gallagher. Just before half time Ciaran McFadden again beat the offside trap and fired home past the Lagan keeper. Gweedore started the 2nd half better and from a free out wide Ownie Gallagher headed home unmarked at the back post.
A poor goal from the home team’s point of view. Ciaran McFadden made it 4-2 when again after poor defending he beat the keeper low to the right. McFadden completed his hat-trick when he curled a great effort to the top corner from twenty yards. Lagan got a third when Ross fed Stephen Gallagher who finished well. Best for Gweedore United were Bryan Gallagher, Paul Doogan and Patrick McFadden. Best for Lagan were Josh Hayes and the outstanding Barney Meehan. Referee: Barry Hunter.
Curragh Athletic 1-4 Swilly Rovers
(No Report Submitted)
Whitestrand United 0-2 Raphoe Town
Whitestrand looked to continue their excellent start to the new season against Raphoe Town at Mc Garvey Park. The game started with both teams trying to get the upper hand. Raphoe took the lead when Conor Friel scored. Whitestrand dominated large parts of the first half but found a resolute Raphoe hard to get past. The second half started with Raphoe quickly scoring a second through Dillon Brolly. Whitestrand were stunned and tried in vain to push for an equaliser. It was a second half of few clear-cut chances and again Raphoe defended very well and in the end fully deserved their victory. Despite the result Whitestrand have made a fantastic start to the new season and hopefully this is only a blip on the road.
