The Donegal Junior League Saturday Division got up and running at the weekend with nine games listed.
Division One produced three away team victories with only Fintown Harps AFC, who drew with Milford United Reserves, not relinquishing all three points at home. Division Two saw three home sides prevail with two winning on the road.
32 goals were scored and Keadue Rovers Reserves were the big hitters netting six on their visit to Arranmore Island.
The league’s three new sides, the Reserves of Ballybofey, Cranford and Kilmacrennan all suffered opening day defeats, but they will no doubt have better results as they get settled into the season.
Current Division One champions, Strand Rovers, also lost, they were defeated by Donegal Town Reserves.
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Arranmore United 0 v 6 Keadue Rovers Reserves
Keadue started the season with a big win as they travelled to the Island and went away with a 6-0 victory.
The islanders were missing several regulars. It was 2-0 to “The Gulls” at the break with four more goals coming in second half.
Peter Mc Gee scored three, Jack Doherty two and Jordan Doogan got their sixth.
Referee: Barry Hunter
Strand Rovers 1 v 3 Donegal Town Reserves
It was a lovely day for a game of football. Both team were battling in the middle of the pitch for most of the first half. Strand had a good chance when Dillion Boyle’s shot hit the crossbar.
Early in the second half Donegal Town took the lead but a few minutes later Strand levelled the game with a Sean McGee shot from 30 yards into the corner of the net.
Donegal town scored two late goals to finish the match 1-3. Both teams played well.
Fintown Harps AFC 1 v 1 Milford United Reserves
On a day when Fintown Harps fielded eight players who have come through their underage system in the past two years, along with a few veterans, Fintown fell behind in the first half when Adam Molloy pushed a shot onto the crossbar but Milford pounced on the rebound and took the lead.
Fintown’s young guns could have fallen apart after this but showed great football ability and team effort to pull one back just on the stroke of half time.
A super cross from Joe Shankey was met by CJ Lafferty who put it into the bottom corner.
Both teams pushed hard in the second half with Christopher Mc Glynn hitting the crossbar from a free kick in the seventieth minute. The draw was a fair result from very entertaining game of football.
Outstanding performances from Neil Francis Boyle, Joe Shankey, Keelan Mc Monagle, CJ Lafferty and Shane Mooney.
Glenea United Reserves 0 v 4 Glencar Celtic
Glenea Reserves got their league programme started with a tough game against a strong Glencar side.
The away side started well and had the home defence under pressure but they defended well.
As the half went on Glenea came more into the game and were unlucky not to take the lead on 30 minutes when Krystian Fiut saw his shot from the edge of the box come back off the post.
Glencar continued the push and were rewarded on 40 minutes when Shane Hilley was played in and he slotted home. Glencar extended their lead on 43 minutes when Graeme Cullen headed home a cross from the right.
In the second half the home side pushed to get back into game but were caught out on 55 minutes when Paddy Collins scored from close range.
Glencar completed the scoring on 65 minutes when Ciaran Maloney converted a penalty. Best for Glenea were Neil Mc Geever, Hugh Mc Fadden and Gerry Maguire. A strong all round display from Glencar.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 1 v 2 Dunlewey Celtic
(No Report Submitted)
Cranford United Reserves 1 v 3 Drumkeen United Reserves
This game was reversed to Drumkeen and the hosts made home advantage pay as they defeated one of this season’s new sides. Cranford found themselves three down at the break, a hat-trick from Aaron Doherty doing the damage.
They did pull one back in the second half through Kevin Doherty but that’s as good as it got for the new boys and Drumkeen have three early-season points on the board.
Ballybofey United Reserves 0 v 4 Drumbar F.C.
Ballybofey United Reserves had the honour of playing the first competitive match on the club’s new pitch at Drennan when they hosted Drumbar F.C. in the Old Orchard Saturday Division Two of the Donegal Junior League.
Unfortunately for the Twin Town’s men they didn’t get the result they hoped for, but it was great to see the club playing on their own pitch.
This team is in its first season and the signs are positive with several good young players making the transition from Underage and Youth Football to the Junior Grade. Drumbar, on the other hand, are an experienced lot and they settled much quicker than Ballybofey.
They were two ahead after only twenty minutes, the first scored by Tom Geraghty when he ran onto a through ball and beat the outrushing Bradley in the home net. Their second came from the penalty spot as Daniel Bennett converted the first of his brace for the day.
It remained 2-0 at the break. Ballybofey were much more settled in the second half and for long periods were the better of the two sides. They failed to turn their possession into goals however and Drumbar added another two goals with Bennett getting his second and Paul Mc Fadden adding their forth.
Bennett was Drumbar’s best player on the day closely followed by Kevin Martin who did a power of defensive work when called upon. For Ballybofey Jack Duffy and Conor Foy.
Referee: Gerald Devine.
Cappry Rovers Reserves 1 v 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves
Kilmacrennan had the ball in the net inside the first minute through Eamon Sheridan but it was ruled out for offside.
The visitors again had a chance to open the scoring but Eamon Sheridan’s effort was saved by Conor Mc Bride. Cappry came into the game as the half wore on and they took the lead in the 23rd minute when James Speight fired home from the edge of the box.
Kilmacrennan were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute but Eamon Sheridan fired over the bar. Kilmacrennan had Cappry pressed back for most of the second half but the found it difficult to find a way through the Cappry defence.
Cappry were dangerous on the break and should have wrapped up the points in the 86th minute but Caolan Mc Clintock fired over the bar. Two good team performances.
Referee: Leo Devenney
Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 4 v 0 Copany Rovers
Drumoghill started the stronger with Gareth Temple having a couple of chances early on.
Copany settled down and came into the game with Jay Wosser in the Drumoghill goal being called into action with a good double save.
It was Drumoghill who opened the scoring midway through the half when Mark Gibson struck a great shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. Richie Moore added a second shortly afterwards when he turned in the box and found the bottom left-hand corner.
In the second half Gareth Temple and Vinnie Toye both went close for Drumoghill before Copany hit the post.
The game was finished as a contest when Mark Gibson was taken down in the box and Richie Moore slotted home the resulting penalty. Mark Gibson added a fourth late on.
Good team performance from Drumoghill with Richard Tinney excellent throughout.
