The Donegal Junior League produced another thrilling day of action on Saturday as high-scoring contest took place throughout the county.
Full round-up below…
Arranmore United 8-0 Fintown Harps AFC
Arranmore got back on track with a big win on the Island. Brian Proctor opened the scoring early on before he set up Aidan Proctor to double the lead.
Gary Heaney scored to make it three before the break. Arranmore scored another five after the interval the goals coming from Gary Heaney, Brian Proctor, Paul Early, Chim Reynolds and Gavin Mc Glanaghey. Referee: George Clinton
Donegal Town Reserves 3-0 Keadue Rovers Reserves
Donegal Town Reserves started brightly but created few chances of note. The opening goal came after Gary Ward bravely won a header after a long clearance from Kenny in the “Town” net.
Ward was again in the thick of the action when he picked out James Kerrigan with a lovely pass for him to slip the ball past the visiting keeper. Keadue came into the game after this and were very unlucky not to pull one back before halftime, denied by a great double save by Kenny.
The second half was dominated by long periods of possession for the Donegal, again without creating many clearcut chances.
The third goal came via the penalty spot from Barry Mulligan after Kerrigan was brought down. Best for Donegal were Ward and Kerrigan.
Glencar Celtic 2-3 Oldtown Celtic
Glencar hosted neighbours Oldtown Celtic for their first home game of the season. They took the lead when Eddie Mc Laughlin powerfully headed home after great cross from Graham Cullen.
They went further in front when Jordan Mc Ginley struck after good work by Eddie Mc Laughlin.
Oldtown Celtic were yet to come alive however and Glencar gifted them two goals.
Sean Clearly came f the bench to score the winner with a fine finish from the edge of the box. Bragging rights to the bottom side of the town after this Derby.
Referee: Gerard Devine
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 0-0 Strand Rovers
Aaron Ward had a great chance when through one on one with the keeper but put it over the bar, Chris Cronin put a pass-through to Jonny Corcoran but his effort went just wide.
Connor Matthewson went on a mazy run but put his effort over the bar. Jonny Corcoran made a great tackle on Ward to stop a certain goal.
A great pass by Jonny Corcoran put Gareth Colhoun in on goal and he won a penalty but the keeper made a great save from the spot-kick.
The second half was end to end but neither side could break the deadlock.
Milford United Reserves 1-0 Glenea United Reserves
Milford Reserves gained a win in their first home game of the season to give new manager Scott Mc Bride a positive start to the season.
In a game that could have gone either way Jason Mc Conigley’s goal on twenty-two minutes was the difference.
A great cross was met by Connor Meakin who nodded the ball back to the unmarked Mc Conigley who scored. Glenea came out fighting for the second half and Barry Gallagher made himself a hero after a fantastic penalty save. Glenea had some long-range efforts but Milford’s defence was solid throughout.
Milford could have and should have, been two up, however. Ciaran Blaney was one on one with the keeper but couldn’t find the back of the net. A great game and an excellent result for the newly promoted team. Team performance from both teams. Referee: Mick Lagan
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Ballybofey United Reserves 2-1 Cappry Rovers Reserves
Ballybofey United Reserves put their opening day defeat behind them and re-booted for the visit of neighbours Cappry Rovers Reserves to Dreenan on Saturday afternoon.
It didn’t look good early on however as for the second week running they conceded an early goal.
Packie Gallen calmed their nerves however when he fired home from amid a goalmouth scramble which followed a United corner-kick.
Things settled down after this and both sides were cautious when defending. It was going to take something special to gain the advantage as the half wore on.
Conor Doherty then produced what became the match-winning goal. Ballybofey were awarded a free-kick all of thirty yards out. The experienced Doherty curled a perfectly weighted effort into the keeper’s top left-hand corner giving the stopper no chance.
It remained 2-1 until the break and with no further goals added in the second forty-five, this is how it ended. Cappry tried, without reward, to get back on level terms but Ballybofey defended gallantly to hold out and secure a first win since their return to Saturday football.
Cappry’s was a team performance while Conor Doherty and Mark Sproule stood out for Ballybofey.
Referee: Brian O’ Kane.
Copany Rovers 1-5 Castlefin Celtic Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Dunlewey Celtic 3-1 Cranford United Reserves
Dunlewey Celtic had their first home game of the campaign and kept up their winning start against a dogged Cranford side. Blustery conditions in Glentornan Park saw an edgy start to the game and both sides tried to keep control of possession.
It was the home side that broke the deadlock when Kyran Glennon finished smartly after twenty minutes to bring his tally to two in as many games.
Cranford tried to get back into the game but got caught with a break down the right-wing from where John Cannon whipped the ball across the Cranford box and the ball fell to the feet of Mannie Cannon who finished into the bottom corner to put the hosts ahead 2-0 at the halfway stage.
The second half started with both sides battling for possession again and with Cranford pushing the spaces opened for Dunlewey.
Mannie Cannon played the ball through for John Cannon to put the ball past the Cranford keeper, that ended it as a contest. Cranford never gave in despite the three-goal deficit and kept pushing until the end.
They pulled one back after a long ball fell to a Cranford player who bundled the ball home. Dunlewey held out to keep the three points in Glentornan Park.
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 2-1 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves
Kilmacrennan started the brighter of the two teams with good play from Timmy Burke and Eamon Sheridan, the latter should have put the home side one to the good on 15 minutes when latching on to an Eddie Doherty through ball, but he put it over the crossbar.
Drumoghill also had their chance when Brendan Devine sent a ball in behind the Kilmacrennan defence to put his winger through on goal but Niall O’Regan in the Kilmacrennan goal dived at his feet to make a great save.
The deadlock was broken on 25 minutes when the evergreen pairing of Burke and Sheridan worked their magic to put the home side ahead, Sheridan getting on the end of Timmy’s cross.
The second half started and Drumoghill were putting pressure on Kilmacrennan defence. With 70 minutes on the clock, they levelled the game when a great cross was met in the middle of the box by Carlin who made it 1-1.
On 86 minutes Steve McDaid found himself inside the Drumoghill area and Cooley finished into the back of the net to make it 2-1 to Kilmacrennan, that’s how it finished.
