It was another thrilling weekend of soccer across the Donegal league as high-drama occurred across the county. Full round-up of results below.
Milford United Reserves 4-3 Glenree United
Milford welcomed Glenree to Moyle View Park in perfect conditions for what was a very entertaining game. Milford were fast out of the blocks and took the lead in the first minute with Raymond Friel powering home a header from a corner.
They then made it 2-0 with only 10 minutes on the clock with Ciaran Gibbons finding the top corner from a free kick on the edge of the box.
Glenree got back into the game with Barney Boyce finishing well from just inside the box to make it 2-1 at halftime.
Glenree started the second half well and got the equaliser on the hour mark from a Barney Boyce penalty.
10 minutes later he completed his hat-trick in spectacular fashion, running onto the ball 25 yards out he hit a rocket into the top corner to make it 3-2 to Glenree.
Milford regrouped and forced extra time with only 5 minutes left, a great run and cross from Lee Burke found Ciaran Blaney in the box to make it 3-3.
Milford carried the momentum into extra time and after a good run from Brendan Murray he unleashed a 25 yarder that just dipped in time to loop over Glenree’s keeper and send Milford into the semi-finals.
Credit to both teams in what was a great game with Eric Roberts and Barney Boyce best for Glenree and Brendan Murray and Pauric Curley best for Milford. Referee: Barry Hunter
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Cappry Rovers Reserves 2-3 Fintown Harps
Cappry started well, playing with a strong breeze they pressed to make the advantage pay and did so in the 22nd minute when Ronan Carlin finished off a Tony Carlin Cross.
Cappry made it 2-0 in the 38th minute when Jamie Murray’s free-kick found it’s way to the net off a Fintown player. Fintown has strong claims for a penalty turned down on the stroke of half time.
Fintown started the second half strong and got a goal back in the 58th minute when Seamus Ellis headed home at the back post.
Fintown were level in the 70th when Jason Campbell fired home from the edge of the box.
Fintown got their third goal in the 85th minute when Sean Mc Millan scored.
Voodoo Venue Cup
Glencar Celtic 4-1 Dunlewey Celtic
A minute’s silence was observed in Rathmullan in memory of the four lads lost in tragic circumstances some weeks ago as Dunlewey took to the field for the first time since. Glencar started the game the brightest and took control with a Conor Gibbons goal putting them in front. Further first half goals from Shane Hilley and then Odhran Barron saw Glencar go in at the break in a very comfortable position.
A scrappy second half saw Dunlewey claw a goal back but they then had a man sent off for aggression towards the referee. Glencar capitalised and made sure of their passage to the semi-final with a 4th when a good cross from Garvan Grieve saw Ciaran Maloney head home.
St. Catherines Reserves 1-3 Castlefin Celtic Reserves
Both sides started the game well in an evenly contested opening 20 minutes. Castlefin scored on 25 minutes. The Castlefin striker volleyed into the top corner from an impossible angle.
St. Catherine’s levelled shortly afterwards when Brenden Mc Guire’s free-kick took a slight deflection off Donal Mc Guire to find its way into the bottom corner.
Castlefin went in front again before half time. Castlefin extended their advantage 10 minutes into the second half with a quick counter-attack.
Strand Rovers 3-1 Kildrum Tigers
The game was played in very windy conditions and both teams were struggling with their passing. Midway through the first half there was an off the ball incident which saw the referee show two red cards, one to each team.
Strand took the lead when Dylan Boyle’s scored a nice goal.
Strand increased the lead when Matthew O’ Donnell’s long throw-in went into the penalty box and Doalty Boyle’s head got the better of the goalkeeper to score. Kildrum got back into the game when they won a penalty.
They scored the penalty to put the game on a knife edge. Strand’s third goal came from a Kildrum Tigers corner, the ball fell to Daniel Ward and he passed the ball to James Mc Cole and James found Daniel Ward on the penalty spot to score a great goal.
Curragh Athletic 1-2 Arranmore United
Curragh welcomed Arranmore to the Sports Complex, Killygordan. The game started well with Curragh passing the ball around and they got their reward on 15 minutes when Coalin Marley finished from a Tim Callaghan cross.
Then the away side upped their game and had a good spell up to half time however it was 1-0 at the break.
The second half saw the away side come into it even more and on 50 minutes up stepped Daniel O’ Donnell to level the game.
Then on 70 minutes, they took the lead when Gavin Mc Glanaghey took his chance. Curragh had a few chances but couldn’t put them away.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Cappry Rovers 3-0 Rathmullan Celtic
Cappry Rovers won this crucial game involving two of the teams near the bottom of the table when they defeated Rathmullan Celtic in Cappry Park.
Both teams created several chances before Cappry broke the deadlock in the twentieth minute.
Aaron Kelly scored from the penalty spot after a foul in the box.
Cappry pushed forward looking for a second goal and were nearly caught on the break but good defending and goalkeeping kept the score at 1-0 at the break.
Rathmullan came more into the game in the second half and forced a number of corners but were unable to score.
Stephen Carr scored Cappry’s second goal in the sixtieth minute when he won the ball and beat the keeper to score to the bottom corner of the net.
Dean O’ Donnell secured the points for Cappry in the sixty-fifth minute when Aaron Kelly beat the keeper, who had come out of his goals, and crossed for O’ Donnell to score from close range. Both teams created a few half chances after but it ended 3-0.
Milford United 3-1 St. Catherines
Milford United welcomed St. Catherine’s to Moyle View Park for what was another crucial game, with the title race reaching the business end of the season.
Milford set a quick pace from the start with some fast and accurate passing. The St. Catherine’s defended well to thwart the threat of the Milford forward-line.
Milford continued to impose their fast-free flowing game on St Catherine’s and it appeared to have paid off in the 12th minute when Kyle Black found the back of the St Catherine’s net but his effort was ruled offside.
Milford continued to press for the opener and were unlucky again not to go in front when Gary Merritt found himself unmarked in the St Catherine’s area, his attempt sailed over the crossbar much to the relief of the Killybegs outfit.
St. Catherine’s continued to hold their back line well, but in the 25th minute Milford’s persistence finally paid off.
A strong run on the right from Darragh Black saw him find Terence Shields whose cross found Gary Merritt who slotted home to give the home side a well-deserved lead.
The home side looked to double their advantage before the break and had some big opportunities with a Gary Merritt cross tipped over the bar and a Kyle Black effort cleared off the line.
St. Catherine grows into the game late on in the first half and found themselves level in the 35th minute when, from a free kick, a scramble ensued in the Milford box and a St Catherine’s forward slotted home.
The game remained level until the interval but St. Catherine’s were reduced to 10 men shortly before the break. Milford took full advantage of the extra man and started the second half much as they did the first with some quick sharp passing.
They were unlucky not to go back in front when Adam Serrinha saw his shot go agonizingly over the cross-bar. The game continued at a fast pace and with both sides looking to take the lead.
It was the hugely impressive Kyle Black who took the game by the scruff of the neck and turns the game in Milford’s favour.
A dazzling run down the St. Catherine’s right-hand side saw him hit a pinpoint cross to Terence Shields who continued his fine form of late with a cool finish at the back post much to the relief of the Milford players and support.
Milford pushed on from there. A burst of pace from Adam Serrinha saw him cross to Kyle Black and a deft touch saw Kyle find the back of the St. Catherine’s net to close the game out for Milford.
Lagan Harps 1-3 Gweedore Celtic
Gweedore Celtic earned three valuable points after a tense relegation battle in Orchard Park. Goals in the last five minutes from Thomas Diver and Colin Ferry decided the tie. Lagan started the better and Conor Temple struck the post from a narrow angle.
They took the lead on thirty-one minutes when a great cross from Kevin Kelly was headed powerfully home by Josh Hay. Lagan continued to dominate but couldn’t get the crucial second. Lagan again started well in the second half and missed a good chance to increase the lead.
Josh Hay sent Conor Temple through but he pulled his shot wide. Gweedore came more into the game and were unlucky when Roarty struck the crossbar.
They grabbed the equaliser they had been threatening when Michael Mc Kelvey headed home a Colin Ferry cross. Lagan failed to convert in a goalmouth scramble and Thomas Diver struck a post.
With two minutes to go Lagan were awarded a free wide on the right. When the free was blocked down Gweedore broke the length of the pitch and Thomas Diver finished well.
In the closing seconds, Lagan had a corner and sent everyone up. A goalmouth scramble ensued and Lagan had three or four shots blocked on the line.
Gweedore broke and Colin Ferry ran through to finish to an open net.
Lagan will feel they deserved at least a point but Gweedore showed great character to the end. For Lagan Darragh Rodgers, Ronan Gibson and Kevin Kelly stood out.
For Gweedore Colin Ferry, Michael Mc Kelvey and Thomas Diver showed their experience throughout.
Donegal Physiotherapy & performance Centre Division Two
Deele Harps 0-4 Whitestrand United
Deele welcomed Whitestrand to Greenbrae. Whitestrand used the strong wind in the first half to their advantage. James Kerr capitalised on a stray pass in Deele’s defence on 25 minutes to fire the visitors ahead.
The second half was bossed by the away side and Ronan Morrissey went on a mazy run and unchallenged he scored a fine individual goal on 55 minutes.
The game was over as a contest when Kevin Loughrey scored on 68 minutes before James Kerr added a late fourth goal.
Gweedore United 2-1 Raphoe Town
From this game played in windy conditions in Gweedore, the home side collected another good 3 points in a tight contest between two youthful sides.
The home side started well putting good early pressure on the Raphoe defence from the start. United had good chances through Steven Mc Fadden, Frank Mc Gee and Ciaran Mc Fadden, however, Roy Duffy in the visitor’s nets did well on each occasion.
In the 19th minute, Raphoe caught United on the break and DJ Kelly finished well to make it 1-0.
The home side were back on level terms two minutes later when Frank Mc Gee headed home from close range after a good corner from Steven Mc Fadden.
It was Mc Fadden himself that converted what turned out to be the winner when he hit a lovely free kick from 25yards into the top corner giving Duffy in the Raphoe nets with no chance to make it, 2-1.
In the second half Raphoe went all out and pressed the home defence and had decent chances through DJ Kelly, Kyron Coyle and Oliver Quinn, however, Aodhan Gillespie in the United nets did well on each occasion.
The home side too had good chances through Mark Mc Fadden and Ciaran Mc Fadden however Duffy in the Raphoe nets did well to keep the score at 2-1. Kyron Coyle played well for Raphoe and it was another excellent team performance from United on the day.
Letterbarrow Celtic 5-2 Copany Rovers
Letterbarrow got back to winning ways at home to Copany on a perfect day for football.
Copany took an early lead against the run of play but Letterbarrow responded well and went in at half time 2 – 1 up with Dan Meehan and Pauric Mc Hugh both scoring.
They started the second half strong with Dan Meehan getting another. Dermot Slevin and Ian Campbell made sure the points were staying in Tymeen when they added a goal apiece.
