There was joy today for Cappry, Drumkeen, Kildrum and Kilmacrennan Celtic in the Brian McCormick Cup Area Shield finals today – here’s a full round-up of all the weekend’s Donegal League action.
Brian Mc Cormick Cup Area Finals
Donegal Area: Donegal Town 2 Cappry Rovers 2 (Cappry won 4-3 on Penalties a.e.t.)
In high tempo start to the game both teams were evenly matched in the early exchanges. Daniel McHugh almost put the Town in front after 12 minutes.
McHugh carried the ball from midfield beating 3 players only to be denied by the post. McHugh came close again minutes later when his shot from the edge of the box flashed just wide.
Cappry had a penalty shout in the 25th minute when Calvin Bradley went down inside the Donegal box but the referee waved play on. Donegal got the breakthrough on 35 minutes.
Stephen Graham headed a deep corner kick back across the Cappry goal line and Declan Browne was the quickest to react to bundle the ball into the net and give Donegal the advantage. Cappry were unlucky not to equalise on the stroke of half time when Aaron Kelly’s half volley flashed just over the Donegal Crossbar. 1-0 Donegal at the break.
Cappry got themselves back on level terms just minutes into the second half. Calvin Bradley’s well placed free kick bounced awkwardly in front of Donegal keeper Gavin Mulreany and found the corner of the net.
This rallied the Donegal side and it wasn’t long until they re-established their lead. Ben Sweeney’s pace carried him from the halfway line into the Cappry box and a late challenge from a Cappry defender left the referee in no doubt but to award a penalty. McHugh made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-1 Donegal.
Donegal had several chances to put the game to bed over the next 10 minutes. Declan Browne hit the crossbar and both Joe McIntyre and McHugh forced good saves from Eoin Gallen in the Cappry goal.
Calvin Bradley’s header following a Cappry corner levelled the match for a second time on 75 minutes. The game opened up in the last 15 minutes and both teams pushed hard for a winner. Cappry had a string of chances to clinch the tie late in the game, Darren O’Leary was unlucky not to head a winner and Joel Bradley Walsh forced a great save from Donegal keeper Mulreany. Mulreany was called into action three more times in the dying minutes of the game pulling of several fine saves to keep Donegal in the tie.
With the scoreline deservedly tied 2-2 at the end of the game extra time proceeded. Tired legs on both sets of players resulted in neither team creating any significant chances over the course of the extra time. Penalties were all that could separate the sides and Cappry keeper Eoin Gallen’s save was the difference in the two teams as Cappry won the shootout 4-3.
Letterkenny Area: Drumkeen United 4 Milford United 2
Drumkeen won the Letterkenny Area Final of the Brian McCormack Cup with a hard earned victory over visitors Milford on Sunday.
The opening minutes of the match were mostly played in the Milford half and the home team did get a breakthrough after 15 minutes when an Aaron Doherty cross was turned in to his own net by a Milford defender.
The lead did not last long though as Milford equalised five minutes later when Terence Shields headed home following a cross from the right. Milford then could have taken the lead then when Joey Cullen was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded.
Terence Shields stepped up to take the penalty which was saved by Drumkeen keeper Paul McAuley which meant we were all square at the break.
The second half began well for the home team when they scored an early goal after earning a corner.
The corner was taken by Benny Bonner and found Lee Guthrie in the middle who made no mistake. Drumkeen added a third after some great inter play between Lee Guthrie and Aaron Doherty and the ball ended up in the net as Guthrie slid home Doherty’s Cross from the left.
Milford pulled a goal back when Paddy Peoples headed home a corner to reduce the deficit to just a goal. Kevin Bonner eased the home nerves a bit when he added a fourth after 70 minutes. During the last twenty minutes Drumkeen defended well as Milford went in search of more goals and they also had plenty of attacking opportunities themselves but neither team could find another Goal. For the home team it seemed like the final whistle would never come but it did and Drumkeen were the winners by 4 goals to 2.
After the match they were presented with the Area trophy by John Lafferty from the Donegal League Executive.
This was a good competitive game played in difficult conditions due to all the rain with both teams giving their all.
Lifford Area: Raphoe Town 0 Kildrum Tigers 4
There was a large crowd in attendance to watch the area final. It was a very tight first half with Kildrum taking the lead in the 44th minute with a direct free kick taken by William Lynch. Raphoe started the second half well.
A mistake in the middle of the defence let Lynch in for his second.
Lynch completed his hat-trick on 80 minutes after he intercepted a short back pass and tapped into an empty net.
Gareth Colhoun scored a great free kick in the 90th minute to make sure Kildrum were lifting the Shield. A good hard game played sportingly by both teams.
Referee: Liam McLaughlin.
Gweedore Area: Kilmacrennan Celtic 2 Glenea United 2 (Kilmacrennan won 3-2 a.e.t.)
Kilmacrennan hosted Glenea for the area final of the Brian Mc Cormick Cup on Sunday.
This was a very evenly contested game with both sides looking to bring home the silverware. 25 minutes in, Kilmacrennan broke the deadlock through Mark Friel when he found himself inside the Glenea box, and made no mistake to put his side ahead.
Glenea came out the brightest for the 2nd half and got one back when a free kick was delivered into the box and headed into the top corner.
This spurred the Glenea men on and they went looking for the win and were rewarded after Kilmacrennan’s Paddy Sheridan made a great tackle putting the ball out for a Glenea corner which led to the visitors going in front.
It looked like Glenea were going to win but up stepped sub Eamon Martin who found himself in the right place and the right time in the Glenea box and he put the game on level terms with 90 minutes played. Kilmacrennan’s pre-season training paid off as they played well in added time with Ciaran Maloney hitting the back of the net for the winner.
Glenea tried to fashion an equaliser but it wasn’t to be and Kilmacrennan will progress to the Brian McCormick Cup semi-finals in 2018.
Best for Kilmacrennan were Ciaran Maloney and captain Ryan Shields. Glenea played well as a team.
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Glenea United Reserves 1 Arranmore United 3
Glenea Reserves got their season underway with a defeat. It was the visitors with the aid of a stiff breeze that started the brightest and began to put pressure on the home defence. It took a couple of fine saves from Ciaran Gallagher to keep the home side from going behind. As the half progressed
Glenea started to get into the game and began to create some chances for themselves with Michael Barry going the closest. Just as it seemed that the home defence had weathered the storm Declan O’Donnell picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and he fired home.
In the second half it was the home side that started well and began to look dangerous. Glenea equalized on 55 minutes when Shane Coll’s cross was only half cleared by the Arranmore defence and Tommy Rodgers drove the ball home. Glenea continued to press looking for the lead goal but failed to convert any of the chances that came their way and were made to pay on 75 minutes when Arranmore were awarded a penalty which Gavin McGlanaghey converted.
The home side tried hard to get back into the game but it was Arranmore who added to their tally when Aidan Proctor took advantage of a mix up in the home defence to roll the ball home in the last minute. Team efforts from both sides.
Referee: Michael Mc Fadden.
Cappry Rovers Reserves 1 Glencar Celtic 0
The defending champions Glencar controlled most of a bad first half without ever testing stand-in keeper Gabriel Doherty. But Cappry looked dangerous on the break. Joel Bradley Walsh forced the keeper into a fingertip save and from the corner Kyle O’Meara headed it in. 1-0 halftime.
In the second half Glencar pushed hard for an equaliser and forced the Cappry keeper to make several good saves. Cappry were dangerous on the counter attack and should have doubled their lead only for Joel Bradley Walsh to fire over the bar.
It was then Glencar who missed during a goal mouth scramble in the Cappry box.
Milford United Reserves 3 Keadue Rovers Reserves 1
Milford welcomed Keadue to Moyle View Park for the season opener. Milford wasted no time in taking the lead. JJ Fleming heading home a cross from debutant Ryan Toye after only 15 seconds. Keadue came back into the game but Milford made it 2-0 on 25 minutes with Ciaran Blaney finding the bottom corner.
Milford made it 3-0 on 70 minutes after good play from Lee Burke on the wing, he found Ciaran Blaney who crossed for Jason Mc Conigley to tap home. Keadue got a late consolation with Ryan Greene scoring with the last kick of the game. A good team effort from Keadue and a great team performance from Milford to get their first three points of the season.
Donegal Town Reserves 4 Orchard F.C. 0
Donegal started the game the stronger of the two sides and took the lead after only eight minutes. Michael O’ Donnell’s quick feet inside the Orchard box allowed him to round the Orchard center back and fire the ball into the top corner from 12 yards.
Adam Enright came close to doubling the lead on twenty minutes but his effort from the edge of the box forced a great save from the Orchard keeper.
Orchard began to grow into the game but any momentum gathered was halted when Donegal’s Ronan McHugh headed brilliantly into the top corner following some fine Donegal football down the righthand side of the pitch.
Donegal continued to press and McHugh was unlucky not to get his second just before half time when he fired narrowly over the bar. Donegal continued to dominate the second half in a similar fashion to the first, both fullbacks Matthew McKenna and Shaun Kennedy provided width and allowed Donegal to build attack after attack.
JP Byrne won Donegal a penalty on 60 minutes when he was brought down in the Orchard box.
Stephen Curneen followed up on his poor spot kick and hammered the rebound into the Orchard goal from close range. Michael O’Donnell’s persistency in harrying an Orchard defender on their own byline allowed him to win the ball and he fired into the top corner for a second time in this match to make it 4-0 to Donegal. Some assured performances from the more seasoned campaigners including Ciaran O’Reilly, JP Byrne and Stephen Curneen allowed Donegal to comfortable see out the 4-0 win.
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 2 Strand Rovers 4
Castlefin suffered a narrow defeat against an experienced Strand Rovers side. Strand took the lead when Eamon Mc Hugh nipped in between two defenders to poke home against the run of play. In the second half the hosts upped their game and equalised when Stephen Roulston scored direct from a free kick.
Keith Neilis scored from the penalty spot to give the hosts the lead. The visitors however scored two quick fire goals through Chris Greene and another from Mc Hugh.
Castlefin kept pushing but were caught on the break and conceded when Greene fired home from the edge of the box.
Team performance both teams.
Referee: James Malseed
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 1 Gweedore Celtic Reserves 3
(No Report Submitted)
Lagan Harps Reserves 1 Dunlewey Celtic 3
Lagan and Dunlewey served up an entertaining game in Orchard Park. Lagan started promisingly and took the lead when Caolan Murray fired home a great strike from thirty yards, after twenty minutes, As the half wore on Dunlewey forced John Cunningham into several good saves.
They thought they had equalised on thirty-five minutes but Keith Sweeney had strayed into an offside position when he finished. Lagan responded with Jason Burke heading a Caolan Murray cross just wide. The more experienced Dunlewey side upped the tempo in the second half with David Cannon and Keith Sweeney getting on top in midfield. They equalised on fifty-five minutes when Eunan Colm fired home from a free kick.
Lagan were hemmed back at this stage and it was no surprise when David Cannon broke through to make it 2-1 on seventy minutes. Eamonn Colm made it 3-1 before John Cunningham pulled off a great save from Martin Cannon. Noel Donnelly was unlucky for Lagan when his superb chip dipped just over.
A well-deserved win for Dunlewey but Lagan showed a lot of promise. For Lagan John Cunningham and John Kavanagh were best. Keith Sweeney and David Cannon were best for Dunlewey. Referee: Tony McNamee
Raphoe Town Reserves 1 St. Catherines Reserves 1
Raphoe Town Reserves opened their league campaign at home to St Catherines’ Reserves. The home side who were on top for most of the game will feel a little disappointed that they didn’t take all three points. Raphoe took the lead midway through the first half when Man of the Match Craig Kelly sent in a cross from the left-hand side which took a wicked deflection and flew over the helpless St Catherines’ keeper.
Raphoe could’ve added to their tally but just couldn’t seem to take their chances. They were made to pay for the missed chances with only 10 minutes remaining when a shot from 30 yards somehow flew over the Raphoe keeper Thomas McBride.
Raphoe had a late call for a penalty when Michael Barclay seemed to be fouled inside the box but their claims were waved away.
In the end a great display of football from the home side who will only improve as the weeks go on. Dylan Brolly, Keelan Bogle and Craig Kelly performing well for the home side good team performance from St Catherine’s.
Referee: Seamus McGrory.
Drumkeen United Reserves 1 Kildrum Tigers Reserves 1
Drumkeen and Kildrum got their first point of the new season following this opening day draw in Drumkeen but the visitors would have been the happier of the two teams at the final whistle. Drumkeen had the first shot of the game when Gary O’ Loughlin’s long range effort was well dealt with by Kildrum ‘keeper Keenan Gibson.
The visitors took an early lead when Oran Allen found himself free in the six-yard area and was able to fire home a cross from the right side. Drumkeen nearly got back on level terms a little later but Vinny McLaughlin saw his effort hit the crossbar. Kildrum were reduced to ten men after 15 minutes when one of their players was dismissed.
The visitors had chances to increase their lead before half time but Oran Allen shot wide on one occasion and into the side netting with his next effort and Drumkeen had a few unsuccessful efforts as well. In the second half Drumkeen began to attack more and more and had numerous chances and Gibson had to make several saves to keep his team in front.
As the game wore on the equaliser looked increasingly likely and it did come eventually when Darren Bonner played a great pass through the middle to Vinny McLaughlin who finished well to level the Match.
Drumkeen now had about 12 minutes left to find a winner and came very close when Marty Gallagher’s effort went narrowly wide and Gary O’Loughlin also had a couple of efforts saved by Gibson.
This was a great team effort by Kildrum who played with 10 men for a large part of the game.
For Drumkeen Chris Kyle had a fine game while Dylan McNamee and Darren Bonner combined well especially in the second half.
Referee: Frank Duff.
Fintown Harps AFC 0 Drumbar F.C. 1
Fintown welcomed Drumbar for the first game of the new season. Drumbar scored on 25 minutes with a fine 20-yard strike. Both teams hit the wood work after that and the Drumbar keeper made a few good saves. Fintown pressed hard for the rest of game but they couldn’t break Drumbar down.
Fixtures
Saturday 9th September 2017 K.O. 2 p.m.
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Glencar Celtic v Glenea United Reserves
Keadue Rovers Reserves v Cappry Rovers Reserves
Orchard F.C. v Milford United Reserves
Strand Rovers v Donegal Town Reserves
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Dunlewey Celtic v Drumoghill F.C. Reserves
St. Catherines Reserves v Lagan Harps Reserves
Kildrum Tigers Reserves v Raphoe Town Reserves
Drumbar F.C. v Drumkeen United Reserves
Gweedore Celtic Reserves v Fintown Harps AFC
Sunday 10th September 2017
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Milford United v Donegal Town
Kilmacrennan Celtic v Rathmullan Celtic
Glenea United v Kildrum Tigers
Cappry Rovers v Lagan Harps
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Ballybofey United v Gweedore Celtic
Lifford Celtic v Keadue Rovers
Bonagee United v St. Catherines
Raphoe Town v Convoy Arsenal
Erne Wanderers v Dunkineely Celtic
Donegal Physiotherapy Division Two
Deele Harps v Glenree United
Gweedore United v Drumkeen United
Curragh Athletic v Letterbarrow Celtic
Eany Celtic v Whitestrand United
Cranford United v Copany Rovers
