There was a big away win for Milford United and Keadue Rovers maintained an unbeaten start to the League season today – here’s a roundup of today’s Donegal League action
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
St. Catherines 2 Milford United 6
The home team fielded a very young and inexperienced side and this inexperience showed early on as the Saints found themselves 2-0 down after only 8 minutes with the goals coming from Kyle Black and Joey Cullen.
St Catherine’s settled though and were unlucky to go 3 down when Gary Meritt capitalised on a defensive mix up.
The home team got one back before the break when Donal McGuire slipped Conor Doherty in and he calmly finished low past the Milford keeper.
The second half started with a penalty to the Saints when the Milford keeper was judged to have taken Doherty down and McGuire slotted home to make it 3-2.
It was a case of the Gary Meritt show as he scored three more goals, two from play and one a free-kick to the top conner which completed the scoring.
Best of the home team was Conor Doherty while man of the match was Gary Meritt.
Keadue Rovers 2 Kilmacrennan Celtic 1
Keadue Rovers remain unbeaten in the league and climb the table after this crucial victory over Kilmacrennan Celtic at Central Park.
It was a tight, tense affair throughout with both sides moving well. Kilmacrennan had the first chance on ten minutes when Semi Friel shot over from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later Cory Gallagher ran onto a loose ball but the keeper saved and followed up with another good block from Daniel McHugh on the rebound.
On 25 minutes Enda McCormick’s long range shot was saved comfortably by Danny Rodgers.
On the half hour the visitors were almost ahead when a defensive mix up led to Keadue clearing from their line.
Kilmacrennan were stronger for the last 15 minutes of the first half but couldn’t find the elusive final ball. Keadue started the second half brighter with a Cory Gallagher header just wide from a corner two minutes in. The game was stretched with both teams attacking and the visitors were almost ahead two minutes later.
Ten minutes into the second half a fine effort by sub Daniel Ward was saved by the keeper and Shaun Yank Boyle’s effort on the rebound was cleared off the line.
Kilmacrennan went ahead slightly against the run of play on fifty seven minutes when Aidan Sweeney picked up the ball and ran at the Keadue defence before neatly slipping the ball into the corner of the net for the lead.
Two minutes later, following great work by Daire McDaid, Enda McCormick was unlucky with a shot well saved by Danny Rodgers.
On the hour Keadue had a goal disallowed when Luke Neely’s was adjudged offside. Keadue were responding well to going behind but all the while Kilmacrennan were dangerous and Caolan McDaid hit the post on sixty seven minutes and a few minutes later Seimi Friel fired wide.
It was to prove costly as Keadue were level on seventy five minutes when Cory Gallagher evaded a few tackles before finding some space and firing a fine effort to the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
Kilmacrennan yet again went close on eighty two minutes with a missed chance but just when it was looking a likely draw a long ball over the top was met by Shaun Yank Boyle who controlled it and hit a tremendous volley over the keeper from long range to put Keadue 2-1 up.
It was a tight end to the game with the visitors throwing everything at Keadue but they stood firm to win the game and now sit top of the table.
An entertaining game between two teams who look like they will finish in the upper reaches of the league table.
Best for Kilmacrennan were Daire McDaid, Seimi Friel and Enda McCormick while best for Keadue were Shaun Yank Boyle, Daniel Ward and Hugh Moy.
Referee : Mick Lagan.
Rathmullan Celtic P Donegal Town P
(No Report as Match Postponed)
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Gweedore Celtic 0 Cranford United 2
Gweedore Celtic continue their run of poor form, losing 2-0 at home to Cranford.
The teams battled hard in the first half but Cranford went in at the break with the advantage after a mistake from one of Gweedore’s centre half’s led to Carolann McGroddy finding himself one on one with Gweedore’s Daniel McLaughin.
McGroddy kept his composure and slotted the ball into the corner. Kyle McFadden then scored directly from a corner on a windy day at an Screaban giving the guests a cushion for the remainder of the game.
Gweedore came into the game more in the second half but struggled in the final third.
Best for Cranford was Caolan McGroddy.
Drumoghill F.C. 1 Drumkeen United 2
Jason McDaid and Lee Guthrie both hit the target during the second half for the visitors after Liam O’Donnell had given Drumoghill a half time lead as Drumkeen ran out deserved winners.
O’Donnell had opened the scoring on 8 minutes when he slotted home after good work from Richard Tinney.
Drumoghill looked the stronger team during the opening passages of play with Carlos Rodgers impressing in midfield, and could have added to their lead after Ryan O’Donnell forced a good save from Chris Kyle.
Drumkeen gradually worked their back into the game and should have equalised through Lee Guthrie on 29 minutes when he hammered over the bar after being set up by Conor Laverty.
Guthrie though made up for his earlier misfortune when he levelled matters on 47 minutes.
Eoghan Kennedy was the creator and there was Guthrie to steer the ball past Toner to make it 1-1.
In a tight game of few chances, the next goal was always going to be crucial and Drumkeen exploited hesitancy in the Drumoghill rearguard when McGinley broke away on 68minutes to round the keeper and finish from a narrow angle despite the best efforts of Lee Smyth on the line.
Referee: Con McLaughlin
Bonagee United 2 Ballybofey United 4
The visitors took the lead on four minutes when a Mark Griffin Cross into the box from the left was header home from six yards by Damien Glackin.
Aaron McAuley for Ballybofey then saw his shot from the edge of the box just go wide of the post three minutes later.
They got their second on twelve minutes when Michael Lafferty broke down the right and his cross into the box was hammered home by Jude Patton.
Eamon Cannon saw his strike on goal on twenty minutes well saved by Patton. The home side scored on 22 minutes when Drew Connolly crossed the ball in from the edge of the box and Lee McMonagle shot home from six yards.
On 48 minutes Mark Griffin broke clear of the Bonagee defence and Carr in the home goal made a great save.
The home side levelled the match on 50 minutes when Darragh Harper crossed the ball into the box from the left and Aiden McLaughlin headed home from ten yards.
Ballybofey took the lead again on the hour when Brian Lafferty broke free from the half way line and he lobber the advancing keeper from 25 yards.
Lee McMonagle broke clear three minutes later but Patton in the visitor’s goal saved well. The home side had a few more strikes on goal from Mc Monagle and McLaughlin but both went wide of the target.
The final goal of the game came on 74 minutes when a long pass down the line from Michael Lafferty to Mark Griffin allowed him to cross to the back post where it was hammered home by Damien Gackin. Team effort by both sides.
Referee: Paddy Martin.
Convoy Arsenal 4 Lagan Harps 0
Convoy opened the scoring on 25 minutes when Anthony Bogle converted a penalty following a foul on Darren Gibson. Minutes later they were reduced to ten men but despite this they doubled their lead when Joseph Mc Gill’s deflected shot found the net.
Just after half time Mc Gill got his second following good work on the left from Fergus Carson.
On the stroke of full-time John Moore got a fourth after being played through by Bogle.
Team performance by Lagan with Gary Wilson and Joseph Mc Gill domination midfield for Convoy.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 4 Dunkineely Celtic 1
The ’71 made it three wins on the spin with a well deserved victory over a young but dogged Dunkineely side.
The away side went in front on 8 minutes when Paddy White scored from the penalty spot after Shane Sandilands brought down Doherty in the box. Kerrykeel pushed hard for an equaliser but found Corey Byrne in excellent form as he made three great stops before Michael Sweeney finally found the net to draw the ’71 level on 38 minutes.
Patsy Friel split the defence with a great ball and Sweeney made no mistake.
The ’71 came out all guns blazing in the second half and put the game to bed within 20 minutes, Sweeney first scoring from an Evan Hewitt corner and Sean Little finished a great team goal. Little again found the net after great play from Johnny Friel and Bernard McGettigan.
Best for Kerrykeel: Sean Little Michael Mc Devitt, Patrick Heraghty and James Gallagher.
Best for Dunkineely: Cody Byrne.
Referee: Liam McConigley.
Curragh Athletic 0 Whitestrand United 0
The game was played in perfect conditions at curragh sports complex. The game started with Curragh dominating, playing some fine football and the Whitestrand keeper was the busier custodian in the first half with fine saves from Gavin Sweeney and Caolan Marley.
The second half was much the same with Curragh having all the play but they couldn’t beat the visiting keeper.
Best for Curragh, Mickey O’Brien, Micky Black and Kieran Sweeney.
Team performance from Whitestrand.
Glenree United 2 Letterbarrow Celtic 2
It was a share of the spoils for both teams after a tough battle. It was a cagey start to the game with both sides trying to find a foothold in the match with goal chances few and far.
It was Glenree who found themselves behind in the 12th minute when John Roper did well to first round the the goalie and then slot it home to give his side the lead.
Letterbarrow’s lead didn’t last long as after some unrelenting pressure Barney Boyce deceived everyone with a thunderous free kick from 20 yards out to find the top corner in the 17th minute.
Moments later they should of taking the lead but for a goal saving clearance from a Liam Paul Ferry strike from inside the box.
Oran Blaney pulled of a great save in the 44th minute to keep it all square at half time.
In the second half Glenree found themselves in great scoring positions but just couldn’t hit the net. Martin Cullen saw his effort well saved while a John McClafferty header just missed the top corner and Gary McClafferty entered the game with a header that just missed the target.
Letterbarrow then saw themselves ahead after some fine build up play that ended with a tap in for Geoff Kelly in the 67th minute.
Glenree emptied the bench along with a formation change and it made a big impact on the match and the away side where pinned in their own half for the remainder of the game with a long ball forward their only outlet.
Glenree got the equaliser in the closing moments when both subs Paul Coyle and Luke McCarry linked up superbly to get the goal.
Glenree pused hard in the remaining minutes but couldn’t find the winner.
Referee: Michael McFadden
Copany Rovers P Deele Harps P
(No Report as Match Postponed)
Raphoe Town 4 Gweedore United 0
Dean McConnell scored a brace for Raphoe in a comfortable win at Deele College.
DJ Kelly put Raphoe one up after ten minutes with a low drive.Paddy Gallagher made it 2-0 after five minutes ending a great move involving Dylan Brolly, Kelly and McConnell.
McConnell scored Raphoe’s third goal before halftime when Dylan Brolly put him through for a great finish.
Gweedore United had a few half chances during the second half but Raphoe held out well.
Raphoe finished the game off when Mc Connell scored Raphoe’s fourth goal in the 60th minute. Best for Raphoe was Dean McConnell. Team effort from Gweedore United
Referee:Frank Duffy
