There was no shortage of drama in the Donegal Junior Leagues this weekend. Here’s how all the action panned out:
Glencar Inn Saturday Division
Strand Rovers 1 Arranmore United 0
Michael Ward came on as a substitute and got the match winning goal as Strand Rovers defeated Arranmore United at Maghery. Both sides had chances but neither could add to the scoreline.
Glencar Celtic 3 Drumbar F.C. 1
This game was changed to Fanad and was played in beautiful conditions. Glencar started well and had Drumbar under pressure right from the off. Glencar had a number of half chances through Kieran Doherty and Eugene Sullivan but they couldn’t convert any of them.
The Drumbar defence stood tall and soaked up a lot of pressure and were equal to everything Glencar had to throw at them.
They got their reward with 5 minutes left in the 1st half. Glencar gave away a free-kick just inside their own half. It was whipped over the wall and made its way right through to the back post where it was buried by Jordan to put the visitors one up.
Their lead was short lived as this gave Glencar the wake-up call they needed and they were back on level terms after Kevin Rafferty played in Grieve who cut it back to the edge of the box and the in rushing Anthony Doherty arrived on the scene and his daisy cutter found the back of the net.
Glencar made a change at half time with Rory Gallagher replacing the injured Charles Mc Laughlin. It was much of the same in the second half with Glencar in control but unable to get through the Drumbar rearguard.
On the hour mark Declan Scanlon replaced Kieran Doherty and shortly after Joe Baker came on for Liam Doherty. With 15 minutes to go Glencar finally got the elusive goal they were looking for.
Good work form Scanlon and Sullivan down the right supplied Grieve who found the net. Glencar put the game to bed with a superb ball from Kevin O’Donnell which found Scanlon free at the back post to nod home and secure a vital 3 points for Glencar. Good team performances from both sides.
Referee: Liam McConigley
Saturday Reserve Division
Milford United Reserves 1 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 0
This game was reversed to The Moss Drumoghill with Milford’s pitch being unplayable. Milford started the game strong and had numerous chances to take the lead but couldn’t find the back of the net. On the stroke of halftime a Drumoghill striker broke free to go one on one with Milford’s keeper but Adam Bolton got back to make a last ditch saving tackle.
Milford kept going in the second half and finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark. After good work from Jason Mc Conigley on the wing his cross found JJ Fleming in the box who made no mistake to find the bottom corner.
Milford kept pushing for their second but Ryan Campbell and Adam Serrinha had chances well saved. Adam Bolton then hit the crossbar with a header from a corner.
Drumoghill nearly found an equaliser with 5 minutes left but Barry Gallagher pulled of a great save to give Milford the 3 points. A good team effort from Drumoghill and a great all round team performance from Milford.
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 4 St. Catherines Reserves 0
Castlefin secured another three points after a comfortable home victory over St.Catherines on Saturday.
Castlefin took the lead as early as the 5th minute when Damien McGlinchey was fouled in the box and Keith Nelis stepped up to slot home. The hosts doubled their lead when James Mc Menamin broke down the left and crossed to Nelis who headed home from close range after 23 minutes.
The visitors kept fighting and created a few openings but the home defence held firm.
In the second half Nelis completed his hat-trick when he headed home a Gary McNulty corner. In the closing stages Thomas Devlin completed the scoring when he finished well from close range.
Best for Castlefin: Damien Mc Glinchey and Brian Dooher. Team Performance from St. Catherines.
Referee: Seamus McGroary
Keadue Rovers Reserves P Cappry Rovers Reserves P
(No Report, Match Postponed)
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 0 Glenea United Reserves 3
(No Report)
Sunday 12th March 2017
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Kildrum Tigers 1 Convoy Arsenal 0
Tigers started bright an should have taken the lead through William Lynch but the Convoy keeper pulled off a great save.
Kildrum took the lead when Packi Coll pulled back the ball to William Lynch and he made no mistake from 10 yard out. Convoy pushed hard in the last 15 minutes but couldn’t get the equaliser. Good battling performances from both teams.
Castlefin Celtic 4 Milford United 0
Castlefin secured a vital three points over Milford after a comfortable victory on Sunday. The hosts took the lead as early as the 3rd minute when Ronan Tourish played through JP Malley who slotted home from the edge of the box.
In the 20th minute the home side doubled their advantage when Matthew O’ Rourke broke clear and played through Malley and he got his second goal of the game.
Malley then completed his hat-trick when he again got on the end of an O’ Rourke pass and he dinked the ball over the keeper to score.
The second half was a dull affair, but in the 65th minute Ronan Tourish picked up the ball in his own half drove at the visiting defence and his shot deflected into the net. Best for Castlefin: JP Malley. Best for Milford: Darren McLaughlin
Referee: Marty Quinn
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Erne Wanderers 2 Bonagee United 1
Erne Wanderers hosted Bonagee Utd on Fri night under lights at the Lakeside Centre and got the three points thanks to a hard fought 2- 1 win. Bonagee took the lead on twenty nine mins through some slack defending from Erne. Barry Mulligan equalised six minutes later with a fine free kick from twenty yards.
The second half was even enough with Erne probably shading it and eventually got the winner fifteen minutes from time when Josh Ritchie scampered down the wing and cut inside to tuck under the keeper from a tight angle.
The hosts saw the game out and secured their survival in their first season in the division so a lot of positives to build on for next year. Best for Erne was Josh Ritchie and Micheal Dolan while Bonagee battled gamely to the end.
Referee: Sean O’Donnell.
Gweedore United 0 Donegal Town 6
This game played in glorious conditions at Carrickboyle saw the Donegal Town clinch promotion with a comprehensive win over the home side.
Goals from Chris Hegarty and a brace from Daniel McHugh gave the visitors a 3-0 lead at half time. In the second half McHugh got his hat-trick in the 64th minute to make it 4-0. Two more goals for Ray Mc Groary and Aaron Slevin in the 67th and 88th minutes respectively made it 6-0 for Donegal to secure a deserved promotion.
Referee: Brian O’Kane
Raphoe Town 0 Cappry Rovers 0
Despite shading the opening half Cappry Rovers were unable to defeat a battling Raphoe Town at Deele College.
With Donegal Town winning in Gweedore Cappry needed to claim all three points to collect the Silverware but it will now go to the last day of the season at least as Cappry still need a point to be crowned champions as thing stand presently. On the day Raphoe matched the table toppers throughout.
Gweedore Celtic 1 Deele Harps 1
This game was played in glorious conditions at An Screaban. The Celts started well and won a penalty 10 minutes in when Chris McFadden was fouled in the area. However Jamie Boyle seen his penalty well saved by the Harps’ keeper.
Deele Harps took the lead 30 minutes in when Brian Breslin took off down the wing and finished well. Gweedore equalised on 50 minutes when the industrious Eamonn McGee converted a Jamie Boyle’s free kick.
Michael Mc Kelvey then made a great tackle to deny Harps the lead. Jamie Boyle nearly snatched 3 points for the Celts on 80 minutes when he cut in from the right and hit a shot that the keeper did well to save at his near post. Best for Gweedore were Jamie Boyle and Ciaran McHugh. Referee: Frank Duff
CT Ball Division Two
Dunkineely Celtic 3 Drumkeen United 1
The home side broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when James Byrne got on the end of a free kick from Paul Murrin.
Niall Bonnar always looked a threat but was well marshalled by Alan Lyons.
Celtic went 2 up in the 40th minute when Nesbitt got on the end of a good through ball from Murrin. Celtic should have gone 3 up in the 55th minute when Conor Shovlin found himself through but was unlucky to see his effort go wide. Drumkeen came more into the game and got one back in the 75 minute through Aaron Doherty.
Both teams fought hard for more goals but it was Celtic who got the killer goal deep into injury time through Nesbit to make it 3- 1 to the home side. Dunkineely had some outstanding performances from Alan Lyons, Johnathon Cassidy and Adrian Nesbitt . A good team effort from Drumkeen.
Referee: Seamus Mc Grory.
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 1 Letterbarrow Celtic 2
Great day for football at Rab’s Park with both teams serving up a great display. Both teams started well and Letterbarrow ‘keeper Mc Grory saved brilliantly form Sean Patton and then from Man of the Match Bernard Mc Gettigan. Kerrykeel captain Shane Sandilands then made a superb save from Peter Slevin on thirty minutes. Liam Mc Girr opened the scoring for the away side on forty four minutes with a great strike from 20 yards.
Kerrykeel drew level on sixty minutes when Sean Patton beat two men before firing low into the corner. Letterbarrow were then awarded a penalty much to the disgust of the home side when keeper Shane Sandilands was adjudged to have fouled in the box and Nathan Carr tucked away the resulting penalty.
After the game, Kerrykeel stalwart John Joe McAteer presented James Mc Grory of Letterbarrow Celtic with crystal to acknowledge their 40 years of service to football.
Curragh Athletic 3 Eany Celtic 2
The game started very fast. It took just thirty seconds for the speedy Gavin Sweeney to open the scoring. Curragh were then awarded a corner which was turned in by Gary Doherty to make it two.
Then, after some great ball work down the right, Chris Darby made it three.
It was all the Curragh up until forty-four minutes when Eany made it 3-1 just before the break.
The second half was much the same, both teams battling for the points. Eany then made it a very nervy finish for the Curragh when they made it 3-2 from the penalty spot. Curragh held on for the win however.
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