There was a reduced programme of action in the Donegal League over the weekend due to the FAI Junior Cup – here’s a round-up of the League games.
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Arranmore United 2 Orchard F.C. 2
Arranmore welcomed Orchard to Rannagh Park with both teams in need of the three points after recent results.
Gary Heaney went close for the home side early on as did Brian Proctor and Michael Devine also went close for the visitors.
Luke Friel capitalised on a through ball from Joe McCarron as the home team were waiting for the offside whistle.
Arranmore came out in the 2nd half determined to get level and they did so when Paul Early tapped in a goal bound effort from Gavin McGlanaghey.
McGlanaghey made it 2-1 when he found the bottom corner with a free kick after 50 minutes. Orchard piled on the pressure from here on in but Arranmore defended well but Orchard’s pressure eventually told when Friel capitalised from a free kick that wasn’t cleared.
Glenea United Reserves 2 Strand Rovers 2
It ended all square in this Gaeltacht derby after a hard fought contest. In a tight first half both sides were finding it difficult to create any clear cut chances as both defences were on top. Glenea eventually opened the scoring on 37 minutes when Ciaran Coll’s cross got caught in the wind causing the away keeper to misjudge it and the ball ended up in the net.
In the second half Glenea extended their lead on 50 minutes when the away defence failed to deal with a Ciaran Gallagher kick out and the ball broke to Martin Ferry and he slid it under the keeper.
Strand pulled a goal back almost immediately when Conor Greene picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and he volleyed home.
Both sides pushed for another goal and went close on a couple of occasions.
On 75 minutes Neil McGeever saw his header touched onto the bar by the away keeper and Kevin McFadden was unable to force in the rebound.
The home side were made to pay from the resultant kick out which the defence failed to deal with and the ball broke to Darren Halloran and he finished from 12 yards.
Both sides pushed for a winner with Ciaran Mc Geady seeing his diving header well saved and at the other end Conor Greene was close with another effort.
Best for Glenea were Kevin McFadden and Eugene Maguire while Shane O’Donnell was best for Strand. Referee: Con Mc Laughlin.
Cappry Rovers Reserves 1 Castlefin Celtic Reserves 4
Cappry Rovers entertained Castlefin Celtic and it was the home team who controlled most of the first half. Cappry were unlucky not to take the lead on 14 minutes only for Darren Kelly’s corner to be cleared off the line and away to safety.
Cappry had several chances to score only for some great goal keeping by Christopher McBrearty in the Castlefin nets.
Another Kelly corner caused bother for the away team and Aaron Kelly scored the opener on 37 minutes.
It was a very different 2nd half as Castlefin took control of the game and on 53 minutes Rory Dalton scored from a corner.
It wasn’t long until they got a second when a mix up in the Cappry defence allowed Garry McNulty to score on 58 minutes. Soon after Conor Dalton scored their third and Stephen Roulstone secured the points with number four on 65 minutes. Best for Castlefin was goal keeper Christopher Mc Brearty. Team performance for Cappry.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Dunlewey Celtic 2 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 2
In a tense affair a draw was a fair result. Both teams were nip and tuck in the first half with Lorcan Gallagher coming closest to scoring.
The second half was a goal feast with Seamus O’Donnell scoring a long range free kick which caught out Hugo Cannon in goals, this woke the home side.
Manus Cannon did well to supply Brendan McGeady who scored the equaliser. Drumoghill regained their lead with a long range shot from O’Donnell again.
The home side didn’t lose faith and got back on level terms when Ciaran Boyce headed to Lorcan Gallagher to score.
Best for Dunlewey were Ciarán Boyce Ruairi White, Lorcan Gallagher and Patrick McGeady. Team performance from Drumoghill F.C.
St. Catherines Reserves 2 Gweedore Celtic Reserves 2
(No report Submitted)
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Dunkineely Celtic 0 Keadue Rovers 2
This game was played in perfect conditions in Darney Park. Keadue played all the football in the opening stages and nearly took the lead from a great ball through from David Ward with Cory Gallagher just missing the target. All level at half time and Dunkineely came out a different team.
Dunkineely should have taken the lead on the 60th minute when Darragh Murrin flew up the wing and put a great cross in for Adrian Nesbitt who had just the keeper to beat but somehow missed the target.
Keadue took the lead with 13 minutes to go through a great header from Micheal Greene. They went 2-0 up in the 85th minute through Cory Gallagher.
Team performances by both teams.
Erne Wanderers 2 St. Catherines 1
(No Report Submitted)
Donegal Physiotherapy Division Two
Letterbarrow Celtic 8 Gweedore United 1
A weakened Gweedore side made the long journey to Tymeen where Letterbarrow were looking to get back to winning ways.
The home side started strong and got an early two goal advantage, both of which coming from John Corley.
Letterbarrow led three nil at the break with a first half hat trick by John Corley after some excellent work by John Roper on the right. The home side were dominant in their approach and scored with a well worked team goal straight from the kick off, John Corley again the man netting.
Gerard McBrearty made it five with a well composed finish with John Corley again punishing the Gweedore defence by adding a further three more goals. A great team effort by Letterbarrow who capitalised on the new five sub rule highlighting the importance of strength and depth in a squad.
Gweedore scored a consolation goal but were happy to hear the final whistle. Best for Letterbarrow were Barry Kemp, John Corley and Christy Burke with a great display from Gweedore’s young right back.
Glenree United 2 Eany Celtic 0
In blustery conditions the three points were hard earned in Glenree Park against a dogged youthful Eany team. From the get go it was all Glenree possession in around Eany’s half but some loose finishing was denying them the lead.
Steven Doak had the ball in the net in the 20th minute but it was deemed offside so it was ruled out. Eany’s defence was under serve pressure and the pressure finally told when Andrew Kelly broke away down the right wing to swing in a cross that picked out Gary McClafferty who volleyed into the top corner in the 26th minute.
Eany were relying on long ball tactics as high pressure from Glenree minimised their passing game and the back four of the home side were in total control of the aerial battles.
The second goal came in the 44th minute when Andrew Kelly latched onto a through ball and finished with a cheeky dink over the out-rushing goalie to give his side a two goal cushion going in to the second half.
As in the previous 45 minutes Glenree were in total control and were causing havoc in the always side’s final third but could not find the net. In the 64th minute Eany’s best chance of the game came when a miss kick left Ciaran Devine one on one but Oran Blaney was out quickly to close him down and all Devine could do is try a lob that narrowly went over.
It was Eany’s turn again to test the goalie when a shot from 18yard’s was tipped over by the reliant Blaney in the 76th minute. Glenree could not capitalise all some fine build up play with some good goal keeping denying John McFadden and Keelan McGee.
The home side started to empty the bench and young Ross Cullen latched onto a ball from Peter Witherow to just blast it over the bar in the 86th minute.
Best for Glenree United were Gary McClafferty and Andrew Kelly. Team effort from Eany Celtic.
Referee: Semi Ferry
Cranford United 2 Deele Harps 2
In a good first half Cranford created some very good chances, with David O’Donnell pulling the strings in midfield feeding Coalan McGroddy and Kevin Doherty up front.
Cranford got their deserved goal when McGroddy got on the end of a fine cross by Seamus Carr.
Cranford got the second, again from McGroddy, converting the penalty he won for himself. Cranford looked to have secured the points, but Deele had other thoughts with Evan Bonner scoring and then Declan Lafferty converting a free kick from 25 yards for the equaliser
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