League action across the three Sunday divisions in the Donegal Junior League got underway today – and there was upsets, goals and incident in all the games. Here’s a roundup:
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Milford United 3 Rathmullan Celtic 0
Milford overcame neighbours Rathmullan in the local derby to open their account in the Donegal Premier League at a windy Moyle View Park.
Milford got a dream start when after three minutes Kyle Black stole the ball on the right and his first time pass found Gary Merritt who slotted home from 12 yards.
Milford started and a high tempo and pressed the ball at every opportunity.
A quick thinking Damien Crossan in the Milford goal noticed Gary Merritt one on one at the back and his long kick was beautifully control by Merritt to beat the defender and beat the advancing Shaun Gallagher to give Milford a two-goal cushion.
Milford looked in total control with Johnny Logue and Chris Dillon controlling play in the midfield and Merritt and Kyle Black causing problems up front and finished the half in a commanding fashion.
Rathmullan pushed to get back into the game but failed to create much with Milford’s young Rory O’Donnell again putting in a composed performance.
Kildrum Tigers 2 Keadue Rovers 2
Keadue went ahead on 57 minutes when Danny McGlynn slid the ball home from close range.
Twelve minutes later Kevin McHugh equalised.
Keadue went back in front on 73 minutes however Kildrum earned a point when Trevor Gethins made it 2-2 on 75 minutes.
Best for Kildrum Brett McGinty and Kevin McHugh and Keadue put in a decent team performance on the day.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Ballybofey United 8 Lagan Harps 0
Ballybofey had a good start to the league season when they outplayed Lagan Harps at the Finn Valley Athletic Complex in Stranorlar.
Recent signing Jude Patton showed that he could be a shrewd acquisition as he, accompanied by the ever reliable Damien Glackin, tormented the Lagan rearguard.
The pair helped themselves to a brace of hat-tricks on a day when the Finnsiders really had their shooting boots on.
Gavin Doherty and Ryan Duffy added a goal apiece to their tally on a day when Christopher Patton, manning the Ballybofey nets, had very little to do.
Bonagee United 6 Lifford Celtic 2
The home side took the lead on eight minutes when Mark Hunter lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box.
They were two up on 15 minutes when Eamon Cannon scored direct from a corner kick. Niall Coyle, for the visitors, saw his free kick on the edge of the box well saved by Carr in the home goal.
Mark Hunter headed wide from ten yards on 28 minutes from a Chris Toner cross. Niall Coyle was a constant threat to the home defence and he found the back of the net on 35 minutes when the defender and keeper failed to clear the ball and he shot home from six yards.
Coyle levelled the match on 40 minutes when he was put through from midfield by Mark Carlin and he shot home from 15 yards.
Aiden McLaughlin put Bonagee ahead on 44 minutes after a great through ball by Donnelly his shot was saved by McBrearty in goal but the ball fell kindly to him and he shot home from ten yards.
Carr in the home goal made a good save on 48 minutes from a great strike from Mark Carlin from the edge of the box.
Bonagee got their fourth on the hour when a great run down the right by Jordan Rodgers he crossed the ball into the box and the incoming Drew Connelly found the bottom corner of the net from ten yards.
Two minutes later Aiden Mc Laughlin got his second of the game after a good ball over the top from Eamon Cannon he beat the defender to the ball and shot home from just inside the box.
Lifford were always a threat and Carr in the home goal had to make another good save on 73 minutes from Colin Carlin.
Bonagee got there final goal of the game on 85 minutes when James Gillen beat the offside and he put the ball in the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.
Team effort by both sides.
Referee Liam Mc Conigley.
Drumkeen United 0 Cranford United 1
Cranford took the all three points in the battle of the newly promoted teams at a breezy St Patrick’s Park on Sunday.
Despite dominating most of the first half the home team found themselves a goal behind at half time.
There were very few clear cut chances in the early stages but Drumkeen’s Lee Guthrie did have one when a bad Cranford clearance was intercepted by Jamie Gallagher who gave it to Guthrie who fired it over the bar.
Towards the end of the first half Cranford Keeper Jason Hegarty was called into action and he made a good save from a Benny Bonner free kick while Drumkeen’s Kevin Boyle saw his effort go wide.
At the other end the visitors had a claim for penalty waved away by Referee Joe Mc Hugh and Drumkeen could not have had any complaints if it had been awarded. Cranford got what proved to be the winning goal after 25 minutes when Dale McFadden put them ahead with a good finish from the right side of the the box.
In the second half it was much the same story with Drumkeen having most of the play as they went in search of the equaliser but they were finding it hard to break down a well organised and dogged Cranford defence in front of goalkeeper Jason Hegarty who was also in good form.
Drumkeen’s Niall Howley forced a good save from the keeper and towards the end of the game he again did well as he pushed a great long range effort from Dean Kelly over the bar.
While Drumkeen were pressing for the equaliser they were vulnerable to a quick counter attack and Cranford nearly caught them on the break a few times most notably when an effort from Dale McFadden went just wide of Paul McAuley’s post.
Drumkeen also had a penalty claim in the second half but like the Cranford one in the first half it was waved away by the referee.
As the clocked ticked down Drumkeen kept attacking but Cranford held firm to claim all three points
Donegal Physiotherapy and Performance Centre Division Two
Deele Harps 0 Curragh Athletic 7
Deele’s League opener could not have went worse as they crashed to a heavy defeat against a clinical Curragh side.
The contest was even enough in the first 20 minutes with chances for both sides. But thats as good as it got for Deele as on 22 minutes the game changed.
Gary Doherty capitalising on a goalkeeping error to open the scoring. Deele, who were short of a few key players and fielded a young side were then put to the sword by Curragh.
Gavin Sweeney grabbing a brace before half time to kill the contest.
Gavin Sweeney completed his hat-trick on 50 minutes following another defensive error before Tim O Callaghan, Kieran Sweeney and a second goal for Tim O Callaghan put the gloss on a fine display from Curragh on a day to forget for Deele.
Team performance from Curragh.
Referee Alistair Gourley.
Dunkineely Celtic 2 Gweedore United 3
Dunkineely Celtic welcomed Gweedore Utd to Darney Park on a blustery day.
Celtic started very well and could have been one up in the 12th minute through Mark Erskine but it was United who took the lead in the 14th minute from a through ball which found Kieran McFadden scored.
There was some good play from this very young Celtic side with their young defence playing superbly.
Sean White had a good shot saved by the Gweedore keeper.
Gweedore struck again in the 36th minute through Ronan O’Donnell. Donal Ó Buachalla was then very unlucky to see his effort come back of the crossbar.
Dunkineely, playing well, were stunned in the 57th minute from a free kick from Ownie Gallagher to make it 3-0.
Celtic got a penalty in the 61st minute which Paul Murrin coverted it was all Dunkineely pushing hard and young O’Buachalla got a second for Dunkineely but it was too late to make a difference.
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 4 Glenree United 2
The ’71 got their league season off to the perfect start with a local derby win over Glenree at Rab’s Park.
Both teams were missing a few players but both fielded well. The home side had a minutes silence before kick off for the late Annie Cannon.
Kerrykeel started slow and Glenree took the lead on 16 minutes when Noise Cullen broke the offside trap and fired home.
This kicked the ’71 into action and captain Tony Mc Bride got his team going and they drew level on 38 minutes when young Evan Hewitt crossed for Patsy Friel to nip in at the back post.
Shortly after that it was 2-1, this time young Hewitt tapped home after great work from Mattew Stewart.
Kerrykeel were well on top and on 45 minutes they were awarded a penalty after Stewart was taken down in the box.
Sean Little saw his penalty well saved by Blaney in the Glenree goal.
The second half saw the home side really take the game to Glenree and Patsy Friel got his second on 50 minutes after great work from Hewitt.
Two minutes later it was four when Little fired home after great work from Cathal Martin.Glenree got a goal back on 65 minutes when Lagan fired home.
Both teams had chances late on but its the ’71 who pick up the three points
Best for the ’71 Tony Mc Bride, Evan Hewitt and Kevin McGonigle.
Best for Glenree Blaney and Lagan
Whitestrand United 1 Letterbarrow Celtic 1
Division Two kicked off at McGarvey Park when Whitestrand United played Letterbarrow Celtic.
Both teams were looking to start their season off on the front foot. Letterbarrow opened the scoring when Alan Foxton hit a shot which Patrick Kelly tipped onto the bar but James McGroary followed up to score from close range.
Whitestrand pushed hard in the first half for an equaliser but they couldn’t get it.
The second half followed in a similar manner to the first with Whitestrand pushing for an equaliser.
The best chance fell to Sean Barrett but he hit it narrowly over the bar.
Whitestrand had Letterbarrow pinned in their own half and the equaliser finally came when James Kerr scored from a superb Ryan McCleary cross.
Whitestrand pushed hard but they did not get the winner that their play deserved.
Results
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Cappry Rovers S Drumoghill F.C. P
Kilmacrennan Celtic 3 Glenea United 0
Milford United 3 Rathmullan Celtic 0
Kilrum Tigers 2 Keadue Rovers 2
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Ballybofey United 8 Lagan Harps 0
Bonagee United 6 Lifford Celtic 2
Drumkeen United 0 Cranford United 1
Drumoghill F.C. P Convoy Arsenal P
Donegal Physiotherapy and Performance Centre Division Two
Deele Harps 0 Curragh Athletic 7
Dunkineely Celtic 2 Gweedore United 3
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 4 Glenree United 2
Whitestrand United 1 Letterbarrow Celtic 1
