Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
St. Catherines 3 Drumoghill F.C. 1
St Catherines started brightly and showed their intent early on with some strong challenges in the middle of the park. Barry Cannon broke loose on 10 minutes and shot low across Paul Mc Cauley, the Drumoghill keeper, to find the bottom corner and make it 1 – 0.
The goal of the game came on 34minutes. David Conwell will never catch a half volley like this again. From the corner of the visitor’s 18 yard box his shot was unstoppable and flew into the corner of the visitor’s net to make it 2-0.
St Catherines were well on top now and a great team goal scored by Christy Cunningham on 42minutes made it 3-0 .
This wasn’t the end of the goals for the first half. Liam O’ Donnell slotted home to give the visitor’s some hope.
Drumoghill found themselves up against a well organised St Catherines defence however and rarely troubled Michael Mullins goal in the second half. The home side dug in and realised the importance of three points and never committed too much going forward, occasionally catching Drumoghill on the break but failing to finish.
Ryan Carr and Christy Cunningham were excellent on the right wing for the home team. All in all a superb team effort by the Saints and a well-deserved final score of 3-1
Kilmacrennan Celtic 2 Milford United 3
Kilmacrennan played hosts to Milford in a tightly contested game in Kerry keel. Kilmacrennan started off the brightest with two early goals from Caolan McDaid.
Milford came out flying for the second half, scoring two goals early on. The last few minutes were tense after Kilmacrennan had a man sent off and Milford went away with the three points courtesy of a very late goal from Gary Merritt. Referee: Paddy Martin
Kildrum Tigers 0 Glenea United 2
Kildrum started brightly and were totally in control but a tame header from 18 yards deceived the Kildrum keeper and sneaked in past him.
Kildrum regained control and started to look like getting an equaliser when they were hit with another sucker punch 20 minutes into the second half when a long ball into the Kildrum box wasn’t dealt with and McGeady sneaked in front of the Tiger’s keeper to finish.
Kildrum piled on the pressure but couldn’t get the ball into the net. Glenea defended well but Kildrum will wonder how they never got something out of the game.
Castlefin Celtic 4 Rathmullan Celtic 2
Castlefin secured a massive three points with a hard fought home victory over Rathmullan on Sunday.
Castlefin took the lead when PJ Mc Menamin broke down the left and crossed to JP Malley who tapped home after 15 minutes. Both sides pressed thereafter but couldn’t create any clear cut opportunities. Castlefin doubled their lead in the 46th minute, Malley played through Jonny Robb who finished low into the bottom corner.
The hosts increased their lead when Marty Owens chased down a back pass and the clearance deflected off Owens back to trickle into the net with 63 minute’s played.
Almost immediately Rathmullan pulled a goal back when Dara Patton danced passed two defenders and unleashed a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
In the 70th minute Castlefin made the game safe when McMenamin’s pinpoint cross was headed home by Owens.
In the closing stages Patton got his second goal of the afternoon but it was only a consolation for the visitors. Referee: Paddy Duffy. Best for Castlefin: Peter Bryson and Jonny Robb. Best for Rathmullan: Mark Gallagher.
Lagan Harps 2 Convoy Arsenal 0
Lagan got three big points when two late goals earned them victory over Convoy.
Both teams huffed and puffed in the first half with Mark Hunter and Michael Doherty going close on a couple of occasions for Lagan and Shane Barclay and Anthony Bogle going close for Convoy.
The second half was just as scrappy with both sides guilty of wasting possession.
Lagan finally made the breakthrough on eighty two minutes when Mark Graham lobbed over the defence and Philip Doran lobbed the advancing keeper. Convoy should have equalised when Darren McEvoy palmed away a shot from Anthony Bogle and the resultant rebound was headed wide from six yards.
Lagan sealed victory when Mark Hunter scored from the penalty spot after a foul. For Lagan Glenn Gallagher and Mark Hunter were best with Anthony Bogle and Shane Barclay best for Convoy. Referee: Liam McLaughlin
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Glenree United 4 Erne Wanderers 3
The home side came out on top in this seven goal thriller. It looked to be going all Glenree’s way after 25 minutes of the game when they we’re 4-1 up after Erne conceded a penalty after 50seconds which Barney Boyce dispatched past the keeper. Erne then with their first attack made it one each.
Keelan Mc Gee tucked away the second goal and then in the 20th minute Andrew Kelly finished superbly from 20 yards to make it three.
Marty Mc Laughlin then made it four and the home side seemed to be cruising until Erne hit back with two goals, the third was a nicely worked goal with a fine finish on the half volley before half-time.
The second half was on a knife edge with both teams passing up opportunities but it was the home team missing the guilt edged ones.
Glenree dug in though and held out for an important three points on their fight for survival.
Referee: John Coyle
Bonagee United 3 Gweedore United 2
Bonagee Utd hosted Gweedore Utd at Dry Arch Park on this nippy Sunday afternoon with a must win for both teams.
Going into this game Bonagee Utd were 4 points ahead of their opponents but having lost their last 3 encounters this was certainly a 6 pointer for both sides.
The game started off reasonably lively with Gweedore having the better chances in the first 5 minutes with the pacey Garvan McFadden making life difficult for the Bonagee backline.
On 12 minutes Bonagee’s Rory McCrossan played a perfect ball into space for BNoel O’Donnell to come onto and with the Gweedore Utd defence caught napping, O’Donnell slotted easily past the keeper to put Bonagee 1 up.
Gweedore argued that O’Donnell was off side but Referee Frank Duff was having none of it. On 23 minutes Bonagee hit the upright from a corner and the ball went out for a kick out.
From the kick out Gweedore’s Garvan McFadden went straight up the pitch to slot past Bonagee goaleeper John Carr to level the game. Gweedore were now taking the game to Bonagee and in the 38th minute McFadden was through again but John Carr stood his ground and the ball was put well wide of the Bonagee goal.
At the start of the second half, Bonagee had most of the play in the first 15 minutes and they capitalised on it in the 58th minute when big Noel O’Donnell got his brace.
The game now was getting scrappy with tired legs and lazy passes giving the opposition chances on both sides. On 64 minutes Paddy McGowan crossed in a great ball from the far side line and Graham Cullen met it with his head to make it 3 – 1 to Bonagee.
Gweedore Utd now started to up the ante and got just rewards on the 68th minute when Garvan McFadden again took a shot from the edge of the 18 to make it a 3 – 2 game going in to the last 20 minutes.
There was some nail-biting passages of play from both sides in the last quarter of the game and Bonagee should have finished it off in the 77th minute when Lee McMonagle was straight through with only the Gweedore No 1 to beat but the keeper stood tall.
Gweedore also had a great chance to equalise on 79 minutes with a free kick which just skimmed over the crossbar. As the game fizzled out it could have gone anyway and Bonagee were fortunate to get the win and a must needed 3 points.
The game ended Bonagee Utd 3 Gweedore Utd 2. Best for Gweedore Utd were Shane O’Donnell & John McFadden. Best for Bonagee Utd were Glenn Rainey, Rory Mc Crossan and Noel O’Donnell. Referee: Frank Duff.
Raphoe Town 1 Keadue Rovers 1
Raphoe Town and Keadue Rovers shared out the spoils in this game which was reversed to Central Park in Keadue.
It was a tough day for football with conditions heavy. Keadue had the first opportunity on three minutes when Donal Rodgers volleyed over from a Conor Greene cross.
In the sixth minute Raphoe had a good effort from long range tipped over by Luke Neely.
From the resultant corner though, they took the lead with a far post header from David Craig. Raphoe were better for a while after that but on fifteen minutes Sean Yank Boyle was through on the right hand side following a good ball but his shot went just wide.
As the half went on Raphoe began to sit back a bit more inviting Keadue on but were dangerous on the break and were forcing Keadue into long range efforts.
On thirty eight minutes Keadues’ Ryan Greene had a shot from thirty yards well saved and the follow up was also brilliantly saved by Roy Duffy in the Raphoe goal.
Keadue’s strong end to the first half was rewarded on thirty nine minutes when good link work round the box led to Corey Gallagher firing home to the net from a low angle on the right.
At the start of the second half Raphoe were much the brighter and had a shot wide after forty six minutes. The game got pretty scrappy after that, not helped by wet and windy conditions.
Around the hour mark Keadue started to get some joy down the right side getting some crosses into the box but Raphoe were defending stoutly.
It started to open up in the last fifteen minutes with Raphoe having a good chance in the seventy seventh minute but the chance was cleared.
A minute later Sean Yank Boyle’s shot was saved with Hugh Moy’s follow up also blocked. On eighty one minutes Conor Greene was through but his shot was again well saved by Roy Duffy.
Although Keadue were proving strong in the last ten Raphoe had a goal disallowed two minutes from time for an infringement.
Overall, a fair result for both sides. Best for Keadue were Conor Greene and Hugh Moy while best for Raphoe were Jamie Gallagher and Roy Duffy. Referee: James Malseed.
Gweedore Celtic 2 Donegal Town 1
This game was played in glorious winter sunshine at an Screaban. Donegal Town took the lead on 20 minutes when Joe McIntyre was quickest to react from a good save from Michael Mc Kelvey.
The Celts turned up the tempo in the 2nd half and Colin Ferry equalised for the hosts with a brilliant solo goal. Gweedore now had momentum and Na Ceiltigh took a deserved lead through Tommy Diver from a Jamie Boyle cross.
Gweedore held out for the win with Cathal Mulligan in midfield and Odhran Mc Niallais in centre-half most impressive for the hosts.
A good display from both sides. Referee: Michael McFadden.
Cappry Rovers 7 Deele Harps 1
Cappry Rovers started this game in Cappry Park in whirlwind fashion when they were on the attack from the first minute. Cappry broke the deadlock in the 7th minute when Calvin Bradley scored from an Aaron Kelly cross. Darren O’Leary made it 2-0 in the 15th minute from a corner.
Gerard Melaugh made in 3-0 in the 20th minute. Darren O’Leary got his second and Cappry 4th in the in the 22nd minute.
It was 5-0 in the 40th when Alan Gethins finished well from a Paddy McNulty pass.
Brendan Mc Laughlin scored the 6th in the 41st minute from an Alan Gethins cross. Calvin Bradley scored his 2nd and Cappry’s 7th in the 44th minute following a good passing move involving Aaron Kelly and Alan Gethins.
In the second half Cappry took the foot of the pedal and played keep ball but still created a few chances.
Deele got a consultation goal in the 75th minute through Shane Gallagher.
Team Performance from Cappry. Cathal Mc Gowan was best for Deele. Referee: Dessie Mc Laughlin.
CT Ball Division Two
Letterbarrow Celtic 5 Curragh Athletic 2
Letterbarrow Celtic came out on top of a very competitive game at Tymeen which was played in perfect conditions for football.
Alex Mc Neillis opened the scoring for the home side when he beat the offside trap to slot home into the corner of the net after ten minutes.
Both sides had good chances denied by the respective keepers in a lively first half which ended one nil.
Curragh opened the second half brightly and equalised when James Sweeney finished well after a good counter attack.
However, Letterbarrow regained the lead on sixty minutes when Alex Mc Neillis did brilliantly to create space in the box and curl a fine finish in off the post.
Five minutes later Dermot Slevin headed home a corner for the home side and on seventy minutes, Alex Mc Neillis completed his hat-trick with a close range finish.
Curragh didn’t give up and pulled a goal back on eighty minutes when James Sweeney glanced home a header from a free kick. James Mc Groary gave Letterbarrow their fifth on ninety minutes with a screamer from thirty yards. Best for Letterbarrow was Alex Mc Neillis with James Sweeney a constant threat for the visitors.
Drumkeen United 4 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 2
Drumkeen took all three points from this game thanks to a hat trick from Birthday boy Niall Bonner and a goal from Kevin Bonner.
The visitors made the better start in this game and could have taken the lead but for Drumkeen Keeper Michael Gibson who managed to keep the ball from crossing the line before Kevin Boyle cleared it to safety.
The home team then took the lead, probably against the run of play, when a ball fell to Kevin Bonner just inside the box and he fired it home.
A Niall Bonner diving header doubled their advantage shortly after when the ball was headed back across the box to him following a free kick out on the left by Liam McGill.
Kerrykeel then pulled a goal back when they were awarded a penalty which was calmly taken by Bernard Mc Gettigan. Niall Bonner then added a third Drumkeen goal from the penalty spot to give them a two goal cushion at the break.
The visitors began the second half well and pulled a goal back early in the half. Drumkeen extended their lead again when Niall Bonner found himself one on one with Keeper Shane Sandilands who he rounded before stroking the ball home to complete his hat trick.
At four goals to two ahead you would think the game was over but not in this case as Kerrykeel kept going and were awarded a penalty for hand ball which unfortunately for him and Kerrykeel Brian McBride blasted over the bar.
The visitors made life very hard for Drumkeen in the last quarter of the game and although the home team could probably have added another couple of goals during the game they were happy enough to get the three points on the board.
A good team effort from both sides in a hard fought but sporting game. A Special mention for Niall Bonner who celebrated his birthday with his second hat trick in two games.
Ballybofey United 6 Whitestrand United 1
Damien Glackin found his shooting boots again on Sunday afternoon as Ballybofey United stretched their lead at the top of the Division.
Backed up by a goal apiece from Mark Griffin and Alan Patton, Glackin netted four times to give the home side a comfortable victory over a hard working Whitestrand side.
The Twin Towns side look a decent bet for promotion at this stage but they will be taking nothing for granted as a lot can change in the latter stages of the season.
Lifford Celtic and now Dunkineely Celtic too are still well within striking distance and Brian Lafferty’s side still have both of the afore mentioned sides to play.
That said the Finnsiders have put a really impressive string of results together this term.
Copany Rovers 0 Cranford United 5
Cranford got off to a great start and Joe Gallagher got a great first half hat-trick. Copany made a better start to the second half and pushed for a goal but Cormac Toland and Brendan Giles had fine finishes to close out the game.
Joe Gallagher and Danny McBride were brilliant for Cranford, with a team effort from Copany
Dunkineely Celtic 4 Lifford Celtic 1
On a beautiful day for football Dunkineely welcomed Lifford Celtic to Darney Park. Dunkineely Celtic started the game more briskly and had the Lifford defence under pressure when in the 14th minute Adrian Nesbitt missed a glorious chance but he made amends a minute later, a great through ball from Alan Lyons found Nesbitt who made no mistake to make it 1-0 to the home side.
It was all Dunkineely and in the 22nd minute a free kick from Lyons was headed over Given in the Lifford nets to make it 2-0.
With Aaron Byrne &Alan Lyons dominating midfield for the home side a long clearance from Gavin Mulreany in the home goal found Nesbitt who chipped the keeper to make it make it 3-0 to the home side at half time.
Lifford knew they had to come out stronger in the 2nd half but still were unable to break down the home defence with young Jordan Watters and Aiden Duddy and Johnny Cassidy excellent.
Lifford got back into it in the 60th minute when a cross from Ross Porter found Jason McBrearty who had an easy tap in to make it 3- 1.
But almost from the restart a cross from Paul Murrin found that man Nesbitt again to make it 4- 1 to the home team and it took some good goal keeping from Givens to keep the score at 4- 1.
A Great all round display from the home side, a team performance from Lifford. Referee: Seamus McGrory.
