CAPPRY Rovers maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Donegal League Premier Division on an eventful afternoon across the county.
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Keadue Rovers 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic 4
The game started with Kilmacrennan dominating possession and that’s the way it stayed throughout.
Chris Dillon put Kilmacrennan one up with a sweet strike from outside the box in the 35 minute.
The Lurgysiders started the second-half strong with a Michael McLaughlin brace giving the home side a 3-0 lead. Keadue then got one back through Barry Curran on 58 minutes.
Kilmacrennan regained their three goal advantage when Enda Mc ormick slotted home a penalty.
Castlefin Celtic 3 Bonagee United 1
Castlefin collected all three points in a hard-fought game against Bonagee at Parkview on Sunday. Bonagee started the brighter and took the lead in the 5th minute through Aiden McLaughlin when he chipped the keeper from 18 yards after a defensive mix-up.
Castlefin’s only effort in the first half was from a Emmet White’s effort that just went narrowly wide. Castlefin upped their game in the second half and equalised in the 52nd minute when a Kieran Friel cross was tapped home by Barry Tourish.
Castlefin created numerous chances through Tourish, Friel and Foy but failed to convert.
The home side’s pressure paid off in the 65th minute when Raymond Foy broke the offside trap to cooly slot the ball past the keeper.
Castlefin sealed the points in the 80th minute when a Ronan Tourish shot from 20 yards flew into the corner of the net.
Referee: Mick Lagan
Cranford United 1 Cappry Rovers 2
Cranford started bright on a heavy pitch in Cranford Park with Lorcan Connor causing bother and hitting the bar with a headed effort.
Cappry took the lead with a good break down their left, and a cut back for Paddy Mc Nulty to head in from close range.
They doubled their lead shortly after, again a break from defence and Shaun McBride finished it. Cranford did have a great chance to pull one back with only the post denying Andrew Kelly’s fine volley.
Cranford did get a deserved goal in the second half with Lorcan Connor turning well inside the box and cooly finishing.
Cranford pushed for the equaliser however found the Cappry defence hard to break down.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Ballybofey United 3 Convoy Arsenal 4
Ballybofey United and Convoy Arsenal played out an entertaining match in the Temple Domestic Appliances Division One of the Donegal Junior League on Sunday afternoon at Dreenan.
Damien Glackin put the home-side into the lead from the penalty spot after an infringement in the area.
The lead only lasted five minutes as Johnny Doherty stole in at the back post to head the equaliser past Chris Patton from a right-wing corner which was very well delivered.
It got better for the visitors as on the stroke of half-time James A. Kee put them in front. Eight minutes into the second-half and it was level again as Mark Griffin send a low curling free-kick past Matthew Gallagher in the Convoy net.
Two minutes after that JP Malley won a race to the ball over the top with Chris Patton and the experienced frontman skilfully dinked the ball over the stranded keeper and ran on to roll the ball into an empty net to regain the Convoy lead.
An eventful spell was completed when Griffin slid the ball past Gallagher to level matters once more.
On seventy-nine minutes Convoy were awarded a penalty and Malley converted for the game’s final goal. 3-4 it ended with Convoy Arsenal returning to Orchard Park with all three points.
Best for Ballybofey United: Shaun McGowan and Ronan McMenamin. Best for Convoy Arsenal: Johnny Doherty and Garry Brolly.
Referee: Andrew Mullan.
St. Catherines 5 Drumoghill F.C. 1
The visitors started strongly and were unlucky not to take the lead when a shot from inside the box rattled the crossbar on three minutes. Niall Campbell, against the run of play, put the Saints one nil up on 5 minutes.
He kept his cool on the edge of the D and slotted low past the Drumoghill keeper. This settled the home team and a headed goal from Evan Broderick and a 25-yard pile-driver from Paul O’ Hare left the saints 3-0 up at half time.
The second half started with the home side still playing the better football. They were awarded a penalty on 52 minutes for handball in the Drumoghill box. Barry cannon made no mistake.
Carlos Rogers was trying his best in the middle of the field for the visitors but could do nothing to stem the tide as man of the match Ryan Cunningham danced through the Drumoghill defence and calmly slotted home a fifth goal and the points were secured for St. Catherine’s.
Drumoghill’s consolation goal was scored by Cian O’Donnell.
Rathmullan Celtic 1 Glenea United 2
Rathmullan Celtic welcomed their old foes Glenea to the Flagpole for what was an exhilarating top of the table clash.
A six-pointer that was edged at the death by the visitors with Sean McBride the hero with that last gasp strike that puts the Glasserchoo men firmly on top of the First Division.
The Hoops were in the ascendancy after three minutes when former Manchester United junior goal keeper Joe Coll was shown a red card after the shot-stopper was adjudged to have taken down Eoin Sheridan just outside the area.
However, 10 man Glenea played resolutely and their persistence and attacking football put the home side on the back foot. On 12 minutes Glenea sharp shooter John Mc Fadden saw his strike brilliantly cleared off the line by man of the match Ephrim McFadden.
Five minutes later the visitors deservedly took the lead after a goal mouth scramble saw Mc Fadden toe poke home much to the jubilation of the large traveling support from Falcarragh.
Just before the half time whistle, McFadden almost doubled his tally after rounding goalkeeper Shaun Gallagher outside the box before his acute-angle strike was cleared off the line by Reggie Miller much to the relief of the Seaside faithful who were glad to regroup at the break.
Michael Deeney’s Hoops took the second half by storm pinning the Glenea side in their own half with attacking football led by Ephrim Mc Fadden from defence.
Midfielder Eoin Sheridan saw his strike, after a goal mouth scramble, come back off the post in the opening 30 seconds of the half. Five minutes later Eddie Moore put Sheridan through who slotted the ball on to Kevin Doran who scored, but referee Allister Gurley ruled the goal out for hand ball from Sheridan in the build-up.
On the hour mark the Hoops introduced star striker Dara Patton who completely changed the tempo of the game almost immediately with his class on the ball.
The talisman set up another attack on 65 minutes which resulted in a goal mouth scramble with Hoop’s midfielder Brad Patterson on hand to toe poke home and set up a gripping finale.
The Seasiders, despite all their dominance, couldn’t create that killer ball in the final third to break down a totally disciplined defence led superbly by Sean Coll and they were to rue such missed opportunities.
With full time looming, the Glasserchoo outfit mounted a rare attack which resulted in Mc Fadden crossing into the area which was not dealt with by the Hoops defence and Mc Bride popped up at the back post to toe poke home and steal the valuable three points to put the icing on a disciplined performance for 10-man Glenea.
The Hoops had a final effort to equalise when Adam Salhi put his strike wide of the goal with a gilt-edged opportunity to steal a draw but it wasn’t to be.
Glenea were reduced to nine men in injury time when goal hero Mc Bride was sent off for a second yellow which still didn’t disappoint the Falcarragh supporters who fairly enjoyed their last gasp win at the Seaside.
Glenea’s disciplined defence was the difference in this top of the table clash led impeccably by Sean Coll with Hoop’s sweeper Ephrim McFadden taking the man of the match award followed closely by star striker Dara Patton who lit up the Seaside with his introduction for the final half hour. Referee: Allister Gurney
Lifford Celtic 0 Gweedore Celtic 5
(No Report Submitted)
Letterbarrow Celtic 3 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 4
Kerrykeel started strong and soon took the lead when Johnny Friel scored a well worked goal. They soon doubled their lead when Patsy Friel scored a great individual effort.
Letterbarrow responded straight away when Neil Ward halved Kerrykeel’s lead before half time. The second-half was nip and tuck but Kerrykeel scored their third with Patsy Friel doubling his tally. Letterbarrow again responded with Dan Meehan scoring.
Ian Campbell was sure his goal would give Letterbarrow a hard-fought point but their hearts sank when Paddy Carr scored the winner with the last kick of the game.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Whitestrand United 5 Deele Harps 3
Whitestrand continued their strong season with an event-filled match against Deele Harps at McGarvey Park.
Whitestrand started the match strongly but Deele took the lead against the run of play with a swift counterattack.
One of only a few forays into the Whitestrand half in the early goings of the game. Whitestrand equalised from a fine finish through the legs of the keeper by Darren Ferry.
Whitestrand should have had a second when the ball looked to have crossed the line but in the absence of goal line technology the referee didn’t give the goal.
Deele again took the lead almost straight from the kick-off as the keeper misjudged the flight of the ball and the Deele player headed home.
Whitestrand pushed for another equaliser and got it when Kevin Loughrey scored from the penalty spot. Deele took the lead again when Whitestrand’s McCleary misjudged the flight of the ball and the Deele player fired home.
Whitestrand then equalised in a topsy turvey game from and OG forced by Paul Ferry.
Whitestrand finally took the lead when Ronan Morris fired over the keeper.
With Deele pushing for an equaliser Whitestrand scored the clincher five minutes from time when Paul Ferry scored a breakaway goal.
Swilly Rovers 0 Raphoe Town 0
The opening period of this match was very entertaining with the hosts on the attack from the very start.
Tyler Durning and Matthew Sweeney were proving to be handful for the visitors causing numerous problems in the final third.
After the initial 20 minutes the game was more even with the defensive units of both teams getting on top.
Swilly did create a few opportunities as the first half ended but couldn’t convert them.
A moment of real class was required to break the deadlock and it was the hosts who nearly took the lead in the 70th minute when Marty McDaid hit a rasping shot from 22 yards after great work from Ryan McDaid out on the wing.
Swilly continued to have the bulk of possession without really threatening.
Zak Brolly was having a big impact on the proceedings and was looking dangerous on the counter for Raphoe.
Swilly’s defensive rocks of Columba O’Donnell, Dylan Hegarty, Shay Durning and Damien Friel were resolute in giving no meaningful chances away however.
The athletic and dynamic midfield duo of James McCahill and Matthew Sweeney controlled the central area and set the tempo for the hosts in this scrappy encounter.
There were no goals or incidents as the game petered out with both teams probably happy with a point each.
Curragh Athletic 3 Dunkineely Celtic 1
The conditions were near perfect and it was the home side started well. On 15 minutes Tim Callaghan got the scoring started and on 30 minutes it was Callaghan again with a super solo goal.
It was Callaghan again who was awarded a penalty and he stood tall, taking it himself for his hat-trick.
The second half started well for the away side. They pushed the Curragh defence and got their reward from a long ball over the top that left it 3-1.
It got a bit scrappy with long balls not working. The Curragh got the ball on the deck again and started to play some nice football but the stubborn Dunkineely defence stood strong.
Lagan Harps 7 Glenree United 0
Five second half goals put a gloss on Lagan’s win, in a game tighter than the final result suggests.
Lagan started well but couldn’t find a finishing touch. The breakthrough came on 20 minutes when Ciaran Cunningham fired home from the edge of the area.
Glenree responded with Cathal McGinley firing just over from distance.
Lagan increased the lead on thirty minutes when Eric Roberts cut across the area and drove the ball home.
Lagan again started strongly in the second half but Glenree defended well and created a few half chances. Lagan went further ahead when Josh Hay headed home an Eric Roberts cross.
Ruairi Friel then hit the top of the crossbar from 40 yards as Glenree fought back. Ross Hamlyn combined with Damien Nelis to score Lagan’s fourth.
Hugh O’Donnell struck the bar with a free as Glenree tried to get back into the game. Lagan added a fifth when Damien Nelis headed home a Noel Donnelly cross.
The sixth came when a Noel Donnelly cross was bundled home by an unfortunate defender. Seamie Cullen scored the final goal when he finished off a Damien Nelis cross.
For Lagan Josh Hay, Seamie Cullen and Eric Roberts were best. For Glenree John McClafferty and Ruairi Friel battled hard.
Referee: Con McLaughlin.
