THERE was a programme of games today in the Donegal Junior League with Cappry Rovers claiming a big 4-2 away win at Drumkeen in the Premier Division – here’s a full roundup of the action.
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Drumkeen United 2 Cappry Rovers 4
Cappry Rovers were the visitors to a bitterly cold St Patrick’s Park on Sunday afternoon.
Cappry took an early lead from a Sean Mc Bride free kick. Drumkeen had a great opportunity to equalise shortly after that but Jamie Gallagher saw his effort saved by Cappry keeper Brendan Gallen. The home team did get back on level terms when they were awarded a penalty which was well dispatched by Lee Guthrie.
Dean O’Donnell added a second for Cappry to give them a 2-1 half-time lead.
Drumkeen had to play the second half with 10 men after their keeper Paul McCauley was sent off.
Young Aidan Martin went into goals and acquitted himself very well.
Cappry quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage when Alan Gethins scored their third goal early in the second half. At that stage it looked like it could be a long second half for the home team but the ten men did well and actually played some good football at times.
They were awarded another penalty which once again Lee Guthrie tucked away to reduce the deficit to just one. Their joy was short lived however as almost immediately.
Cappry added a fourth through Calvin Bradley. The home team kept going though and Cappry ‘keeper Brendan Gallen was called into action a few times in the last quarter as Drumkeen tried their best to get a goal to get them back within touching distance.
Unfortunately for the home team there was to be no third goal and no late comeback and it was the visitors who claimed all three points.
Keadue Rovers 3 Milford United 1
Keadue Rovers moved off the bottom of the table following this all important victory over Milford United at a very cold Central Park on Sunday. The visitors were the brighter of the two in the opening minutes, forcing a few corners.
On five minutes Keadue had their first chance of the game when David Ward’s effort was saved by the keeper. The game began to get a bit scrappy after that, with both teams trying to get their first points of the season.
On 18 minutes a misplaced bass by Keadue keeper Danny Rodgers left an open goal but Milford could not capitalise on this and two minutes later, following good work from Jack Boyle on the right wing, Aidan McHugh’s shot was saved. The game was opening up with good chances falling to both Jack Boyle and Shaun Yank Boyle before a Milford chance came on the half hour with their striker just lobbing the ball inches over the bar.
On 32 minutes, following a free kick of Adam Neely’s which was blocked, the rebound fell to David Ward whose shot trickled into the left bottom corner after passing through several players.
Three minutes later Jack Boyle took on the defender and was upended in the box and David Ward coolly slotted home the penalty kick.
A few minutes later Keadue had a chance to make it three when once again the excellent Jack Boyle was taken down but this time David Ward’s kick was well saved by the Milford keeper. At the start of the second half the home side forced a few free-kicks, both of which went wide. Milford had a header cleared off the line in the fiftieth minute and for the next ten minutes they put the home defence under considerable pressure and had a good chance of fifty-eight minutes with a header which went narrowly wide.
Keadue were absorbing the pressure and hitting on the break with Luke Neely and Shaun Yank Boyle showing well.
On 63 minutes Aidan McHugh went on a fine run but his shot was saved by the Milford keeper and Calum Boyle was wide with the rebound. Keadue’s Barry Curran was unlucky with his long-range strike hitting the crossbar on eighty minutes following a fine move and just when it looked like Keadue were strolling home, a defensive mix up lead to the concession of a penalty and up stepped Mark Flood to coolly tuck it away for 2-1.
Despite mounting pressure from Milford, they couldn’t breach the Keadue back line and four minutes from the end unselfish work from Shaun Yank Boyle on the break created a chance for Adam Neely who slammed it to the net from the edge of the area. A good result for Keadue bringing them up a few places in the Table while for Milford it was a decent team performance. Best for Keadue on the day were David Ward, Jack Boyle and Shaun Yank Boyle.
Referee: Mick Lagan.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 4 Cranford United 1
The game had a frantic start as both sides created chances in the opening ten minutes. Cranford were unlucky not to go a goal up with a Naoise Cullen header which was brilliantly saved by Shane Graham.
Soon Kilmacrennan started to pass the ball well and finally cracked the away side’s defence when Christy Connaghan put Dillon through on goal, he calmly put the ball past Jason Hegarty. Kilmacrennan went two up just before half time when Dillon’s quick feet put Mark Friel through to smash the ball into the net.
Michael Mc Laughlin made it three on the 50th minute mark.
Then ten minutes later Dillon got a second. Cranford got a consolation goal when Lorcan Connor chipped the Kilmacrennan goalkeeper in the dying moments of the game.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Glenea United 0 Ballybofey United 3
Ballybofey ran out comfortable winners in the end, but Glenea must be kicking themselves at the missed chances they had. Damien Glackin had a good strike go close in the 6th minute for Ballybofey, while Michael Barry, Ryan Mc Fadden and Shaun Curran all had good chances for Glenea in the first half.
Glenea started the second half with Darren Ferry and Mc Fadden going close.
Ballybofey opened the scoring in the 55th minute with a great strike from Calvin O’ Brien, picking out the top corner from 25 yards.
Ten minutes later Brian Lafferty put Ballybofey two ahead, with a quick free kick over the wall while Glenea were still getting organised. Damien Glackin made sure of the points in the 80th minute with a good finish, low to the corner giving the keeper no chance.
Gweedore Celtic 0 Drumoghill F.C. 0
Drumoghill perhaps were the happier of the two teams with this result especially as they had to play the final quarter with ten men and having seen Gweedore squander several chances that would have clinched a home victory.
Those chances were all created in the second half as both teams found it difficult to master the windy conditions of the first half. It was a first half mostly dominated by Drumoghill, without creating any clear-cut openings against a home defence well marshalled by keeper Micheal McKelvey.
Gweedore had two chances to grab all the points. The first fell to Liam Mc Fadden but Toner, in goals, denied him with a great save.
Minutes later Micheal Roarty found himself in a scoring position but he shot narrowly wide.
McKelvey then made a fantastic save from a Richie Moore goal-bound shot. Donal Mac Giolla BhrÃde and Eugene Ferry were best for the home team. Good overall team effort from Drumoghill.
Referee: Sean O’Donnell.
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 3 Convoy Arsenal 1
Kerrykeel ‘71 welcomed Convoy Arsenal to a cold Rab’s Park for a top of the table clash and it was the home side who took all three points. Both teams started well with Kerrykeel going close through Sean Little and JP Malley close for Convoy.
The ‘71 lost winger Evan Hewitt mid-way through the first half through injury and he was replaced by Michael Sweeney who would make a real impact later in the game. Kerrykeel deservedly took the lead on 35 minutes when a Marty McAteer free was half cleared and the ball fell to Conor McGonigle who drove home from 15 yards into the roof of the net.
The second half started with both teams having chances but it was Kerrykeel who doubled their lead on 60 minutes when Michael Sweeney cooly chipped the advancing keeper after a great ball from captain McAteer.
Convoy were then reduced to ten men when Gleeson was sent off for a second bookable offence on 70minutes.
This really got Convoy going and they had the home side under a lot of pressure with McElwaine and Malley testing the keeper.
Malley then got a goal back for them on 74 minutes. Eddie Boyce made an outstanding save on 80 minutes to keep his team in front.
He somehow tipped over a Brolly header that was destined for the top corner. Big Sweeney then made the points safe after good build up play, he found himself one on one with the keeper, stayed cool and finished from a tight angle after rounding the keeper.
Letterbarrow Celtic 2 St. Catherines 3
Letterbarrow started strong with James and Brian McGroary along with Kevin McBrearty linking up well but a mistake at the back gave Killybegs an early lead. Letterbarrow responded well and equalised with a header from Brian McGroary.
When Ciaran Gildea went off injured Mark Mc Hugh volunteered to go in goal but he also came off injured after a collision in the box. Killybegs capitalised and scored a penalty before adding a third. Ryan O’Brian scored to give Letterbarrow a sense of hope but too many injuries meant for a difficult day for the home side. Wishing both Ciaran Gildea and Mark Mc Hugh speedy recoveries.
Lifford Celtic 1 Rathmullan Celtic 5
(No Report Submitted)
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Deele Harps 8 Glenree United 0
(No Report Submitted)
Gweedore United 2 Curragh Athletic 2
The home side will probably feel this was two points dropped after their dominance in the second half. The visitors took the lead in the in the 12 minute with Gary Doherty finishing well from a penalty. Curragh extended their lead in the 29th minute with a back heel and good finish from Paddy Kelly deceiving the United defence and keeper.
The home side made a few changes on the half hour and dominated from then on.
United missed a penalty in the 32nd minute however pulled one back in the 38th minute when Ronan O’Donnell finished well following good work from Stephen Doyle McFadden. United continued to dominate possession in the second half with chance after chance, however the Curragh ‘keeper and defence did well to keep them out. In the 63rd minute United thought they equalised but a well worked goal was adjudged to be off-side to the surprise of the home support. It was 2-2 in the 69th minute when Ronan O’ Donnell flicked the ball onto Stephen Doyle McFadden to finish well.
The visitors were reduced to ten men with 15 minutes remaining and United pushed them hard but it ended 2-2. Conor McFadden, Ronan O’Donnell and Stephen Doyle McFadden played well for United with Marc Storrie and Keelan McGill playing well for Curragh on the day.
Referee: Seimà Ferry.
Raphoe Town 5 Dunkineely Celtic 0
Raphoe got off to a great start when Corey Gillen headed home a Conor Friel cross at the back post after ten minutes.
Raphoe doubled their lead on the half hour after a great pass from Zak Brolly found Conor Friel on the right. Friel went past two defenders before drilling home a great finish.
Keelan Bogle scored Raphoe’s third goal in the 50th minute with a left foot shot from 20 yards straight into the bottom corner.DJ Kelly then scored the fourth with a diving header from a Christy Bogle cross. Conor Friel scored his second goal and Raphoe’s 5th goal in the 65th minute.
Paddy Kelly nearly scored the 6th goal when his curling shot from 25 yards came off both posts. A spirited team performance from a young Dunkineely side. Best for Raphoe: Zak Brolly. Referee: Tony McNamee
Swilly Rovers 3 Lagan Harps 1
(No Report Submitted)
