It was a weekend full of goals and games in the Donegal Junior League – here’s a full roundup of all the action from the various divisions.
Saturday
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Milford United Reserves 2 Arranmore United 1
Milford welcomed Arranmore to Moyle View Park and it was Arranmore who started the stronger.
They took the lead after 20 minutes when a cross whipped in found an Arranmore attacker free at the back post to hammer home. Milford gradually got into the game but it took a piece of brilliance from Ciaran Blaney to level things.
Having picked the ball up 30 yards from goal he decided to try his luck and riffled it into the top corner.
The second half was very even until Ryan Campbell found space in the box on the hour mark and found the bottom corner to give Milford the lead.
To their credit it was all Arranmore after that but with some strong defending and a bit of luck Milford held out to take the three points.
A good team effort from Arranmore and a good all round team performance from Milford with Ryan Campbell and Lee Burke standing out.
Donegal Town Reserves 0 Glencar Celtic 1
Glencar started the game the better of the two sides and were unlucky not to go ahead early in the first half when Conor Given’s superb long range effort struck the Donegal crossbar.
It wasn’t long until Glencar took the lead however and it was Stephen Doherty who got the goal flicking Mark Graham’s cross into the corner of the Donegal net. Donegal struggled to create chances in the first half, Ronan McHugh coming closest but unable to beat the Glencar keeper.
Donegal came into the game in the second half and a few early chances for Gary Ward and Ciaran O’Reilly almost saw them equalise.
Growing in confidence Donegal had two goals disallowed for offside and they also struck the Glencar crossbar. Glencar proved to be the better of the sides and defended well to close the game out winning by a single goal.
Strand Rovers 1 Keadue Rovers Reserves 0
(No Report Submitted)
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 1 Orchard F.C. 1
Castlefin and Orchard played out an entertaining draw on Saturday in blustery conditions in Parkview.
The home side started the brighter and took the lead in the 10th minute when the Orchard keeper fumbled a Gary McNulty shot and Keith Nelis followed up to tap home.
The hosts kept creating chances and had futher chances Fall to Damien McGlinchey and McNulty but they failed to convert. In the second half the visitors aided by a stronger breeze piled not the pressure and were unlucky not to equalise through a Ciaran Gibson header. Castlefin were dangerous on the counter-attack and Mc Nulty fired wide after being positioned well.
In the 88th minute Orchard equalised when Gérard Roulston poked home after a goalmouth scramble.
Best for Castlefin: Gary McNulty and James McMenamin. Team performance from Orchard.
Referee: Con McLaughlin
Cappry Rovers Reserves 2 Glenea United Reserves 4
In windy conditions in Cappry Park Glenea proved to be too strong for Cappry Reserves. Goals from Aodhan Ferry and two from Padraig Mc Gee saw Glenea lead 3 – 1 at half time.
Oisin Farrah with Cappry’s goal. Cappry were much the better side in the second half and pulled a goal back after great work from Oisin Farrah to square for N.P McDaid to tap home. Some poor defending allowed Glenea to score again with Shane Ferry tapping home to finish the game 4 – 2 to Glenea.
Team performance from Glenea. Oisin Farrah best for Cappry.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 2 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 2
(No Report Submitted)
Drumbar F.C. 5 Lagan Harps Reserves 3
A prevailing cross field wind dominated what were otherwise dry conditions for football in Drumbar.
The home side were first out of the blocks with an early goal from the boot of Tirone O’ Shea.
The following 10 minutes saw chances falling to the Drumbar attackers on three occasions but they were not converted. The Lagan side weathered the storm and took matters back into their own control as Jason Burke pounced on a loose ball and converted to even the game in the 30th minute.
The match swung to favour the visitors as they were awarded a penalty for a push In the box in the 38th minute. Stephen Gallagher converted.
Drumbar got back level when Owen Harron drilled in a cross from the right and Keelan Heeney got the equaliser. David Giblin was then taken down and Daniel Bennett scored from the spot to put Drumbar ahead again.
Within minutes Lagan’ Stephen Gallagher made a menacing run weaving inside two defenders in the Drumbar box before scoring to again equal the scores with twenty minutes remaining. In the 75th minute another penalty for the home side, after a late tackle, and again Bennett scored from 12 yards.
Drumbar emptied the bench in the last 15 minutes and it was one of the substitutes Jamie Flanagan who converted to secure the points for Drumbar.
Fintown Harps AFC 3 Raphoe Town Reserves 1
On a breezy afternoon Fintown welcomed Raphoe to Pairc Achla.
Both sides shared the play until Fintown’s captain Shan McMillan put the home side 1-0 up with a fine individual effort.
With 25 minutes played Raphoe equalised converting a rebound that keeper Leon Thompson initially saved. Fintown were reduced to 10 men when Chris Mc Glynn was sent off for his second bookable offence. Raphoe started the second half on the attack but a fine strike from Keelan McMonagle made it 2 1 to Fintown.
Sean Coulan made it 3-1 with 15 minutes to go. Raphoe pushed hard for the remainder but Fintown held firm for their first win of the season .
Team effort from Raphoe with Keelan Mc Monagle starring for Fintown.
Referee: Michael McFadden.
Gweedore Celtic Reserves 5 Drumkeen United Reserves 1
(No Report Submitted)
St. Catherines Reserves 3 Dunlewey Celtic 1
(No Report Submitted)
Sunday 24th
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Donegal Town 1 Castlefin Celtic 2
Castlefin started the better of the two teams and got themselves a goal in front after only 6 minutes, Matthew O’Rourke’s fine strike from 20 yards finding the bottom corner of the Donegal net.
Ben Sweeney came close to equalising for Donegal within 5 minutes when his shot from a narrow angle flashed across the Castlefin goal line and wide.
Ronan Tourish was unlucky not to double Castlefin’s lead on 20 minutes when he got goal side of the Donegal left back but was unlucky to see his effort pass narrowly wide. 1-0 Castlefin at half time.
Donegal started the second half with the initiative and dominated the early exchanges.
Declan Browne’s deflected shot passed narrowly over the bar and Daniel McHugh was unlucky not to convert a loose ball in the Castlefin six-yard box.
It was Barry Mulligan that got the equaliser for Donegal when his 20-yard effort bounced awkwardly in front of the Castlefin keeper and found the corner of the net.
Donegal at this stage of the game looked good for three points but it was Ray Foy who would have the final say for Castlefin on 75 minutes.
Foy’s sublime 25 yard free kick flew into the top corner of the Donegal net leaving the keeper no chance and restoring Castlefin’s one goal advantage.
Castlefin defended well for the last 15 minutes to ensure all three points.
Rathmullan Celtic 1 Milford United 0
Rathmullan took all three points from this derby clash with Milford courtesy of Ryan Connolly’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
In a game where decent chances were hard to come by, it was the Hoops who created the best of the scoring chances though Milford, typically, threatened to sneak a point late in the game with a succession of corners causing havoc.
The game was headed for stalemate at the break but on 44 minutes Connolly’s free-kick from the left was on course to evade everyone before coming off a Milford defender en route into the net.
One for the dubious goals panel perhaps, but for now Connolly will be happy to take the plaudits.
In the second half, Rathmullan forced decent saves out of Barry Gallagher with long range shots from Eoin Sheridan and Ryan Connolly, while player-boss Dara Patton also stung the gloves with a late free-kick.
James Gallagher was unfortunate to see his downward header across goal rebound back off the base of the post as the home side tried to make the points safe.
Referee: Paddy Duffy
Kildrum Tigers 2 Kilmacrennan Celtic 1
The Tigers opened the scoring after three minutes when Ethan Coll pulled he ball back to William Lynch who made no mistake tucking it into the bottom corner. Kilmacrennan levelled after half an hour when Paddy Sheridan scored a free kick from 25 yards.
Kildrum took the lead again after 40 minutes when Ethan Coll pounced on a loose ball and tapped into an open net. Kildrum were totally in control at the start of the second half and it looked only a matter of time before they got a third but they were denied by a few good saves.
Kilmacrennan piled on the pressure in the last quarter and nearly got an equaliser in the 90th minute when a free kick just missed the top corner by a few inches.
Lagan Harps 0 Glenea United 4
Glenea picked up the three points from a game than was a whole lot tighter then the score-line would suggest. Lagan had a great opportunity on five minutes when after a defender slipped, James Gillen found himself in the clear. However he shot straight at Joe Coll.
Glenea took the lead on ten minutes when a Lagan defender missed his clearance and Ciaran Mc Geady fired home. The rest of the half was closely fought with both teams going close.
Glenea started strong in the second half but the Lagan defence held firm. Lagan went close when a Kevin Kelly free was headed off the crossbar by a Glenea defender. From the resulting corner Glenea broke up the field.
With the Lagan defence appealing for offside Ciaran McFadden lobbed the advancing Michael Toner. The game was settled when Glenea broke and a Lagan defender was dismissed for a last man challenge. Lee O’Brien scored via a deflection from the resultant free.
Paddy Cannon added the fourth late on.
Drumoghill F.C. 2 Cappry Rovers 3
A Paddy McNulty hat-trick was enough to earn Cappry Rovers all 3 points from this pulsating clash with Drumoghill FC at The Moss, although the home side will feel this was an opportunity lost after they had battled back from 2-0 down to look like the side that would push on and claim all 3 points.
It was McNulty that stole the headlines when he grabbed the winner on 76 minutes and his side comfortably saw the game out.
Drumoghill had earlier looked dead and buried after a brace from McNulty put the visitors into a commanding 2-0 half-time lead. He opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a terrific volley that gave goalkeeper Paddy Doherty no chance and doubled their advantage just before half time when he was in the right place at the right time to latch onto the rebound after Doherty had saved from Joel Bradley-Walsh.
Bradley-Walsh had been a hero at the other end only a few minutes before Cappry’s second goal when he produced a miraculous goal-saving clearance when John O’Kane looked set to grab the equaliser.
The striker connected well from close range but Bradley-Walsh produced a terrific block on the line to preserve his sides lead. Wilson rallied his troops at half time and Drumoghill started the second half in the ascendancy.
Liam O’Donnell pulled one back on 58 minutes when he lobbed the advancing keeper before substitute Sean Cleary glanced home a terrific header on 64 minutes to level the scores.
Drumoghill had regained the momentum and looked set to grab their first win of the season, but a defensive lapse allowed Oisin Gallen time and space in the penalty area and picked out McNulty who tapped home the winner.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Gweedore Celtic 1 Lifford Celtic 1
This game was played in glorious sunshine at An Screaban. Gweedore started brightest and were unlucky not to score when Colin Ferry’s acrobatic effort was well saved by the Lifford keeper.
Gweedore took the lead early in the second half when Ryan McFadden scored a fine individual goal beating 6 players in the process.
Lifford got more into it as the game went on with Ciaran Ferry making several fine saves and Lifford also missied a penalty.
Lifford equalised with 5 minutes to go through a penalty from Johnny Robb. Man of the match displays from Eugene Noel Ferry and Michael Roarty.
Referee: Michael McFadden
Convoy Arsenal 4 Ballybofey United 1
Convoy Arsenal and Ballybofey United met in Orchard Park on Sunday. There was little between them in the first 15 minutes as both teams tested each other.
Convoy took the lead with 20 minutes played when a delightful pass that split the Ballybofey defence was converted by Anthony Bogle.
Convoy followed up with a long-range shot forcing a save. Ballybofey came close on 25 minutes with the Convoy keeper saving from a free kick.
Bogle continued to cause problems for the Ballybofey defence with shots just wide and also on target. The visitors came close to equalising on 37 minutes. The second half started with Ballybofey awarded a penalty in the 48th minute for a push in the back from a corner.
Neil Lloyd scored to level the match. Convoy nearly gifted Ballybofey the lead when they failed to clear their lines and the visitors again came close on 60 minutes with a shot pushed out for a corner. Convoy took control of the game in the last half hour, Ballybofey failed to deal with a long free kick with Fergus Carson latching onto the bouncing ball and lobbing the keeper to give Convoy the lead on 61 minutes.
This was followed by a goal from Marty Vance on 67 minutes and Carson got his second of the match on 84 minutes.
Erne Wanderers 0 Bonagee United 1
(No Report Submitted)
Keadue Rovers 1 St. Catherines 3
(No Report Submitted)
Donegal Physiotherapy Division Two
Copany Rovers 2 Eany Celtic 0
(No Report Submitted)
Whitestrand United P-P Curragh Athletic
(Match Postponed due to a bereavement in the Curragh Athletic club)
Drumkeen United 5 Deele Harps 1
Drumkeen continued their good start to the season with a comprehensive victory over visitors Deele Harps at St Patrick’s Park on Sunday.
The home team began the match well and were a goal up after 5 minutes when Kevin Bonner fired home from the edge of the box following a Drumkeen corner.
They continued to dominate the game and added a second goal which will go down as an own goal as it went in off a Deele defender. Michael Guthrie added a third following a good cross from Aaron Doherty out on the right wing.
Kevin Bonner added a fourth before half time. Having been under pressure for most of the first half Deele began the second half well and came more into the game. Drumkeen’s Kevin Bonner was looking for his hat-trick and he nearly got it but his great long range effort just grazed the top of the crossbar.
Deele’s revival saw them pull a goal back early in the second half when Jordan Duffy scored but it would prove to be no more than a consolation as shortly after that Richie Moore fired home a fifth goal for Drumkeen to put the issue beyond doubt.
Referee: Barry Hunter
Glenree United 6 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 2
On a glorious day in Glenree Park Glenree ran out deserved winners. It was Marty McLaughlin who opened the scoring when he finished from close range after being well set up by Aaron McClafferty in the 12th minute.
It was McClafferty’s turn to get on the score-sheet after a mazy run through the Kerrykeel defence to finish expertly past the goalie in the 18th minute.
Kerrykeel kept their heads and tried to get on the score-sheet but they couldn’t break the home side’s defensive unit.
The third goal came in the 28th minute when John Mc Fadden coolly took the ball down and slotted it into the bottom corner after a fine cross from McLaughlin.
Kerrykeel did get on the score-sheet in the 34th minute Connor Meakin fired a ball across the box for the in-rushing striker to finish past Oran Blaney in goals.
The home side steadied the ship again in the 39th minute when McLaughlin was put through by a peach of a pass from McFadden to finish well and return their three-goal cushion. In the second half Glenree pushed for more goals with some mouth-watering play between Barney Boyce and Aaron McClafferty almost leading to a contender for goal of the season but the Kerrykeel goalie pulled of a top class save to deny them.
Glenree were rewarded for their endeavours in the 57th minute when Dylan Mc Bride swung in a cross for Mc Fadden to head into the top corner.
In the 71st minute Kerrykeel got another goal back when a fine free kick was sent in by Shane Friel for Andrew Friel to nod past the keeper.
Connor Meakin could have made it a nervy end to the match when he was put through on goal and looked favourite to score but John McClafferty made up the ground to get a last-ditch tackle in to deny him.
Throughout the day Glenree responded well and in the 75th minute Mc Bride dribbled through the defence to score and complete the goal scoring.
Best on the day for Glenree United were Aaron Mc Clafferty, John McFadden and Seamus McLaughlin. Team effort from Kerrykeel FC.
Referee: Brian O’Kane
