CAPPRY ROVERS signalled their intent with a notable home win over Kildrum Tigers in the Donegal League Premier Division this afternoon, while Kerrykeel maintained their perfect start in Division One – here’s a full recap of today’s action.
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Cappry Rovers 2 Kildrum Tigers 0
Cappry Rovers recorded an impressive win to claim three important points in an entertaining game played in ideal conditions at Cappry Park. Cappry were on the back foot for a lot of the first half as Killdrum pushed forward in search of a goal but the Cappry defence held firm.
Cappry pushed forward at times but couldn’t get close to goal due to good defending by the visitors.
Cappry came more into the game in the second half and pushed forward more. Cappry made the breakthrough in the 61st minute when Alan Gethins scored following a cross from Dean O’Donnell.
Gethins got his second and Cappry’s second in the sixty-third minute after he beat the defence to score following a cross from Brendan McLaughlin.
Kildrum introduced the evergreen Kevin Mc Hugh in the hope of getting back to level terms, but Cappry held firm to claim the three points.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
St. Catherines 1 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 4
Kerrykeel were off the mark on three minutes as sloppy defending allowed Sean Little an easy tap in.
Both teams played entertaining football throughout the first half with chances at either end but the score remained 1-0 at the break.
Five minutes into the second half, and against the run of play, a fine header from Paddy Carr made it 2-0 to Kerrykeel. On 60 minutes Patsy Friel increased the Kerrykeel lead when his rocket-like shot flew past Michael Mullin in the home net.
The Saints plugged away and Eoin Love drove into the box on 70 minutes and won a penalty which he neatly dispatched himself to make it 3-1 to the visitors.
Evan Hewitt was hard to handle all day and got his reward on 80 minutes with a fine solo effort.
Paul Friel had a fine game in the middle of the park for Kerrykeel and Nathan Maxwell impressed when he came off the bench for the Saints.
Referee: Tony McNamee
Convoy Arsenal 3 Gweedore Celtic 1
The home team opened their account on 8 minutes when Anthony Bogle slotted home after a great delivery from Johnny Robb from the left-hand side.
On 35 minutes Bogle again struck a screamer from 22 yards when he stole the ball from the Gweedore defender to double the lead. Convoy remained the dominant force for the rest of the first half with little resistance from the youthful visitors.
On 57 minutes the visitors came close when Michael Cutliff brought of a great save from the Convoy keeper after a Michael Roarty delivery.
Then on 68 minutes Cutliff did get a goal back after heading home from a Colin Ferry delivery following a mix-up in the home defence. In the 80th minute JP Malley extended the Convoy lead when he looped the ball over the keeper after gaining possession from Johnny Robb’s deflected shot.
John A Kee and Johnny Doherty had consistent performances for Convoy while Cutliff and Roarty featured for the visitors. Referee: Paddy Duffy
Drumoghill 1 Glenea United 2
Sean Curran’s late free kick clinched all three points for the visitors as Glenea overturned an early deficit after Ritchie Moore’s early strike had given Drumoghill the lead.
Patrick Doherty got a hand to Curran’s effort and can consider himself unlucky not to have prevented the ball from creeping over the line. He had managed to fingertip the ball onto the post but could do nothing to prevent the ball from diverting into the net off his back.
Doherty’s finger tips had earlier prevented Glenea from taking the lead with a wonderful save from Calvin Murray’s super effort from 30 yards, so he can consider himself unlucky to end up on the losing side. Drumoghill though will wonder how they let it slip after a first half of dominance.
They took the lead through Ritchie Moore and could’ve been out of sight if it weren’t for the efforts of Joe Coll in goals for Glenea.
Coll denied Anthony Doherty, Liam O’ Donnell and Jason Doherty before Glenea grabbed an equaliser after referee Con McLaughlin had spotted a handball and Ryan McFadden made no mistake from 12 yards.
The second half was an even affair with both teams looking for the winner.
Just when it looked like both had settled for a share of the points, up stepped Curran to win it for the visitors.
Ballybofey United 3 Lifford Celtic 0
This game, played at Dreenan, remained scoreless for the opening forty five minutes but Ballybofey found their shooting boots in the second half and recorded a comfortable victory over Lifford. Jude Patton opened their account when he converted at the back post after the visiting custodian spilled the ball into his path on 50 minutes.
It was a well-deserved lead for the home side as they had totally dominated the first half without making it show on the scoreline. They suffered a setback two minutes later when they were reduced to ten men.
It didn’t affect their dominance however and they soon doubled their advantage.
On 60 minutes an alert Niall Mc Closkey anticipated a short goal-kick from Lifford and he intercepted the ball before crossing to Damien Glackin who was well placed to score.
Glackin got his second five minutes later when headed home a Brian Lafferty corner-kick. There was no way back for Lifford at this stage and Ballybofey claimed all three points.
Referee: Gerard Devine
Rathmullan Celtic 2 Letterbarrow Celtic 0
Michael Deeney’s Hoops returned to winning ways with a comprehensive win over Letterbarrow with Reggie Miller and Kevin Doran scoring the goals either side of half time and it could have been a whole lot more if the chances were converted.
The Hoops took the lead on 35 minutes when their attacking fullback Miller went on a mazy run on the right wing before cutting inside the area and dispatched a daisy cutter into the bottom left corner of John Doherty’s goal for the only goal of the half.
The Hoops completely dominated the second half and should have had the game out of sight with chances not being converted, although Kevin Doran was unlucky after his strike came off the crossbar on 50 minutes following a fine cross in by Miller.
Doran was on hand to score on 70 minutes from a Brad Patterson corner as the Letterbarrow defence failed to clear the ball and Doran pounced to double the Hoops advantage.
Hoops skipper Eoin Sheridan should have put the game out of sight on 79 minutes when the midfield maestro missed an open goal. Rathmullan were awarded a penalty on 80 minutes following a hand ball in the area but substitute Darragh Crossan saw his strike well saved by Doherty.
Referee: Seimi Friel
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Gweedore United 2 Dunkineely Celtic 2
This was a tight encounter played in perfect conditions in Gweedore. The home side got off to the perfect start with a screamer of a goal from Stephen Doyle Mc Fadden after three minutes when he rounded the defender on the left wing and scored from 20 yards leaving Emmet Kennedy in the Dunkineely nets with no chance.
United continued to press the visitor’s defence, however a young Dunkineely side were well organised at the back. The visitors looked dangerous on the break. Dunkineely were back on level terms in the 29th minute when a great cross from the right wing was met by Adrian Nesbitt who headed into the top corner from 6 yards.
The home side had good chances through Mark & Ciaran Mc Fadden, however Kennedy in the Dunkineely nets done well on each occasion and it was 1-1 at the interval.
In the second half the visitors took the lead in the 56th minute when Emmet Kennedy, who was moved to striker at half time, tapped in from close range after a defensive mix-up.
The home side pushed hard for the equaliser and it finally came in the 74th minute when a great pass put Aidan Griffin through to make it 2-2 much to the relief of the home side.
United hit the bar from a good free kick by Mark Mc Fadden and Jamie Kelly saved well from Griffin in the 85th minute. Shaunie O’Shea and Mark Hutchinson excelled for Dunkineely while Brian Gallagher was man of the match for United on the day.
Referee: Liam McConigley
Deele Harps 1 Lagan Harps 1
In a game reversed to Manor the two Harps shared the points. Deele started well and won an early penalty. However, Damien McFadden saved Jordan Duffy’s effort.
Lagan took the lead when Ronan Carlin’s cross was rifled to the net by Jack Canning, his first senior goal for the club. Deele pressed hard in the second half but two superb saves from Damien McFadden kept Lagan ahead.
Aidy Gallagher then struck the crossbar before their pressure eventually finally paid off. Jordan Duffy seized on a poor free-kick before firing home from thirty yards. Ciaran Cunningham went close for Lagan late on with his free just clearing the bar. Lagan’s best were Barney Meehan, Damien Mc Fadden and Josh Hay.
For Deele Aidy Gallagher, Jordan Duffy and veteran Eddie Connolly stood out.
Referee: Sean O’Donnell.
Swilly Rovers 1 Whitestrand United 1
A good positive start by the hosts, who took control of the early proceedings, led to a goal by Tyler Durning after a wonderful defence splitting pass from James McCahill on ten minutes. The game went to and fro for the next 10 minutes with very few penalty box incidents.
A Whitestrand counter-attack then gave Sean Kerr a fine opportunity and he took full advantage on 23 minutes to level the scores with a clinical finish.
After this the game got scrappy and neither side could get a grip on proceedings so the draw was a fair result at the end.
Glenree United 2 Curragh Athletic 3
Curragh were quick into action and got their first goal in the 15th minute when they broke from the home side’s corner-kick and young Aiden Foster finished excellently from 18 yards.
Curragh got their second goal when a cross was delivered to the back post and Alan Sweeney nodded his header into the bottom corner in the 25th minute. Glenree did get on the scoresheet after great build up play between Conan Brennan and Keelan McGroddy who teed up Eoghan Kelly who slotted it into the net with a tidy finish in the 37th minute.
The away side got their final goal in the 42nd minute when Foster was on target again. In the second half Glenree steadied the ship at the back and started to get a bit of flow to their game.
The half wasn’t full of goal chances for either team but Glenree goalie John Manus Caldwell kept his team in the game on a few occasions.
Daire Shields grabbed Glenree’s second goal in the 83rd minute after a super cross from Neil Martin.
Glenree gave their all in the closing minutes and nearly equalised when Conan Brennan worked some room 18 yards out and curled his effort just wide of the top corner. The game ended with the away side earning the valuable points.
Best for Glenree were Conan Brennan and Eoghan Kelly. Best for Curragh was Aiden Foster.
Referee: Brian O’Kane
