It was a busy Sunday of soccer action in the Donegal League with FAI Junior Cup and Premier Division action happening throughout the county.
FAI Junior Cup
Cappry Rovers 3 Kilmacrennan Celtic 3
(Cappry won 5-3 a.e.t.)
This re-scheduled fixture went ahead on Sunday afternoon at Cappry Park. Kilmacrennan Celtic must surely have had one brief thought of who they might meet in the next round as they raced into a three-goal lead.
A brace from Daire McDaid and one from Shane Doherty saw them take a firm hold on the game.
Cappry were down but they weren’t out however and Calvin Bradley started the comeback when he scored their first.
Malachy Martin then added his brace to the equation and extra time was ordered to find a winner.
Paddy Mc Nulty gave the hosts the lead for the first time in the match and then young Jamie Murray scored to assure Cappry’s safe passage into the hat for the draw for the next Round of the FAI Junior Challenge Cup.
Greencastle F.C. 10 Strand Rovers 0
Strand Rovers were completely outplayed on their trip to Inishowen on Sunday.
Greencastle was always going to present a tough task for the Donegal Saturday League side and so it turned out to be with the West County men conceding ten without reply against their North County opponents.
Lifford Celtic 1 Bonagee United 0
Aiden Mc Laughlin for Bonagee saw his strike on goal from twelve yards on 10 minutes blocked by the defender from a Chris Toner cross.
Kevin Lynch for the visitors then had his effort on twenty minutes well blocked by a defender on the edge of the six-yard box.
Eamon Cannon’s shot three minutes later went just over the bar. Lynch again had a good chance on the half-hour mark only to see his strike from the edge of the box go just wide of the post.
Lee Mc Monagle and Chris Toner had strikes on thirty-three and five minutes respectively but both were well saved by Shaun Mc Brearty.
Toner again beat the keeper to the ball on forty minutes, just inside the box, but his strike on goal was cleared on the line and when the ball fell to Eamon Cannon his strike went wide of the post.
Glen Gallagher had a great strike on goal well saved. Carr had to make a good save on fifty minutes from a Connor Crossan free kick from the edge of the box.
Lee Mc Monagle saw his header for the home team on seventy minutes from ten yards just go over the bar from a Glen Gallagher Cross.
Cannon saw his effort from a Paddy Mc Gowan cross three minutes later well saved by Mc Brearty in the visitors’ goal from ten yards.
The only goal of the game came on eighty-four minutes when Crossan broke down the right and his cross into the box was turned home from six yards by Niall Coyle.
Referee: Barry Hunter.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Lagan Harps 1 Drumkeen United 4
Drumkeen overcame a brave Lagan side, ensuring victory with two goals in the final eight minutes. With a number of players crying off on Sunday morning Lagan, without any subs, were up against it from the start.
Drumkeen went close on ten minutes when an Eoin Kennedy header went over off the top of the bar. They took the lead on twenty minutes when Jamie Gallagher broke through to score. Jamie Gallagher then seized on hesitancy in the Lagan defence t make it 2-0 on 25 minutes. Lagan fought back and Dean Murray sent Ross Hamlyn through to make it 2-1.
Paul Mc Cauley then pulled off a good save to deny Sramie Cullen an equaliser as half-time approached. Drumkeen were awarded a penalty minutes later but Eoin Mc Laughlin pulled off a great save from Michael Guthrie. Drumkeen had most of the possession in the second half but Lagan passed up a great opportunity to equalise on 55 minutes.
Ross Hamlyn struck the post from a free and Stephen Keyes put the rebound over the bar from close range. Lagan played out the last fifteen minutes with ten men when Ross Hamlyn had to go off after a heavy challenge. Josh Hay forced a fine save from Paul Mc Cauley and Lagan went close from the ensuing corner.
Lagan tired and Drumkeen took advantage of the extra man. Shane Lafferty crossed for his brother Conor to score on 82 minutes and Conor Lafferty crossed for Jamie Gallagher to score with the last kick. For an impressive Drumkeen side Jamie Gallagher, Chris Kyle and Conor Lafferty did well.
For a determined Lagan side, Eoin Mc Laughlin, Damien Mc Fadden Oran Downey and Ross Hamlyn were best.
Referee: Michael Mc Fadden
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Glenree United 1 Deele Harps 1
In blustery conditions, it was a tough day for both sides but it was Deele who shot out of the blocks the quickest putting the home side’s defence under pressure and it paid off in the 11th minute when Owen Mac Eleary made a strong run inside the box to strike a fine shot past Oran Blaney.
Glenree’s first real chance came from a John Mc Clafferty cross which Oisin Boyce got to first to just glance his header wide. Luke Mc Carry had the next chance after another Mc Clafferty cross found him and his effort almost found the bottom corner in the 23rd minute.
In the second period, Deele tried to start brightly once again and were playing some good attacking football.
The Glenree defence was also standing strong with Barry Trearty having a stormer at right back and both Dougie Mc Glone and Patrick Moffit doing well. In the final five minutes, Glenree were in full attack mode with Aaron McClafferty and Kyle McGarvey playing well.
The Glenree defence along with Blaney kept it at one-nil with some last-ditch tackles and saves. In the last kick of the game, Barney Boyce swung in a cross which John McClafferty headed past the keeper to give his side a well-deserved point in the 93rd minute. Best for Glenree were Barry Trearty, Kyle McGarvey and Barney Boyce.
Referee: Leo Devenney
Letterbarrow Celtic 4 Gweedore United 0
On a perfect day for football in Letterbarrow where a special mention should go to the groundskeeper who had the pitch in a carpet like condition. Letterbarrow started strong and soon took the lead when Gerard Mc Brearty introduced himself to the season with a well-finished goal. They soon doubled their lead when Pauric Mc Hugh finished a great move to give Letterbarrow the advantage.
Kevin Mc Brearty scored before half-time giving the home side a 3-0 lead at half-time.
The wind picked up in the second half and the football wasn’t as easy to watch but Letterbarrow kept pressing and Dillon Mc Groary made sure of the three points where staying in Tymeen.
Another few chances came the home side’s way with James Mc Groary hitting the crossbar and Christopher Burke testing the Gweedore keeper.
A solid performance from the home side with everyone performing well with Frank Sweeney and Lucas Keano performing well for the visitors.
Raphoe Town 4 Dunkineely Celtic 0
Raphoe started the game slow. David Craig opened the scoring on 22 minutes after a great cross by DJ Kelly before Kelly got the second goal for Raphoe on the 50th minute.
Ciaran (Macca) Cunningham came off the bench scoring to score the third goal from 25 yards.
Cunningham finished a determined Dunkineely side off with his second goal, a sublime chip from 20 yards.
Referee: Liam Mc Conigley.
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