HERE’S A round-up from all the games in the Donegal Saturday Leagues.
Glencar Inn Saturday Division
Strand Rovers 0 Arranmore United 1
STRAND welcomed rivals Arranmore to Strand Park looking to avenge a defeat they suffered earlier in the season.
From the start both teams fought tooth and nail. Both teams had early chances but were unable to take advantage to them.
Arranmore began to take control and were rewarded when Paul Early scored after a quick counter attack.
The second half was only two minutes old when Brendan Glackin came close to scoring but for a great save by John Greene. Strand continued to press looking to level the scores but a combination of good defending and bad luck kept them at bay.
Brendan Brennan sent the ball just wide in the dying minutes which summed up the game for Strand who were disappointed to lose.
[adrotate group=”80″]Glencar Celtic 2 Orchard F.C. 2
GARVAN Grieve’s penalty rescued a draw for Glencar Celtic in the top-of-the-table clash with Orchard at Flagpole Park.
Read Charlie Collins’ match report here
Fintown Harps 1 Drumbar F.C. 0
FINTOWN won this match when they scored with only 145 minutes remaining. Both sides had half chances throughout the match but neither could break the deadlock. It took a 25 yard pile-driver to separate the sides in the end.
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Saturday Reserve Division
Glenree United Reserves 1 Castlefin Celtic Reserves 3
THE first 30 minutes of this encounter were electric with both sides applying pressure with nice dynamic football and forcing the keepers into action early in the match.
It was Glenree who took the lead with 10 minutes left in the first half when McGroddy shook of his man and expertly placed the ball into the far side of the keeper’s net and led his team into the break one up.
The second half was dominated by Castlefin as the home side struggled to find the form they had shown in the first half.
20 minutes into the second half after a flurry of chances Castlefin got a deserved equaliser.
Castlefin took the lead with 70 minutes gone when the striker broke through the home side’s defence and drilled the ball past Glenree’s cameo keeper for the day, Karl McElhinney and into the net.
Castlefin wrapped up the match with 15 minutes left when they broke from midfield on the counter attack.
[adrotate group=”46″]St. Catherines Reserves 2 Keadue Rovers Reserves 0
BOTH teams lined out with a youthful look today and it was the youths of St. Catherines that shone the brightest in Emerald Park.
Brandon McGinley scuffed his shot after breaking into the box on 12 minutes but the ball fortunately broke to Callum Quinn who slotted home comfortably for the saints.
It was a game of few chances and Keadue came close to equalising on the half hour after Shane Byrne, who had an impressive game for the visitors, shot wide.
Just before half time Charlie Boyle, who ran himself into the ground all game, was barged over in the box and Seamus McGroary had no choice but point to the spot.
A cool head in Rory Murray drove the penalty low and hard to give the home team a 2-0 lead at half time. Keadue pressed hard and had most of the procession in the second half, even striking the crossbar at one stage but could not find the elusive breakthrough.
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Donegal Town Reserves 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 0
CHANCES for both teams were few and far between throughout this stalemate. The first half was a battle of the midfields and the game remained scoreless at half time.
The second half played out similar to the first. Gary Ward came closest to scoring for Donegal on 70 minutes but he was unlucky to see his shot slide wide of the post.
Donegal were unlucky again not to open the scoring on 75 minutes, Ward’s wiped cross into the 6 yard box was headed just wide of the post by David Ted Bustard.
Kilmacrennan will feel they were the stronger side for much of the second half but they failed to create any clear chances and Donegal remained resistant in defence.
[adrotate group=”38″]Cappry Rovers Reserves 2 Glenea United Reserves 2
IT was all go from the moment the whistle blew at Cappry Park.
Benji O’Meara’s home side knew they had a tough challenge ahead against the league leaders, Glenea. Cappry got the game off to a good start putting plenty of pressure on the visitors and holding off any challenges to break through their back line.
In the 22nd minute Cappry left back Darren Bonner took a free kick from outside the Glenea’s box and nailed it straight into the back of the net.
In the final 15 minutes of the first half Glenea came back into the game dominating possession and with five minutes until the break managed to get a goal to level the score line.
Both teams equally shared possession and chances. Conor and Shane Laverty controlled the midfield well while NP Mc Daid dazzled the opponents every time he possessed the ball.
Cappry kept the pressure on and it paid off on the 60th minute when winger Shaun Bannigan put the home team ahead again with a right footed shot from inside the Glenea penalty area to make it 2-1.
Glenea came back fighting and in the 64th minute were denied a goal thanks to a brilliant save from Cappry goalkeeper, Bari Duncan.
The game continued with end to end action and in the 83rd minute, Glenea found the back of the net for the second time to equalise.
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