GWEEDORE CELTIC stay second in the Donegal Youth League after a 3-1 home victory over Keadue Rovers while Letterkenny Rovers tasted a derby victory after overcoming Bonagee United 2-0.
The other game down for decision this weekend between Illistrin United and Fanad United was called off due a waterlogged pitch.
Swilly Rovers progressed to the next round of the FAI National U17 Cup after a well earned 5-2 victory over Ballisodare from Sligo. Goalscorers from Tony McNamee’s side were Kieran Connor, Patrick Bradley, Andreas Axfentiou, Cameron Gormley and Mikey Sweeney.
No league games are scheduled next weekend due to the start of the FAI Youth Inter League competition.
Donegal Youth League, under the management of Eamonn McConigley, Michael Duffy and Mark McCauley, play their first game this Saturday away to the Mayo Youth League in Milebush Park AstroTurf, Castlebar.
Gweedore Celtic 3 Keadue Rovers 1
LIAM Wiggins poked home a rebound after an initial Kyran Glennon shot had been saved by O’Donnell in the Keadue nets after twenty minutes.
The Celts should have been home and hosed by half time, as they twice hit the crossbar and were also guilty of missing some great chances,but a combination of bad decision making and bad finishing let them down.
The home side paid the ultimate price for the missed opportunities, when Ryan Connors equalised for Keadue on the stroke of half time after being put through by Greene.
In the second half play swung from end to end. With no margin for error, the Celts upped their game, and on 75 minutes,Conor Duggan fed Ciaran McHugh,and as he strode forward from midfield, he hit an unstoppable strike, from 35 yards to put the home side in front.
The young Celts had their tails up and extended their lead when, after some neat intricate passing, Dan Gallagher, squared a great ball just inside the area and Michael Roarty finished neatly on eighty five minutes to end the contest and consolidated the home team’s second spot in the Donegal Youth League.
Letterkenny Rovers 2 Bonagee United 0
Letterkenny Rovers defeated near neighbours Bonagee Utd 2-0 at the Aura Centre on Saturday afternoon and in doing so ensure Donegal Youth League champions elect Drumkeen United will have to wait to celebrate title joy.
Drumkeen are six points ahead of both Gweedore Celtic and Rovers with only two games remaining so it will take a strange turn of events for Drumkeen not to win the league but Letterkenny ensured they still have a chance by gathering all three points in what was a difficult game to play in and watch as constant rain made life uncomfortable from both a playing and spectating point of view.
Bonagee settled the better without creating anything of note and were rocked on 12 minutes when the opening goal arrived.
There seemed to be no danger when Zach Gorman fired off a scintillating 25 yard effort which was touched unto the bar by goalkeeper Matthew Gallagher. The rebound fell to David O’Donnell and his precision pass into the path of Ruairi Friel was not wasted as Friel fired home sweetly low to the bottom corner.
Rovers looked the more threatening to extend their advantage through the lively Shane Doherty but a combination of good defending and narrow misses kept Bonagee right in the game.
Indeed Bonagee should have been level when striker James Sharkey blazed wide with the goal gaping on 35 minutes after Noah Sanni who had waltzed through the Rovers defence initially saw his effort smothered.
Evan McCrory came close with a free kick right on the stroke of half time as Bonagee continued to threaten but it was the home side who held the interval lead.
The second half started off with James McSharry firing over before Sharkey again shot wide when well placed on 51 minutes after he used his strength to shale off the attentions of Rory McCrossan..
As conditions deteriorated chances were at a premium until Anthony Gormans men got the insurance goal on 71 minutes. Referee Mick Lagan blew for a foul by Matthew Gallagher on Cody Brogan and from the resulting free Paul O’Brien thundered an unstoppable effort to double his sides advantage.
Bonagee did try their best in worsening conditions to try and get back into the game with the lively Kyle Sylvia particularly lively but never really threatened Sean Friel in the home goal.
The youth league resumes in a fortnights time but all focus is now on next Saturday and the FAI inter divisional competition when Donegal head to Milebush Park in Castlebar and a clash with Mayo.
Letterkenny Rovers; Sean Friel, Paul O’Brien, Ciaran Daffan, Rory McCrossan, Eoghan Kelly, Ruairi Friel, David O’Donnell, James McSharry, Shane Doherty, Zac Gorman, Igor Arriel.Subs; Codey Brogan for McSharry (58), Conor Scanlon for Daffan (74), Daire Morrison for Gorman (77), Barry Gallagher for Arriel (79), Stephen Hamilton for O’Brien (86).
Bonagee United: Matthew Gallagher, Harry Murphy, Evan Bonner, Jack Lafferty, Vinny Toye, Rory McGinty, Ciaran Hunter, Evan McCrory, James Sharkey, Noah sanni, Kyle Sylvia. Subs: Stephen Lafferty for Sharkey (60), Louis Hanlon for Murphy (66), Eoghan Harkin for Sanni (77)
Referee: Mick Lagan
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