Dunlewey Celtic produced history today by beating Raphoe Town to win their first ever league title.
Raphoe Town 2-6 Dunlewey Celtic
The club, who are situated right beside Errigal mountain have gone through it all in the Donegal league over the years and certainly deserve their success.
They brought a large crowd to Raphoe for the game, but the visitors had a nightmare start. Michael McColgan opened the lead for the home side, prodding the ball into the net after Ciaran Boyce spilled a long free-kick.
Like true champions Dunlewey responded positively. Liam McMullan was particularly lively and the front man was a constant danger for Raphoe’s defence. Twenty-two minutes in Dunlewey levelled the match.
A Brendan McGeady corner took a slight deflection off a Raphoe body and found the back of the net. The left back wheeled away in celebration, and there was more misery to come for the home side.
Just thirty seconds later Liam McMullan broke free leaving a defender on the floor and finished brilliantly past Raphoe keeper Thomas McBride. The lead was well deserved with the visitors playing some nice attacking football.
Gary Cullen then seen red for Raphoe following an off the ball incident. McMullan added another for Dunlewey soon after. This time taking two defenders out of the game with a sublime turn and once again finishing with ease.
Raphoe to their credit kept battling and weren’t going to give up easily. They were particularly dangerous from set-pieces and they did manage to pull one back before half-time.
Confusion amongst the Dunlewey defence led to Sean O’Donnell heading over the head of his own keeper Ciaran Boyce.
Dunlewey started the second half at a rapid pace. Keith Sweeney broke free down the left and crossed to McMullan, his effort was saved well by Thomas McBride.
McMullan however did get his hat-trick from the resulting corner. Manus Cannon delivered a tempting cross and McMullan rose highest to knock it into the back of the net.
Christopher Cannon blazed an effort over minutes later after doing well to create the opportunity for himself. Dunlewey were in cruise control and Raphoe were struggling to keep possession.
Any time the home side tried to play out from the back Dunlewey’s pressing constantly forced them into mistakes. McMullan added his fourth of the game just after the hour mark. A free kick broke to the edge of the box and the striker was razor sharp to react quickest.
His strike flew straight into the bottom corner leaving the keeper with no chance. Manus Cannon and Sean O’Donnell both came close with efforts but Christopher Cannon produced the icing on top of the cake with the sixth.
Cannon reacted to a bouncing ball on the left hand side of the edge of the box. The Dunlewey man got his body in front of the defender and volleyed over his shoulder finding the top corner. A goal fitting of winning any game from the midfielder.
Substitute Shaun McCafferty came close for Dunlewey but there were to be no more goals with the away side finishing out the last few minutes in the manner of champions. Dunlewey captain Lorcan Gallagher got his hands on the Old-Orchard Saturday Division Two title after a magnificent year for the club. St Catherines finished just a point off the leaders whilst Raphoe have one game remaining and sit in sixth spot.
Raphoe Town: Thomas McBride, Gary Cullen, Conor Shea, Chris Devenney, Paul Karlin, Paddy Kelly, Kielan McMonagle, Dylan Brolly, Paddy Gallagher (Micahel Kerr, 68), Keelin Boyle, Michael McColgan (Stephen Cole, 62).
Dunlewey Celtic: Ciaran Boyce, Patrick McGeady, Lorcan Gallagher, Michael Roarty, Brendan McGeady, Christopher Cannon, Paul Coll, Sean O’Donnell, Keith Sweeney, Manus Cannon (Daniel Cannon, 71), Liam McMullan (Shaun McCafferty, 78).
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