Ten FAI Junior Cup matches took place over the weekend with some high-scoring entertaining games.
Full round-up below…
Strand Rovers 2 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 4
Strand took a shock lead in the first minute of the game when a Brendan Glackin through ball from midfield found Shaun Mc Gee and he lobbed the Kerrykeel Goalkeeper.
Strand went two ahead when Ethan Ward finished off a nice team goal. Kerrykeel got a penalty a few minutes later, which the Strand Goalkeeper saved, but the rebound went to a Kerrykeel player who tapped into the net. Kerrykeel scored a second when a corner-kick hit off a Strand player’s head and ended up in the net.
Kerrykeel then went ahead courtesy of a long-range shot. Strand Rovers pushed to find a leveller but Kerrykeel won the ball in midfield and scored the killer goal with a minute to go.
Kildrum Tigers 4 Clonmany Shamrocks 2
After 10 minutes William Lynch put in a great cross to Damien Crossan who finished well to make in 1-0.
Clonmany Shamrocks missed some good chances after this to level the game. On 25 minutes Mark Mc Laughlin for Clonmany Shamrocks scored to make it 1-1.
On 35 minutes Odhran Mc Macken set up Gary Crossan for Kildrum’s second goal. Five minutes into the 2nd half Clonmany Shamrocks were awarded a penalty which Oisin Hession scored to make it 2-2. After this, it was end to end stuff.
Then Kildrum Tigers makes it 3-2 when Gary Crossan crossed for William Lynch to head home. Clonmany Shamrocks then missed some good chances to level the match. Gary Crossan then squared the ball across the 6-yard box for William Lynch to tap home to make it 4-2.
Bonagee United 10 Milford United 2
The home side took the lead on six minutes against a very under strength Milford side when an Eamon Cannon through ball put Jason Ashmore clear, he rounded the keeper on the edge of the box and shot home from ten yards. Paddy Mc Gowan made it two on fifteen minutes from the penalty spot after Ashmore was fouled in the box. Lee Mc Monagle made it three on twenty-two minutes when he scored from ten yards from a Paddy Mc Gowan cross from the right.
Mc Monagle got his second three minutes later when Arron Wasson broke down the right and his cross into the box was hammered home. Ashmore was awarded a penalty on thirty minutes when he was brought down in the box but Matthews in the Milford goals saved his spot kick. Mark flood then saw his strike just go past the post for the visitors on thirty-three minutes from twenty-five yards.
They did pull one back on thirty-eight minutes when the ball broke to Mark Flood on the edge of the box and his strike found the bottom corner of the net. Joey Cullen for Milford saw his strike from fifteen yards saved by Carr in the home goal on forty-three minutes. The home side got their fifth on forty-five minutes when Paddy Mc Gowan fired home from ten yards from a Jason Ashmore cross from the right.
The sixth goal came on forty-eight minutes when a great pass from Greg Mc Gee put Paddy Mc Gowan clear and he beat the keeper with a low shot to the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box. It was seven to the home side two minutes later when Coady Brogan broke down the left and his cross into the back of the box was hammered home by Ashmore.
Milford got their second on the hour when a free kick into the box was headed on by Lorcan Friel and Darragh Greene shot home from six yards. Matthews made two great saves from Mc Gowan and Mc Monagle on sixty-two and sixty-five minutes from strikes from inside the box.
Daniel Stolarczyk made it eight on sixty-eight minutes when his free kick from twenty-five yards was deflected into the net off the wall.
The final goal came on seventy-eight minutes when Ashmore was first to react to a long ball over the top and he beat the keeper to the ball and shoot home from fifteen yards. Team effort by both sides. Referee: Paddy Martin.
Keadue Rovers 1 Cockhill Celtic Youths 2
Keadue got into the game right away. Ten minutes into the match Keadue missed a chance to open the scoring when a corner was saved by Cockhill’s goalkeeper.
Cockhill themselves had some good possession and clear-cut chance to open the scoring but it was saved by Keadue’s Goalkeeper Danny Rodgers. Keadue put pressure on Cockhill with corners but it still wasn’t enough to get the opening goal.
Keadue took the lead five minutes before half time from a fine well struck left footed shot from Callum Boyle.
The start of the second half was even with both teams putting pressure on each other and Keadue looking for a second goal and Cockhill looking for an equaliser. Keadue’s Adam Neely missed a great chance to double Keadue’s lead on five minutes.
On fifty-five minutes Cockhill missed a sitter to equalise.
In the 69th minute Cockhill got their equaliser through a fine goal from Mark McDaid. In the 83rd minute Keadue’s Adam Neely appeared to be taken down for a penalty but it wasn’t given.
Cockhill then went ahead with a good header from a corner from Owen O’ Brien Daly in the 76th minute. Keadue missed a few chances to get level but their efforts were without reward. In the end it was to be the visitor’s day.
Drumoghill F.C. 0 Cappry Rovers 4
Cappry Rovers deservedly advanced to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup with this victory over Drumoghill F.C. at the Moss. They dominated proceedings from an early stage and never looked back after Sean Mc Bride’s first half chip had given them a half time lead.
Second half strikes from Alan Gethins, Aaron Kelly (penalty) and Jamie Doherty underlined their Premier Division credentials as the visitors ran out convincing winners. Drumoghill though can take heart from a spirited display, despite being forced to name a team that was hit badly with injuries and suspensions.
They began the second half with a period of pressure that threatened to make this a much more even contest. Anthony Doherty and Karlos Rodgers both created opportunities in front of goal for Conor Temple and Ciaran Hunter but Brendan Gallen was equal to them in the Cappry Goal.
The Premier Division side gradually regained control and Jamie Murray was unlucky to see a super effort with the outside of his foot rebound back off the upright on 58 minutes. The reprieve though was short-lived for Drumoghill as Alan Gethins raced away to hammer past Liam O’Donnell to double Cappry’s lead.
Shortly afterwards it was game over as Aaron Kelly sent O’Donnell the wrong way from the spot after Sean McBride was adjudged to having been fouled in the box. Jamie Doherty wrapped up the game in the 88th minute, driving home from a narrow angle to conclude the scoring. Referee: John Coll.
Glenea United 3 Culdaff F.C. 4
Culdaff go through to the next round of the FAI Junior cup after a win at Pairc Joe in Glasserchoo. It was end to end football throughout the game with both teams creating lots of chances. Glenea got the first goal in the 28th minute when good work from Shaun Curren released Michael Barry who chipped the keeper.
Culdaff were back on level terms on the 40th minute when Aiden Cunningham whipped in a cross to Michael Coyle who volleyed to the bottom corner. Both teams created chances early in the second half with Nathan O’Brien going close for Glenea and Aiden Cunningham for Culdaff. Glenea got their second on the 62nd minute when a Sean Coll free kick found Michael Barry at the back post and his peach of a header found the top corner.
Both teams kept playing attacking football and in the 90th minute Jack O’Brien found the net for Culdaff after a goal mouth scramble, taking the game to extra time. Within two minutes of extra time Culdaff took the lead when Michael Coyle shot low to the corner.
Glenea kept battling and in the 8th minute of extra time Michael Barry completed his hat-trick, Luke Mc Carry done the hard work and passed to Barry who picked his corner from 20 yards. With the game in injury time and destined for penalties Noel Mc Laughlin let fly from the edge of the box to pick out the top corner sending Culdaff through to the next round. Both teams put in great efforts.
Ref. Mick Lagan
Gweedore Celtic 0 Donegal Town 2
A goal in each half saw Donegal Town safely into the next round of the Junior Cup at the expense of the home team. Gweedore spurned an early chance to take the lead and were made to pay for it when Russell scored midway through the first half. Despite dominating proceedings Donegal could not breach the home defence with Donal Mac Giolla Bhríde impressing in the centre of defence.
The away team struck early in the second half when Dillon Gallagher’s long range effort caught stand-in keeper Thomas Diver off his line, to seal his side’s march to the next round. A good team effort from Donegal Town with a youthful Gweedore team well served by Donal Mac Giolla Bhríde, Cian Mc Bride and John Paul Gallagher.
Carndonagh F.C. 3 Rathmullan Celtic 1
(No Report Available)
Convoy Arsenal 2 Lifford Celtic 3
Lifford were quick out of the blocks and were one up after two minutes through Jack Mahon. They doubled their lead on 11 minutes through Brian Breslin. Convoy tried to get one back but the Lifford defence held strong with Marty Monean controlling things between the sticks for Lifford. Lifford came close to finding the back of the net at the start of the second half when the ball was whipped across the Convoy goal-line. Convoy were reduced to 10 men on 60 minutes when Evan Mac Bride got his marching orders.
Lifford’s keeper came off due to a head injury forcing a reshuffle in defence. The home side thought they pulled one back but Jonny Robb was judged offside.
Robb did get one back on 73 minutes and as Convoy’s 10 men pushed for an equaliser their hopes were dashed when Lifford broke from defence and Breslin got his second of the match with seven minutes left. Convoy got one back through JP Malley on 87 minutes but Lifford held on for the victory.
Drumkeen United 0 Cranford United 2
Drumkeen and Cranford games are always tight affairs and this one was no different. The first half was largely uneventful with neither side creating any chances of note.
Cranford finally broke the deadlock early in the second half when Philip Buchanan put them a goal up. Drumkeen had plenty of possession and were pressing for an equaliser but they were finding it hard to break down the stubborn Cranford defence.
Andrew Kelly then added a second goal for Cranford. That stage it was hard to see a way back for the home team but they kept plugging away.
They forced several corners towards the end and the Cranford keeper made a great save to keep a clean sheet. It was one of those days for Drumkeen who could not find a goal despite all their best efforts. The visitors advance to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup.
