The semi-final line up in the Clubman Shirts League Cup has been completed after two series of games on Friday and today.
Greencastle, Carn, Buncrana Hearts and Aileach will be in the hat for Monday-week’s draw at Maginn Park.
Cup holders Glengad bowed out after being edged to the top spot in their group by Greencastle while Aileach are through as the best of the runners-up.
Here’s how the games panned out…
FRIDAY
Illies Celtic 3Redcastle United 3
Illies have only themselves to blame as they twice squandered a two goal lead and spurned a few chances to kill the game off.
They started well and opened the scoring on 21 minutes after Philip Margey returned the ball after a corner for Martin Donaghey to steer to the roof of the net.
On the half hour Paddy Doherty and Adrian Donaghey Doherty combined to release Liam Grant who beat a defender before drilling low to the net from fifteen yards.
Illies spurned chances before the break with Paddy Doherty, Donaghey Doherty and Gavin Doherty all culpable.
Redcastle started the second period better and James Curran was denied by a fine save from Johnathan Noone.
At the other end Donaghey Doherty found himself clear but fired straight at Michael McCole.
Redcastle then got back into the game when Curran converted a penalty low to Noone’s left after he had been upended.
The home side regained their two goal cushion when a Gavin Doherty cross was flicked past McCole by Paddy Doherty.
Redcastle rallied well and reduced the deficit again with a brilliant left footed strike from Evan Craig across Noone and in off the far post.
On the stroke of full time they salvaged an unlikely draw when Shaun Curran’s cross broke inside the area for brother James to fire home.
Aileach FC 1Clonmany Shamrocks 0
Aileach started well and after five minutes  Denver Kelly released Darren McMonagle on the left but his cross managed to evade all the inrushing Aileach attackers.
Clonmany responded with Kyle McDaid finding himself in space on the right side of the penalty area but he pulled his shot wide of Devlin’s right hand post.
Aileach began to take control and on the half hour Chris McGarrigle found Gavin Doherty inside the area but he rushed his finish and Harkin was able to save with his feet.
Before half time Aileach carved out another gilt edged chance when Gavin Doherty released his brother Dermot but the winger delayed his effort and allowed Nathan McKinney to make a goal saving tackle.
The second half saw Aileach continue their dominance but were continually frustrated by a young determined Clonmany side with Fergal Harkin outstanding at the back and Paddy giving a man of the match performance in goal.
On the hour good work down the left resulted in full back Keith McColgan crossing for Darren McMonagle who controlled 15 yards out and fired a right foot shot that Paddy Harkin did brilliantly to turn round the post for a corner.
Midway through the half the Aileach pressure finally bore fruit and it was in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.
A free kick just outside the box was taken by Gavin Doherty, it deflected off the wall and broke to Cathal McElhinney who drove the ball home from eight yards giving Harkin no chance.
Five minutes later Aileach should have doubled their lead when good work on the left saw Keith McColgan cross for Darren McMonagle to side foot goalward from point blank range but Harkin somehow managed to get something on the ball and deflect it up against the bar before being cleared.
Clonmany tried to press Aileach but for all their effort their inexperience meant that the home side were able to see out the game relatively comfortably.
Glengad United 7Culdaff FC 0
As expected the home side dominated possession while the visitors battled throughout. Glengad had the first chance on 11 minutes after Stephen McLaughlin fed Adam Byrne but he fired wide from inside the area.
They broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Dillon Ruddy unleashed a long range effort past Darragh McLaughlin in the Culdaff goal.
Shortly after McLaughlin made a fine save from a John McDaid header but Glengad continued to press and increased their lead on 38 minutes when John G McLaughlin and Stephen McLaughlin combined for the latter to race clear and round keeper McLaughlin to slot home.
Glengad got off to a flying start to the second period when a Stephen McLaughlin effort was parried by McLaughlin but John G McDermott reacted first to slot home.
Culdaff had a chance then from a corner but Gary Smyth headed over from six yards. Within minutes Glengad had made it four when McDermott fired to the roof of the net after good build up.
Cathal McDaid then got in on the scoring act when he converted excellent crosses from Mclaughlin and James McKinney in a five minute spell to leave it six nil.
He then completed his hat trick when Ruddy and Conor Barrow combined to lay the ball off for McDaid to fire low to the corner from 16 yards.
SUNDAY
Redcastle United 0Carn FC 5
The opening period was evenly matched with little in the way of goal mouth action. On seventeen minutes a speculative cross from the right from Shane Doherty deceived McCole and clipped the post before rebounding of him to the net.
Carn increased their lead on the half hour when Mathew McLaughlin curled home after the home side were caught the possession.
Conor O’Donnell made it three before half time and McLaughlin added another to leave the visitors in control.
Redcastle started the second half playing for pride and Cahir McLaughlin tested Greg Doherty with a well hit effort five minutes in.
As the half progressed Redcastle showed plenty of endeavour but failed to chart a way back into the game.
Carn a completed the rout near full time when Shane Doherty crossed from the right for Brandon Brown to side foot home
Clonmany Shamrocks 0Buncrana Hearts 3
In the early exchanges Ferghal Harkin had a free saved by Eoghan O Doherty while at the other end Kieran McDaid fired wide also from a free. McDaid then raced onto a through ball but mis-controlled and the chance was lost before the same player fired narrowly wide from 20 yards.
The visitors broke the deadlock on 23 minutes after a John Timlin cross from the right found James Adair and he slotted low past Patrick Harkin from ten yards. Clonmany replied and Harkin fired one effort just over before O’Doherty saved another.
McDaid then went on a mazy run before the break but Patrick Harkin was equal to his effort.
Buncrana got off to a great start on the resumption when Kevin O’Loughlin rose high to power a header past Harkin after McDaid’s free kick.
Clonmany tried to respond with Jason Doherty unleashing an effort which O’Doherty saved well. Buncrana sealed semi final qualification when McDaid superbly despatched a twenty yards free past Harkin.
In the latter stages Jason Doherty for the home side and Gerard Boyle for the visitors both had efforts saved.
Culdaff FC 0Greencastle FC 3
Greencastle started well with Jamie McCormick firing over before they took the lead in fortuitous fashion when an Eamon Donnelly effort took a huge deflection to wrong foot Callum Doherty in the home goal.
Culdaff replied and when Aiden Cunningham raced onto a long ball from Noel McLaughlin he rounded Dylan Doherty but just ran out of room.
Two deep corners from Jack O’Brien in a five-minute spell found Gary Smyth whose effort was blocked before the second found the unmarked Bryan McCandless but he volleyed wide when well placed.
On the half hour O’Brien released Aiden Cunningham through the middle but Doherty advanced to block with his feet.
Greencastle replied on the stroke of half time after Nigel McMonagle fed Conor Gillen whose left footed effort clipped the top of the bar.
Greencastle doubled their lead six minutes after the restart when a deep corner from the left found the unmarked DJ Canavan to head home from close range.
Culdaff had a chance midway through the half after a McCandless effort was well parried by Doherty and Noel McLaughlin’s follow up was cleared off the line by Gavin Harkin.
But on 75minutes after a quick break Michael Henry’s superb cross was slotted home by McMonagle.
Greencastle were reduced to ten men late on after McCormick collected a second yellow card for a needless foul.
