THERE WAS A bumper programme of games in the Ulster Junior Shield – here’s a full roundup of all the action.
Dunlewey Celtic 2 Carndonagh F.C. 0
Dunlewey flew out of the traps and pressed the opposition from the off. Conor McMahon won a penalty for the hosts after 15 minutes, which they failed to convert.
Dunlewey dug deep and kept the pressure on and went ahead after more good work from Conor McMahon who pulled a cross back to Chris Cannon who squeezed the ball under the Carndonagh keeper.
They doubled their lead when a high press from Dunlewey forced a mistake from the Carndonagh defence and the ball fell to Paul Coll who slotted the ball into an empty net. Carndonagh started the second half strongly and created a few good chances but couldn’t get past Dunlewey stopper Hugo Cannon who produced several good saves.
There were a few chances for both sides in the second half but neither side could find a goal and the game ended 2-0 to Dunlewey Celtic.
Ballybofey United Reserves 0 Rasheney F.C. 4
Ballybofey United made their Ulster Junior Shield debut in Saturday when they met Rasheny F.C. from the Inishowen League.
The Inishowen side won the tie by four goals to nil on a day when the Ballybofey side just didn’t click into gear. They opened the scoring on 14 minutes when Shane Creggan found the net at the second attempt after his first shot was blocked by Conor Griffin.
There was very little in it for the remainder of the half with both sides missing chances. Ballybofey almost equalised when Michael Lynch drilled a 25-yard free-kick which Roger McGilloway spilled into the path of Mark Sproule but he was well marshalled by the centre-half and his shot went just past the post as he shot under pressure.
Rasheny increased their lead 15 minutes into the second half when Creggan again found the net against the run of play.
Further strikes from David McLaughlin and Cormac Dillon put a gloss to the scoreline.
Rasheny did deserve their victory but by four goals was somewhat harsh on the hosts however their lack of threat going forward cost them on the day.
Referee: Diego Rainey.
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 4 Drumbar F.C. 4 (AET, Drumbar won on penalties)
It took penalties to settle this encounter at Station Road as extra time didn’t separate them when it finished 4-4 after ninety minutes. It was a game of two halves and Kildrum started very well with Paddy Gallagher tapping in at the front post. Gallagher got his second with a drive from the edge of the box soon afterwards and he then completed his hat-trick just before half time from the penalty spot.
Drumbar pulled one back when Paul McFadden scored with a scuffed shot early in the second period.
Chris Cronin restored Kildrum’s three goal advantage following a well worked move.
Drumbar however fired back with two free-kicks from distance from Dan Bennett and they grabbed the equaliser with a header from Joe McGinty.
The remainder of the game produced little in the way of chances and Drumbar advanced via the shoot-out.
Glaslough Villa F.C 2 Oldtown Celtic F.C. 4
(No Report Available)
Cranford United Reserves 2 Whitestrand United 3
(No Report Submitted)
Donegal Town Reserves 0 Aileach F.C.3
Played on Saturday, an understrength Aileach team still had too much for Donegal Town.
Aileach took the lead in the first five minutes when a wonderful move down the right involving James Wallace, Stephen Doherty and Jordan McGeady finished with a Doherty cutback into the path of McGeady to open the scoring. Aileach dominated the following twenty minutes without troubling Lenard in the home goal.
Donegal pushed further up the field as the half wore on and came close ten minutes before half time when David Bustard shot goalwards from 10 yards but McGeady saved with his feet and the danger was cleared.
Aileach had two chances on the brink of half time, firstly Shane McMonagle latched onto a Chris McGarrigle and seemed to be upended just as he was about to strike but the referee waved play on and in the final minute of the half the same two players repeated the trick, this time McMonagle’s shot just cleared the crossbar. Into the second half and the same pattern of play emerged with Aileach controlling the game without creating any clear cut openings.
On 70 minutes, Aileach came close again when substitute Benny Hegarty skipped past a couple of defenders and slid the ball through to Stephen Doherty and his shot skimmed the far post and wide. An Aileach corner then broke into the path of Hegarty who hammered goalwards but Lenard made a superb save to tip the ball round the post. Next substitute Gareth McLaughlin came in off the left wing and fired just wide.
With 10 minutes to go McLaughlin went on a mazy dibble before slipping the ball into the path of Doherty whose shot to the bottom corner was again magnificently saved by Lenard. Finally, Aileach got the breakthrough their play deserved with five minutes to go when a Benny Hegarty cross was controlled and fired into the bottom corner by Chris McGarrigle via the post.
The scoring was completed in injury time when McGarrigle had another long range effort which was spilled by Lenard in the home goal and Stephen Doherty was first to react and slot into the empty net.
Strand Rovers 3 Moville Celtic 0
(No Report Submitted)
Lagan Harps 3 Deele Harps 2
Lagan came out on top in another close fought encounter between the two Harps.
Lagan went close early on when Josh Hay’s cross struck the foot of the post. Deele responded when Jordan Duffy shot just over. Lagan opened the scoring with a cracker from Ciaran Quinn from 30 yards. Damien Mc Fadden in the Lagan goal pulled off three good saves to keep Lagan ahead. Lagan increased the lead on 40 minutes when Ciaran Cunningham got on the end of a Johnny Mc Gee cross to finish well.
Deele went close when Conor Mc Gurn shot just over. Lagan went close with Corey McCahill forcing a good save from David Arthur. Deele equalised when Aidy Gallagher drilled in a low shot from 25 yards. Jack Canning put Lagan 3-1 ahead when he reacted fastest to fire home a rebound. Deele responded immediately with Anthony McCullough scoring direct from the kick-off.
Josh Hay then forced David Arthur to pull off a good save from a header. One of several good saves he pulled off during the game. Deele went close when Cameron Mahon hit the crossbar and Gerry Roulston shot just over.
It was end to end to the finish with Lagan hanging on for the win. For Lagan, Damien McFadden, Ciaran Cunningham and Seamie Cullen did well.
Deele had good performers in Jordan Duffy, Aidy Gallagher and Conor Patterson.
Referee: Frank Duff.
Illies Celtic 0 Glencar Celtic 2
In a physical game there was little in the way of chances with a lot of the play bogged down in midfield and both defences on top.
Glencar broke the deadlock on 55 minutes after Shane Dillon played in Graham Collen and he slotted high past Graham Doherty. Illies replied with Ronan Hegarty sidestepping a defender but from twelve yards he fired wide as keeper Ray McFadden advanced.
Illies then had a great chance after Shane Devlin cut in and laid the ball to Alan Fletcher but he drove over the bar from 12 yards.
On 78 minutes Collen broke from midfield and released Eoin Barron who finished well from the edge of the area. The home side had big claims for a penalty then waved away before in the last minute Martin Donaghey saw his header hooked clear of the line.
Gleneely Colts 3 Curragh Athletic 4
Gleneely had the first chance after five minutes when a ball from JJ Doherty to Keelan Hegarty who shot over from 20 yards.
Curragh replied five minutes later when Marc Storrie grazed the bar from 10yards. Gleneely opened the scoring then after a ball from Keelan Hegarty to Eddie McNamee who unleashed a thunderbolt to the right hand top corner from 20 yards. Curragh responded and Tim Callaghan hit the bar from a ball into the box by Aidan Donnelly.
They got back on terms after 25minutes when Tim Callaghan’s ball unto the box was headed home powerfully by Marc Storrie. Curragh went ahead when panic in the Gleneely defence resulted in Tim Callaghan slamming home from close range.
But Gleneely equalised when a corner on the left by Keelan Hegarty was powerfully met by Adrian Duffy at the back post on the half volley.
Curragh regained the lead after 70minutes after a defensive mistake allowed Aidan Donnelly to poke home from close range. Gleneely were reduced to 10 men shortly after but were awarded a penalty after 85minutes when John Doherty was tugged in the area and up stepped Nathan McLaughlin to score despite the best efforts from the Curragh keeper.
Curragh scored the winner with Gleneely pushing up allowed Marc Storrie to bundle home from close range.
Clonmany Shamrocks 4 Milford United Reserves 2 (AET)
Milford created two early chances in the opening 10minutes. First their left back crossed for Corey Strain but his header flashed wide of Tiarnan Doherty’s goals.Ciaran Gibbons went close himself in the 9th minute but pulled his shot across the face of the goal when well placed.
Thomas Comiskey forced Milford keeper Barry Gallagher into a save in the 14th minute when he dispossessed a defender and broke into the box.Comiskey then created a chance for John McCarron in the 23rd minute by laying off a pass to him in the box but his shot lacked power and Gallagher saved easily.
Clonmany Reserves made the breakthrough in the 25th minute when Michael Devlin sent a ball to the left edge of the box for Dean Harkin to control and drive into the box and shoot low past Barry Gallagher in the Milford goal.
Two minutes later Clonmany had doubled their lead, Lee Coyle played a ball to Dean Harkin on the left of the box who jinked past two Milford defenders and shot but Gallagher could only parry and Thomas Comiskey was on hand to finish to the net past the prone figure of the Milford keeper.
Milford pulled one back in the 30th minute when Ciaran Gibbon’s cross from the left was volleyed to the bottom right hand corner of the net by Jason McConigley giving Tiaran Doherty no chance.
Clonmany went close to extending their lead to two goals again in the 38th minute after Dean Harkins cross from the left was headed just over the bar by right winger Shane Gill.Milford made Clonmany rue this miss two minutes later when a cross from Jason McConigley from the right was finished to the net by Corey Strain to leave the half-time score two each.
Clonmany’s best chances of the second half fell to Thomas Comiskey,who had two shots from just inside the box saved by Barry Gallagher and second-half sub Mark Kelly who shot straight at Gallagher when well placed in the box.
Five minutes from full time Milford almost scored when their centre-half Kevin McGee headed over from a corner. The match went into extra-time and Clonmany went ahead again in the 98th minute when Dean Harkin’s cross was turned home by second-half sub Tiarnan McDonald.
Clonmany wrapped up the scoring in the 109th minute when extra-time sub Ethan Grochowicki played a pass in behind the Milford defence for Dean Harkin to take in his stride and he finished well from a tight angle to make the final score four two.
Greencastle F.C. 3 Drumkeen United Reserves 0
(No report Available)
Redcastle F.C. 4 Gweedore United 3
The game started well with Redcastle dominating possession and creating half chances, but against the run of play Gweedore took the lead in the 21st minute when a long ball was dropped by McCole in the Redcastle net and Ronan O’Donnell put the ball in the empty net.
Redcastle got a deserved equaliser 5 minutes later when a goal mouth scramble was finished by Ronan Hoy.
Redcastle pushed to take the lead but again against the run of play a through ball from Darren McGeever found Mark McFadden who slotted past the keeper and restore Gweedore’s lead.
Right from the start of the second half Redcastle pushed for an equaliser and it came on the 49th minute when good team play from Redcastle got Evan Craig in behind the defence and he smashed past the keeper. Minutes later Redcastle took a deserved lead when Ben Faulkner switched the play from the right wing to Ronan Hoy on the left who controlled the ball well and then beat three defenders and beat the keeper at his near post.
Redcastle nearly undid all of their good work at the start of the second half when Gweedore were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute, Owenie Gallagher hit the ball towards the bottom corner but McCole got down well and parried the ball out for a corner.
Redcastle were then awarded a penalty in the 65th minute when a Gweedore player handled the ball in the box. Rory Hirrell stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way and extended Rerdcastle’s lead.
With 10 minutes to go Hoy had the chance to complete his hat-trick when a cross from Daragh Conway found him but he slipped as he hit the ball and it sailed harmlessly over the bar.
In the dying minutes Ronan O Donnell ran in behind the Redcastle defence and he finished well. Gweedore pushed for an equaliser but the home side held on.
