RONAN Tourish bagged the only goal of the game today as defending champion Castlefin Celtic went joint top of the Donegal League Premier Division.
Tourish struck as Castlefin defeated Donegal Town at Parkview.
Kilmacrennan were held to a one-all draw by Kildrum Tigers in St Johnston and things are tight at the top as the League really hots up.
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Cappry Rovers 2 Drumkeen United 0
In a game played on Friday night in Cappry Park it was the home team who started the better and could have taken the lead through Dean O’Donnell but his effort just went past the post.
Cappry did take the lead in the 20th minute when Paddy Mc Nulty scored with a fine header from a Brendan Mc Laughlin cross.
Cappry kept pressing and got their reward in the 32nd minute when Ronan Coyle played through Sean Mc Bride who rounded the Drumkeen keeper to tap into an empty net.
Drumkeen came back strong and hit the bar through Conor Laverty.
Drumkeen came out strong for the second half and pressed Cappry but the home defence held firm in the second half.
Cappry were always dangerous on the break and had chances to extend their lead through Alan Gethins and Sean Mc Bride.
Castlefin Celtic 1 Donegal Town 0
Castlefin moved to joint top of the Premier league with a hard fought victory over Donegal Town on Sunday.
The away side started the brighter and went close through James Kerrigan in the 5th minute when his shot was well saved by Castlefinn keeper Chris O`Donnell.
A couple minutes later JP Byrne headed narrowly over from a corner. Castlefin took the lead in the 12th minute when Ronan Tourish shot to the corner of the net when he broke through the Donegal defence from a Corrie Lee Bogan through ball.
Donegal had long periods of possession but the Castlefinn defence stood firm.
Donegal started the second half with a few early efforts through Ronan McHugh but his effort was dealt with by the home keeper and Joe Mc Intyre who shot narrowly wide.
Castlefin had chances through Reece Gallagher whose shot was saved by Donegal keeper Enda O’Hagen and a Emmett White shot from the edge of the box that was also saved by the Donegal keeper.
Castlefin were reduced to ten men with twelve minutes remaining, Donegal pushed forward in search of an equaliser but the home side held out for a vital three points.
Best for Castlefin Aaron O Hagen, Corrie lee Bogan and Reece Gallagher. Best for Donegal James Kerrigan and Ronan Mc Hugh
Refere: Dessie Mc Laughlin
Milford United 4 Keadue Rovers 1
Milford United over came a determined Keadue Rovers at Moyle View park who finished the last hour with nine men.
Milford took the lead on 30 minutes when Kyle Black converted a penalty following Mark Wilson upended in the box.
Keadue came out at start of 2nd half strongest dominated as Milford struggle with the extra men. They got their deserved equaliser on 60 minutes when Neely tucked home from close range.
Milford then had Kyle Black get his marching orders for a dive and second yellow card.
Milford pushed for the winner and on 80mins Mark Flood rattled home from a corner.
As Milford held on Mark Wilson completed the scoring with two brilliant finishes. G
reat team effort by both teams, with est for Milford Mark Wilson, Pauric Curley and Lorcan Friel.
Kildrum Tigers 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic 1
A share of the spoils at Station Road for both teams in a game played at a frantic pace at times. Both teams had chances in the first half to go ahead, Kildrum starting the better of the two sides Lynch and Breslin both going close.
Kilmacrennan began to settle and started to create their own chances, Seamie Friel pulling an effort wide before Chris Dillion blazed over inside the box soon after.
After a scoreless first half both teams again started the second at an impressive tempo, Kildrum looking the more likely to take the lead.
On 72 minutes Kildrum struck the post from a corner before Jamie McKinney had his effort impressively blocked on the line by Kieran Gorman.
Kilmacrennan’s goal came on 82 minutes after a mistake in the Kildrum midfield as they pushed forward,
Kilmac broke away and Seamie Friel scores what looked to be a hugh goal for his side. Kevin O’Donnell was shown a second yellow from referee Andrew Mullan, Kildrum pushed for an equaliser and finally got the goal they deserved in the dying moments as Kevin McHugh expertly directed his header in the top corner.
Moments after the impressive Enda McCormack was shown a second yellow reducing his side to 9 men.
The last chance came again from a break, Kilmac found themselves with an overload however Shields chose the wrong option and the game ended 1-1.
Bonagee United 3 Cranford United 3
The home side had a goal disallowed on five minutes when Glen Gallagher sent a long ball in the box from midfield Ashmore seemed to have got the better of the defender to toe poke the ball past the keeper but referee Alister Gourney gave a free to the visitors for a foul on the defender.
On eleven minutes Lee McMonagle for the home side won the ball in his own half he broke through the defence and his strike from 25 yards was saved by the keeper with the ball rebounding to Daniel Stolarczyk, but his strike from the edge of the box came back of the post and fell to Aiden McLaughlin who shot wide from 12 yards.
The visitor’s first strike came on fifteen minutes when a great effort from Chris Duffy from just outside the box went just wide of the post.
Two minutes later Owen Rafferty for the visitors won the ball wide on the left he cut inside the defender and his shot from the edge of the box flew over the bar.
Ashmore was giving the Cranford defence a lot of problems with his pace and on 19 minutes he broke clear down the right but he shot over from the edge of the six yard box. Ashmore should have scored for Bonagee two minutes later when a great ball down the line from Aaron Wasson he cut inside the defender but he fluffed his strike on goal from ten yards and the ball ended up in the keepers arms.
The visitors had a few strikes on goal through Danny McBride and Garry McCafferty but Carr in the home goal saved well.
The home side took the lead on 26 minutes when a free was awarded to them on the edge of the box for a foul on Ashmore. Daniel Stolarczyk hammered the ball to the back of the net.
They got their second three minutes later when Ashmore again broke clear and his shot on goal was blocked by the defender the ball rebounder to Daniel Stolarczyk and he shot home from 15 yards. Chris Carr had a great strike on goal from twenty yards just go wide of the post on thirty six.
Garry McCafferty for the visitors put a great ball into the box from the left on forty two minutes but James Mc Bride headed wide from six yards.
Mc Bride again came close two minutes later when he broke down the right and his shot from eighteen yards just past the post.
Carr in the home goal made a good save from Kieran Doherty from six yards on forty eight.
The visitors pulled one back on fifty minutes when along ball in from the right fell to Danny McBride outside the box he turned the defender and his shot flew into the top corner of the net.
The home side got their third on the hour when a throw in by Wasson fell to Aiden McLaughlin on the edge of the six yards box and he turned the defender and shot home. Cranford kept plugging away and Carr again made two good saves from a strike from Garry McLaughlin on seventy and Lorcon Connor three minutes later.
The visitors got their second on eighty minutes when the ball fell to Kieran Doherty his strike from thirty yards went over the keeper to the back of the net.
Semi Carr came close to levelling the match on eighty five but his strike from fifteen yards went over. The visitors got the last goal of the game on 93 minutes to level the game.
The home side messed up their free kick on the half way line the ball went back to the visitors keeper and he hit the ball over the home defence and Chris Carr beat the keeper to the ball and headed home from ten yards.
Team effort by both sides.
Referee: Alister Gourley
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Rathmullan Celtic 3 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 0
Rathmullan Celtic took a huge leap towards the play-offs for the Premier League with an emphatic three goal win at the Seaside over their nearest rivals Kerrykeel 71 which simply puts the Hoops in pole position going into next Sunday’s clash with Ballybofey, where a victory ensures that coveted play off spot for a return to the top flight.
The Hoops played like a team united with focus, composure and class in their first competitive match since lockdown.
Rathmullan opted for a five man midfield which paid dividends against a Kerrykeel side that simply could not cope with their direct football and the wizardry of left winger Niall Curruthers who gave a masterclass and exhibition for the Seaside faithful in attendance.
It was the talismanic winger who opened the scoring on the half hour mark when his dribbling skills on the left wing gave him the space to whip in a cross which nestled in the top right corner much to the plaudits of the 200 supporters at the Flagpole.
The second half saw the home side cruise to more chances and a crucial second goal on 50 minutes from an excellent Kevi Doran free kick from 20 yards which hit the top corner with aplomb.
From then on Carruthers put on a five star exhibition of ball control and skill which was complimented with the visit of the ice cream van in the second half for a festival ready Seaside faithful. Carruthers simply put the flake on top.
Kerrykeel were reduced to eight men following three separate red cards.
Skipper Eoin Sheridan rounded off the fine display with a diving headed goal on 88 minutes from a fine Reggie Miller cross to seal a win which gives the Hoops full momentum ahead of next Sunday’s must win clash at home to Ballybofey United for a shot at the play-offs.
Referee: Gerald Devine
Lifford Celtic v Letterbarrow Celtic
(No Report Submitted)
Ballybofey United 1 Drumoghill F.C. 4
Drumoghill secured League One survival with a 4-1 win at Ballybofey Utd. Conor Temple with an early goal for Drumoghill and Richie Moore with a double, and Anthony Doherty also on the score sheet had Drumoghill four up before a late consolation goal from Ballybofey.
Referee Colm McConigley
Convoy Arsenal v Glenea United
Click here to read a report form Orchard Park
St. Catherines 0 Gweedore Celtic 0
The home team needed a win in order to avoid the playoffs and remain in division one but they came up a against a resilient Gweedore team that weren’t going to lie down to easy .
Both teams served up fast entertaining football in an evenly balanced contest.
Both defence units were extremely busy with Sean Paul Gallagher orchestrating the away defence to perfection while John Ban Gallagher had a busy afternoon for the saints watching Eamon McGee.
Clear cut chances were few and far between and this meant a lot of shots from distance that were always well marshalled by the opposing keepers.
Best chance of the game fell to Conor O’Rourke on 65 minutes. He latched on to a ball played over the top of the Gweedore centre halves and with only the keeper to beat, he blazed his shot high and wide.
Michael Roarty was excellent in the middle of the park for the visitors but could never find the killer ball for his forwards.
Evan Broderick and Niall Campbell covered every inch of the splendid Emerald Park pitch for St Catherine’s but again the lack of a quality final ball meant the deadlock was never broken
The Saints head for the playoffs.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Dunkineely Celtic v Whitestrand United
(No Report Submitted)
Gweedore United 3 Raphoe Town 3
Near perfect conditions at Carrickboyle saw second place Raphoe Town visit Gaoth Dobhair United on Sunday for the last match of the season.
Raphoe made clear their intentions with some early pressure rewarded with a goal, injuries to both Stephen and Seán MacPháidÃn forced home manager Maurice Ferry to make two first-half substitutions.
The other Stephen MacPháidÃn equalised before half-time from the penalty spot after an infringement. Raphoe were to open up a two-goal lead after some good build up play from Oliver Quinn and Dean McConville, the later finishing well after some excellent play up the left wing from Corey McBride-Gillen.
Gaoth Dobhair’s marauding left back Paul Doogan finished off his own move to close the gap and at 3-2, Marc McPháidÃn’s expertly delivered free kick levelled matters.
Football fell by the wayside during the second period with a flurry of cards shown, Raphoe’s Oliver Quinn seeing red with ten left on the clock.
Gaoth Dobhair kept the pressure on but failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage; Ciarán MacPháidÃn unlucky not to score after showing great industry in the Raphoe penalty area.
Kyron Coyle strong in Raphoe defence. This was an entertaining encounter with both teams showing quality and desire until the final whistle.
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Arranmore United 1 Kildrum Tigers Reserves 1
Arranmore dominated play from the beginning with Brian Proctor, Chim Reynolds, Aidan Proctor and Mardy Mc Garrigle all going close but they couldn’t beat the away keeper..
Arranmore took the lead on 55 minutes when Aidan Proctor fired home after good work from Brian Proctor.
Arranmore passed up several good opportunities and were made to pay when the Kildrum midfielder fired home following a corner that wasn’t fully cleared. Referee: George Montgomery
Keadue Rovers Reserves 0 Oldtown Celtic 2
Keadue Rovers Reserves had their first home defeat of the season, losing out to Oldtown Celtic in a feisty encounter at Central Park on Saturday.
On a fine afternoon for football the game started at a brisk pace but neither side really settled in the first ten minutes.
The first real chance of the game came almost twenty minutes in but Oldtown shot wide from the edge of the area. Jack Doherty was showing up well for Keadue, creating plenty of passes and openings.
From a corner on forty minutes Michael Greene poked the ball just wide of the near post. As the half drew to a close it was the away side who went a goal up when a ball over the top was not dealt with by a hesitant home defence, claiming it was offside, striker Michael Mongan took the ball and beat the keeper to make it 1-0 and that’s how it stayed until half time.
At the start of the second half it was Keadue who made the brighter opening, moving upfield well and they had a few crosses and free kicks, without troubling the away keeper.
Oldtown gained confidence from this and after the hour had a good shot saved by Caelan Bonner. The home team kept pressing hard as the game opened more but on sixty-seven minutes the game was settled after some good work down the right wing and a good cross led to a fumble by the home keeper which Tommy McLaughlin capitalised on to poke home at the near post.
After that the home side upped their game with a lot of possession and chances falling to both Peter McGee and Ryan Connors. Oldtown stayed firm and collected all three points to go second in the table. A team effort from both sides.
Referee: Gerard Devine.
Glenea United Reserves 1 Strand Rovers 2
Glenea reserves completed their home league programme with a hard-fought Gaeltacht derby defeat against Strand.
With both sides missing regulars it was a disjointed start by both sides. As the 1st half progressed it was the home side that began to create the openings and on 25 minutes Neil McGeever played a one-two with Nathan O’Brien, got pass the defender
but saw his effort on goal just clear the bar.
Glenea came close again on 33 minutes when Stephen Ferry’s free-kick was only parried by the keeper but Kevin Doohan put the rebound past the post.
Strand came close to opening the scoring on 37 minutes when Michael Ward saw his effort from a tight angle come back off the bar. Strand took the lead on 41 minutes when Shane O’Donnell played a free-kick into the box which fell to Brendan Glackin and he fired home from a tight angle.
In the second half Strand started to get on top and Glenea were finding it hard to get out, though were not allowing any clear cut
chances.
Strand doubled their lead on 58 minutes when a free kick was played to Michael Ward and he fired home from the edge of the box. Glenea pushed hard to pull a goal back and came closest on 68 minutes when Keenan Gallagher got onto a through ball but lifted his effort over the bar.
Strand came close to extending their lead on 80minutes but were denied by an excellent save by Odhran Craig.
Glenea were well served by Remi Moran, Keenan Gallagher and Nathan O’Brien, while Brendan Glackin was always a handful for the home defence.
Milford United Reserves 2 Glencar Celtic 6
(No Report Submitted)
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 3 Dunlewey Celtic 2
Kilmacrennan hosted Dunlewey in a perfect day for football at Lurgy Park, and with a play -off spot up for grabs it gave both team incentive to go out and take all three points.
Kilmacrennan dominated the first half and it only took the home side five minutes to go one up when Lorcan Gallagher upended Timmy Burke inside the box, Eamonn Sheridan converted from the spot.
Kilmacrennan went two up on 25 minutes after some good play down right flank from Brandon McClafferty as his cross found Sheridan’s head at the back post.
The home side started the second as they finished the first with Sheridan completing his hat-trick for the second week running. Dunlewey staged a late comeback with goals from Paul Coll and Patrick McGeady but it was too little too late from the away side.
Cranford United Reserves 0 Cappry Rovers Reserves 4
Cappry kept up their push for the league title with a comfortable win in Cranford. Cappry were one up as early as the third minute when a Cranford defender put the ball into his own net.
They then doubled their lead after 20 minutes while the rest of the half was very tightly contested but that’s how it stayed until half time. Cranford came out the stronger for the second half and missed a number of chances in a good 25 minute spell, but couldn’t take them and they were to be punished as Cappry added two more goals in the last 20 minutes.
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 4 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 0
Castlefin had a comprehensive victory over Drumoghill on Saturday. The home side started the better and went close from a Lee Kennedy free kick which was well saved by Drumoghill keeper Shane McDaid.
Castlefin took the lead in the 10th minute when a James Mc Menamin shot from 25 yards flew into the top corner of the net. It was 2-0 in the 30th minute when Travis Lafferty broke down the right and crossed the ball to Reece Gallagher who fired home.
Gallagher went close again at the start of the second half but his shot was saved by the Drumoghill keeper.
Castlefin got their third in the 70th minute when Travis Lafferty shot to the corner of the net from a Nicky Scott through ball. It was one way traffic now and Ben King had a couple of efforts on goal but all to no avail. Lee Kennedy made it 4-0 in the dying minutes when he rounded three players and shot past the keeper to score. Best for Castlefinn were Lee Kennedy and Daniel Foy.
Team performance from Drumoghill
Drumbar F.C. 4 Copany Rovers 1
(No Report Submitted)
Cappry Rovers Reserves 1 Castlefin Celtic Reserves 0
Castlefin started this game very well and almost took the lead in the first minute when they had an early effort at goal. This set the tone of the game for most of the first half with the away side taking the game to Cappry from the start.
Castlefin should have taken the lead in the 15th minute when Reece Gallagher got on to a mistake in the Cappry defence but saw his effort come off the post. Cappry, in the 30th minute, scored what proved to be the winner against the run of play when James Speight crossed for Ronan Carlin who headed into the top corner.
Castlefin started the second half well and went looking to get level but the Cappry defence held strong.
Cappry were dangerous on the break but couldn’t find a second goal which meant a nervous finish for the home team but they managed to hold out for a vital win. Two Team Performances.
