Glencar Celtic move five clear and closing in on Saturday League title

Goals late in either half saw Glencar Celtic record a derby win over Orchard in Rathmullan that lifts them five points clear in the Glencar Inn Saturday League.

Glencar Celtic 2 Orchard FC

With three games to go, Glencar are firmly in command now as Paddy Collins and Liam Doherty struck in the dying moments of the two halves; Collins netting in the 42^nd minute and Doherty on the mark in the 92^nd minute.

Orchard looked the more likely in the opening 20 minutes, but they had a let-off when Glencar’s Kieran Doherty headed just wide from Liam Doherty’s cross.

Orchard had warmed to the task and Michael Sweeney might have broken the deadlock in the 28^th minute, but the big striker headed wide after he connected to Gio Peoples’ ball in.

Three minutes before half-time, though, Glencar – who were just starting to get to grips with things – took the lead.

Mark Forde’s long ball was flicked on by Eugene Sullivan to Collins, who held off Peoples before lobbing the advancing Tommy McLaughlin.

A goal-line clearance by Barney McMenamin kept the scoreline at 1-0 on the hour as Mcmenamin hooked away from Kieran Doherty’s goalbound shot.

Dominic Friel, the Glencar goalkeeper, saved well from Luke Friel after he got in behind, while Sweeney was denied by a fine block by the Glencar netminder afetr Ciaran Gibson’s header played him in.

Both sides had chances in a busy finish, with Collins’ shot blocked by McMenamin at one end and then sub Kevin O’Connell intervening to thwart Sweeney’s effort that seemed destined for the net.

Two minutes into added time, Collins won possession after an Orchard free was cleared and he teed up Liam Doherty, who lofted over McLaughlin from 25 yards to seal a big win.

Glencar Celtic: Dominic Friel, Mark Forde, Rory Gallagher (Kevin O’Donnell 50), Mick Martin, Charles McLoughlin, Liam Doherty, Kevin Rafferty, Eugene Sullivan, Kieran Doherty (Michael Molloy 68), Eddie McLoughlin (Joe Baker 55), Paddy Collins.

Orchard FC: Tommy McLaughlin; Gerard Roulstone, Barney McMenamin (Conor McDermott 90), Gio Peoples, Rory O’Gorman, Eddie Moore, Ciaran Gibson, Joe McCarron, Sean Sweeney (Kris McLaughlin half-time), Luke Friel, Michael Sweeney.

Referee: Mick Lagan.