Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Drumoghill F.C. 3 Kilmacrennan Celtic 4
Kilmacrennan Celtic dealt Drumoghill’s title hopes a crushing below in this dramatic encounter at the Moss, and in doing so gave their own hopes a timely boost.
Eddie Doherty’s 78th minute strike was eventually the difference to settle this 7-goal thriller. Doherty calmly slid the ball under McCauley from 12 yards after Kilmacrennan broke on the counter attack after a brilliant Chris Malseed double midway through the second half had made the scores 3-3.
That should have set Drumoghill up for the victory, but instead the home side were naïve and let the visitors have their own opportunity to win the game, which they gratefully accepted.
In truth, Kilmacrennan deserved their victory. They contained Drumoghill throughout and limited them to long range efforts. They took the lead on 31 minutes when Caolan McDaid evaded the challenge of Christopher O’Donnell and hammered home from a narrow angle to leave Drumoghill in arrears at the break.
McDaid was at it again at the start of the second half when he was the right man in the right place on 48 minutes to take advantage of a ricochet, and leave McCauley with no chance from point blank range. A
t 2-0 down, Drumoghill looked dead and buried got referee Mick Lagan threw them a lifeline on 51 minutes when he pointed to the spot after he noticed a hand ball in the box. Jaydee Alawiye made no mistake to bring his side back into the game.
As Drumoghill surged forward in search of an equaliser, Kilmacrennan looked to exploit the spaces they left in behind.
Timmy Burke was efficient in possession throughout and his searching balls from midfield found runners ahead of them and it was from one such move that the visitors restored their two-goal cushion when John Sandilands and Mark Friel combined for Aiden Sweeney to head home on 65 minutes.
Chris Malseed then took over and scored two brilliant goals in the space of two minutes. First, he drove home from the edge of the box when teed up by Gerard Mc Granaghan and then headed home powerfully after brilliant work from Alawiye to level the scores at 3-3.
At that stage, there looked to be only one team that were going to win this but Drumoghill’s naivety returned and resulted in Doherty’s late winner. Kilmacrennan though deserve credit for having the character to come back and on this showing will be in contention come the end of the season.
St. Catherines 9 Convoy Arsenal 0
The home team meant business from the start going 3-0 up within the first 8 minutes. Calm finishes by David Conwell and two from Barry Cannon gave the Saints a dream start.
Convoy never recovered from this shock start and conceded two more goals without reply when the half time whistle was blown.
Brendan McGuire scored twice thanks to great assists from Ryan Farrelly for a comfortable 5-0 lead at the break.
The goal of the game came 8 minutes into the second half when a Daniel Breslin shot hit the roof of the net from 25 yards. Gary Mc Hugh scored on 65minutes meeting a corner head on to make it 7-0.
The nightmare continued for Convoy as Ryan Farrelly slotted home 2 more to make the final score 9-0. Good all round team performance from St Catherines
Kildrum Tigers 0 Rathmullan Celtic 2
Rathmullan took the lead from a Dara Patton free kick on 15 minutes. Ryan Connolly then scored a rocket from 25 yards to give Rathmullan the points. Kildrum pushed for a goal but couldn’t break down the Rathmullan defence. Best for Rathmullan Mark Gallagher
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Keadue Rovers 4 Gweedore Celtic 1
Keadue Rovers had a comprehensive win over their local rivals at Central Park on Sunday to further their good run and move up a position in the table. It was a poor day for football in damp and misty conditions but that mattered little in a fairly entertaining game.
It was Keadue who made the better start and may have been ahead in the third minute, a good run from Ryan Greene who passed to Donal Rodgers, whose shot to the net was ruled out. Gweedore started to move well forcing a few corners and getting the better of possession.
Keadue though were first to strike on eight minutes when Conor Greene was on the end of a mix up in defence, drilling home from close range. The away team responded very well and were unlucky just ten minutes later when a good run down the wing by Eamonn McGee was met with a well drilled shot from Joe Bonner which was well saved.
They had another chance halfway through the half when Michael Roarty hit a good effort from outside the box but Hugh Yank Boyle again saved well. Keadue started to settle more after that with Corey Gallagher’s shot unlucky on 27 minutes.
With more possession still with Gweedore, the home side were more content hitting on the break and they went two up just five minutes from half time when David Ward hit an excellent effort from the edge of the box right into the top corner.
It got even better for Keadue just into injury time, when Ryan Greene ran onto a through ball and coolly finished to the net. Into the second half and it was Gweedore who were quicker moving the ball around trying to create chances. Corey Gallagher had an effort just over on 50 minutes but chances were much fewer and it became a bit scrappy for a while.
Keadue put the game beyond doubt on sixty five minutes when a loose ball broke to Corey Gallagher and his left footed strike from twenty five yards went into the bottom corner.
This was followed a few minutes later with a Keadue penalty but this time Gweedore keeper Michael McKelvey saved well from Corey Gallagher and from the resultant kick out Colin Ferry made an excellent run down the right hand side and after his initial shot was saved he followed up with a rebound to make it 4-1 on 68 minutes.
Gweedore Celtic followed this up with a good spell creating a few half chances and could’ve reduced the margin on eighty minutes but Eamonn McGee missed an easy chance from a few yards out. Keadue though held firm in the last ten and made sure of the points in a vital derby win.
Best for Gweedore Celtic were Daniel Roarty, Ciaran McHugh and Colin Ferry while best for Keadue Rovers were Conor Greene, Hugh Moy and Chris Greene.
Referee: Dessie McLaughlin.
Bonagee United 0 Raphoe Town 4
The visitors started well and came close to opening the scoring on the six minutes when a cross from the left by Christy Bogle was headed wide from ten yards by D.J. Kelly.
The same player made no mistake when he broke clear on twenty five minutes and shot home from just inside the 18-yard box. The home side had a few half chances through Paddy Mc Gowan and Noel O’ Donnell but nothing to bother Duffy in the Raphoe goal. The visitors made it 2-0 on 34 minutes when the ball fell to Jamie Gallagher and he shot home from 15 yards.
Two minutes later a Paddy McGowan strike went just wide of the post. David Craig for the visitors was put through on 38 minutes but he tried to lob the advancing keeper from thirty yards only to see his effort go wide. Craig did get the third for the visitors on 40 minutes when a corner from the right into the box was not cleared and he was first to the ball and headed home from six yards.
The second half was much the same with Raphoe well on top and got the final goal of the game on 80 minutes when a great header from ten yards by D.J. Kelly from a corner. Team effort by both sides. Referee: Barry Hunter.
Erne Wanderers 3 Gweedore United 1
Erne Wanderers hosted Gweedore United at the Lakeside Centre in miserable conditions on Sunday and ran out comfortable winners by three goals to one.
Erne opened the scoring on six minutes when Mark Dorrian tapped home from six yards when the keeper failed to hold a shot from Dylan Gallagher. Erne were bossing proceedings without really threatening United’s keeper.
The second arrived on the half hour mark when Liam Travers ghosted in at the back post to slot home from Alan Russell’s corner. Erne got number three on 70 minutes when a good move was finished well by Alan Russell.
Gweedore hit the bar with a deflected free kick and got a consolation goal with the last kick of the game. A good performance from Erne with Russell, Travers and Dorrian pulling the strings in midfield while Gweedore battled right to the end. Referee: Andrew Mullin.
Deele Harps 4 Glenree United 3
This relegation battle at The Athletic Grounds was just that, a battle. Glenree started brightest and took the lead on 10 minutes when Marty McLaughlin ghosted in at the back post to head home.
Deele responded on 18 minutes when Jordan Duffy rifled home the equaliser. Another defensive lapse on 27 minutes led to Andrew Kelly nodding in from close range.
The excellent Jordan Duffy dragged Deele level again on 35 minutes following a Paul Lynch corner. Deele took the lead for the first time in the game on 44 minutes, Jordan Duffy laying off to Kevin Lynch who hit a beauty from 25 yards to the roof of the net
The second half was another battle with Glenree pushing hard and the equaliser came on 78 minutes when Andrew Kelly rose highest to head home. As the final whistle drew near one last chance came the way of the home side when player/manager Gary Crawford threaded a perfect through ball to young Brandon Connolly who raced clear and cooly rounded the keeper to finish in style.
Team performance from Glenree with Jordan Duffy and Brandon Connolly best for Deele. Referee: Martin Mc Anneny.
Donegal Town 1 Cappry Rovers 1
It’s advantage Cappry in the Division One title race after a pulsating encounter at Hospital Field. A last minute equaliser from Ronan McHugh ensure a crucial point for the visitors.
The game started with both teams looking nervous in the early stages. Donegal went close from a Danny Mc Garrigle free kick which Declan Brown flicked just past the post. Joe McIntyre had Donegal’s best chance of the half when he broke through the Cappry defence but fired narrowly wide.
If Donegal slightly shaded matters in the first half Cappry responded by dominating the opening stages of the second although they failed to carve out any clear cut chances.
The deadlock was broken with fifteen minutes to go when Conor Mc Monagle jinked his way through the Cappry defence to fire low into the bottom corner.
The Cappry response was inevitable and duly arrived as they piled bodies forward in search of an equaliser. They almost had it after 85 minutes but were only denied when Stephen Curneen managed to somehow hook the ball off the line from a corner.
It looked as though the Town might just hold out but McHugh popped up in late on to flick the ball into the roof of the net after a goalmouth scramble. Two excellent team performances with both sides giving their all. Referee: James Malseed
CT Ball Division Two
Ballybofey United 2 Curragh Athletic 1
Going into this match the League Table suggested a fairly easy day at the office for Ballybofey United as they welcomed bottom side Curragh Athletic to Finnside.
It turned out to be anything but however as Curragh produced their best performance of the season so far to fully test the credentials of the Champions Elect. Damien Glackin opened the scoring when he finished off a lovely move which involved several players before Mark Griffin set up the striker.
His goal was cancelled out when Gavin Sweeney equalised for the visitors with a back post finish from a corner. Glackin got the match winning goal from the penalty spot during a spell of Ballybofey dominance. There was little the Curragh keeper could do as the prolific frontman smashed the ball low to the custodian’s right.
The final whistle was a welcome sound for the home side who are now within touching distance of the League Title. Curragh must be commended for showing a great fighting spirit which belies their League Table position.
Whitestrand United 3 Copany Rovers 0
(No Report, Copany Did Not Field)
Knockalla Cup
Milford United 3 Clonmany Shamrocks 5
(No Report Submitted)
Glenea United 5 Castlefin Celtic 0
Glenea scored in the first 5 minutes when Ciaran Mc Geady latched onto a Ciaran Mc Fadden pass to finish low into the corner. Mc Fadden turned goalscorer in the 12th minute when a Lee O’Brien shot was saved by the keeper and Mc Fadden slotted it in from the edge of the box.
Castlefin were unlucky in the 15th minute not to claw one back when a great strike from 30 yards zipped across the wet grass only to come off the upright.
In the 32nd minute Glenea made it three when a Sean Coll cross found O’Brien lurking at the front post, the keeper went to ground early and O’Brien chipped it into the net.
The best move of the game came in the 43rd minute when Glenea moved the ball from defence to attack in four quick passes ending with Ryan McFadden crossing to the head of an incoming Lee O’Brien who finished into the corner.
Both teams came out in the 2nd half and with neither team threatening much and being a cup match it was the time for both benches to get a run out. Eamonn Cannon made it five when his inswinging corner found the roof of the net.
