LAST YEAR’S top two, Drumoghill and Milford, shared the spoils at The Moss today – here’s how all the Donegal League games panned out today.
Picture caption: Michael McKelvey, usually plays in goals for Gweedore Celtic, played today at centre-half against Bonagee United.
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Drumoghill FC 1 Milford United 1
MILFORD United ended Drumoghill’s perfect start by taking home a point from The Moss.
The visitors though will feel that they should have taken maximum points as they were cruelly denied a late winner when Adam Serrinha was harshly adjudged to be in an offside position.
Drumoghill didn’t perform well and struggled to create any chances of any significance.
Milford’s rearguard provided a barrier that the home side just couldn’t break down and they had to resort to long-range efforts which failed to test Peter Doherty in goals for Milford.
Milford opened the scoring mid-way through the first half when Darren McLaughlin capitalised on poor defending to put his side into the lead.
The lead though was short-lived and Paddy Rafferty restored parity a few minutes later. Both sides were missing a number of key players and Drumoghill seemed to suffer the most, as they struggled to get any kind of rhythm.
Terence Shiels looked the most likely to create a winner for them with his penetrating runs from the flank but the end product was lacking all too often.
Drumoghill can consider themselves fortunate to have emerged with a point and will be looking to improve when they travel to Kildrum next week.
Referee: Paddy Martin
Glenea United 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic 1
(No report submitted )
[adrotate group=”80″]Convoy Arsenal 1 Lagan Harps 1
THE two newly promoted teams meet at Orchard Park in a game of vital importance even though it is still early in the season.
The game started at a frantic pace with both teams creating numerous chances without testing either keeper. Lagan did get a breakthrough in the 23rd minute when they won the ball in the Convoy half and crossed for Kenny Barn to slot home.
The half ebbed and flowed but neither team really got a foothold and they went in with the visitors leading one nil. Convoy got themselves lifted during the break and came out like a different team for the second half. Lagan’s backs were up against the wall and Convoy got on level terms in the 54th minute when Ryan Carlin lifted the ball over the outrushing keeper after a superb through ball sent him clear.
Convoy kept the pressure on Lagan but just couldn’t get the ball in the net. With Convoy pushing on Lagan looked dangerous on the break and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions only for some great goalkeeping and the help of the crossbar.
Both teams had to settle for a draw and it was probably the fairest result.
St. Catherine’s 1 Rathmullan Celtic 0
RATHMULLAN were the stronger of the two sides in the first half with Michael Mullen pulling off a string of good saves to keeping the home team in the game.
St. Catherines came out more positive in the second half and started to test the Rathmullan keeper.
Daniel Breslin latched onto a breaking ball to lob the keeper ten minutes into the half to put the home side one up .
Rathmullan pressed and pressed trying to find an equaliser with the home team happy to defend and try to hit the visitors on the counter attack. With all the visiting teams possession they never really troubled the St. Catherines goal and the home team held on defending bravely.
Best for Rathmullan was Alan Boal on the wing and an impressive performance from David Fisher in the middle of the park. Stephen Muirhead and Donal McGuire impressed for St. Catherines with solid defensive displays .
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Glenree United 0 Gweedore United 3
IT was the visiting team that left Glenree Park with the three points after beating an understrength Glenree team. The first goal came within 20 minutes when the left back shot low and hard past the keeper.
The second goal came in the 35th minute when a penalty was awarded. The final goal came in the 67th minute when the sub finished the ball cooly after a good run. That finished the match and it dwindled out for the last 20 minutes.
Erne Wanderers 5 Raphoe Town 1
ERNE Wanderers hosted Raphoe Town in glorious sunshine on Sunday at the Lakeside Centre and ran out comfortable 5-1 winners.
Seamus Kane opened the scoring on nine minutes when he controlled a ball from Mulligan on his chest on the edge of the box and swivelled sharply to fire into the bottom corner with his left foot.
The second came on twenty eight minutes when Mark Dorrian flicked on a corner from Patton and David Dolan headed into the net. Mark Dorrian got the third on 36 minutes when he headed home at the back post. Dolan added his second on halftime when he hit a rocket from 20 yards into the top corner.
The second half was still one way traffic but the hosts couldn’t find the target with David Dorrian the closest when he rattled the crossbar from 20 yards.
The visitors got a consolation on 85 minutes when some scrappy defending resulted in a sloppy goal to give away but the hosts got number five two minutes later when McInerny tapped home after good work from Michael Dolan. Good performance from Wanderers with the two Dolans excellent while Raphoe battled to the end.
Referee: James Malseed.
[adrotate group=”83″]Bonagee United 0 Gweedore Celtic 1
GWEEDORE came close on four minutes when a cross from the right into the box by Lee Bonner was headed over from six yards by Shane McClafferty.
Shane Kelly’s shot on ten minutes for the home side was well saved by Cristopher Sweeney in the Gweedore goal.
Bonagee had two great chances to score through Darren Coyle and Conor Temple on fifteen and eighteen minutes but both strikes were deflected wide.
Gweedore should have scored on the half hour when the ball broke to Colin Ferry on the left and his cross into the box fell to Ciaran McHugh on the six-yard box but his shot went wide of the post and wide.
The second half was much the same as the first with both teams creating chance after chance but not able to score and both defences were on top.
Gweedore scored on 88 minutes when Colin ferry broke down the right and beat two defenders and his shot from just inside the box found the bottom corner of the net.
Sweeney in the visitors goal made two great saves in the final minutes from Daren Coyle and Shane Kelly to give the visitors all three points.
Referee: Paddy Duffy.
Keadue Rovers 2 Cappry Rovers 3
CAPPRY Rovers were the victors in an entertaining game played in fine sunny conditions at Central Park on Sunday which leaves Keadue pointless after four games.
It was the perfect start for the home side when after three minutes Hugh Moy made a run down the left wing and was there to meet a good ball into the box before slotting home. Cappry though weren’t long in getting back into things and after eight minutes Ciaran Sharkey pulled off a good save and two minutes later they had a half chance.
Cappry should’ve been level on twenty two minutes when Ronan McHugh put his effort wide when clean through. Keadue were made to sit back and absorb the pressure coming from the away team and one 31 minutes, were deservedly level when Paddy McNulty tapped in at the far post.
However despite having little possession by that stage Keadue re-took the lead on 33 minutes when, following a good run by Jack O’Brien, the ball was played through to Conor Greene and he made no mistake placing it to the back of the net.
Keadue then had a good spell when both Chris Greene with a header and Conor Greene with a shot from close in were both denied in the final ten minutes of the first half.
At the start of the second half again Conor Greene pressurised the Cappry defence and almost made it three when dispossessing the defence but his shot was cleared off the line.
Cappry soon gathered themselves together and began to get on top on possession and had a few chances, one which was cleared off the line.
The away side were level on 64 minutes when Calvin Bradley equalised with a right foot effort from close range.
A few minutes later Keadue came close to re-taking the lead when David Ward’s cross was met with two efforts from Ryan Greene and Donal Rodgers, both saved by the keeper.
Cappry kept up the pressure and Ronan McHugh made it three on 75 minutes when a run up the right caused a mix up in the Keadue defence and he tapped it in close to the line.
Keadue battled away in the last fifteen but despite good pressing they didn’t create any real chances and Cappry held out for a deserved win.
Best for Keadue were Hugh Moy and Conor Greene while best for Cappry were Calvin Bradley and Ronan McHugh.
Referee: Barry Hunter.
[adrotate group=”38″]Deele Harps 1 Donegal Town 2
DEELE welcomed table toppers Donegal to The Athletic Grounds on a great day for football.
Deele started bright and Jordon Duffy was occupying the Town defence while Shane Gallagher pulled the strings in behind.
Deele had a penalty shout waved away on 25 minutes. Deele gave away a silly free on 35 minutes and the resulting free caused problems and the ball was tapped home by Declan Browne.
Deele were pushing for the equaliser and a counter attack from Donegal resulted in Benny Byrne aided by a Deele deflection firing the away side into a two goal lead.
Deele rallied and scored on 78 minutes when Paul Lynch’s free kick was parried and Jordan Duffy fired home. Deele piled on the pressure in search of the equaliser but the points went through the Gap.
Referee: Ed Moore
CT Ball Division Two
Curragh Athletic 1 Letterbarrow Celtic 3
CURRAGH entertained Letterbarrow at the sports complex Killygordon.
Both teams started playing fast football and Letterbarrow took the lead after fifteen minutes but Curragh fought back with a great move from defence to striker Renato who scored with a rocket from 30 yards.
The second half started much the same as the first, very fast, in the 65th minute Letterbarrow took the lead. But the Curragh never stopped working hard and should have had their second on 70 minutes but were ruled off side. Letterbarrow got a third to finish the game off.
[adrotate group=”82″]Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 2 Drumkeen United 2
BOTH teams served up a great game at Rab’s Park on a fine day for football.
The home side started the better with Conor Mc Fadden and Mylie Mc Bride causing problems on the wings. Donal Callaghan went close form a header on 15 minutes while at the other end Niall Bonner shot wide after a great run.
Ryan McGonigle gave the home side the lead on 36 minutes when he blazed through the Drumkeen defence to fire home. Drumkeen drew level on 49 minutes when Shane Friel headed into his own net.
Both teams had chances but it was Drumkeen who went in front on 62 minutes when Niall Bonner tapped home after great work from Kevin Boyle.
Three minutes later Drumkeen were awarded a penalty but Shane Sandilands pulled off an outstanding save to keep his team in it.
Michael McDevitt repaid his save with a stunning free kick on 76 minutes to draw level. Both teams went for the win but couldn’t find a way past both keepers.
Referee: John Coyle
Whitestrand United 0 Ballybofey United 1
ON A brisk October afternoon Whitestrand United took on Ballybofey United at McGarvey Park. The game started at a frenetic pace but gradually Ballybofey took control of the game.
Whitestrand defended stoutly and there were few clear cut chances for either side. Whitestrand were dangerous on the counter and nearly took the lead when Kevin McCarry broke through and shot narrowly wide.
The game was played largely in the Whitestrand half and at the interval it was 0-0.
Whitestrand started the second half in a positive manner and they nearly went ahead when Ken Dempsey fired narrowly wide.
The game was tight with few chances and it was becoming ever clearer that a goal from either side would come from a mistake. This proved to be the case when a shot came in and deflected in off the Whitestrand defender. There wasn’t much either the defender or the keeper could do to keep it out.
There wasn’t much time for a Whitestrand reply but it nearly came when Kevin McCarry shot over. However, the equaliser wasn’t to come and Ballybofey left with the three points.
[adrotate group=”53″]Cranford United 4 Copany Rovers1
( No Report Submitted )
Lifford Celtic 1 Dunkineely Celtic 0
BOTH teams came into this game at the Greenbrae with a 100 per cent winning records and as expected it turned out to be a very even game where chances were at a premium. In the first half both defences were on top of their game and neither keeper was really tested.
After the restart Lifford really upped their game and went close on a few occasions with long range efforts from McBrearty, Porter and Lafferty.
Mahon thought he had opened the scoring for Lifford when a drilled shot from the edge of the box skimmed the crossbar with the goalkeeper stranded.
Lifford kept the pressure on and a ball from Stuart Carlin on the left was taken on the chest by Jason McBrearty and he fed Colin Carlin at the back post to finish into the bottom corner on 65 minutes.
Dunkineely pushed men forward in the last 10 minutes in an effort to get back into the game but never really threatened the Lifford keeper as the back four led by Mark McNulty stood up well to the pressure.
This was a hard earned three points for Lifford as they kept up their good start to the season.
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