THERE WERE goals galore in the Ulster Junior Cup with some pulsating games taking place in recent days – here’s how the action unfolded.
Cappry Rovers 2 Convoy Arsenal 3
This match was brought forward to Thursday night and was played under the lights at Orchard Park.
Cappry were the better side in the first half and they took the lead in the twenty third minute when Calvin Bradley scored following a cross from Sean Mc Bride. Play then swung from end to end with both sides creating chances.
Alan Gethins got Cappry’s second goal in the thirty sixth minute when he scored with a shot. Cappry kept the pressure on in the second half but couldn’t find a way through the Convoy defence.
Darren McElwaine got a goal back for Convoy in the 63rd minute. This spurred Convoy on and they got the equaliser in the 70th minute when Anthony Bogle scored following a free kick.
Cappry kept pressing and were unlucky not to score. Darren Mc Elwaine got the winning goal for Convoy in the eighty first minute when he shot to the corner to put them into the next round of the Cup.
Team Performance from Cappry. John A. Kee was best for Convoy.
Referee: Liam Mc Laughlin.
Ballybofey United 3 Bonagee United 2
Premier Division side Bonagee United came to Ballybofey on Sunday looking to book their place in the next Round of the FAI Junior Cup.
It all started so well for them when Daniel Stolarchyk put them into the lead after just 20 seconds. They then stalled a bit and made no further impact on the scoreline until after the half-time break.
With 20 minutes of the second-half gone they doubled their lead through Jason Ashmore. They might have been looking good at this stage but Cup matches usually have some twists and turns before they end. This one was no different.
With 25 minutes remaining Ballybofey got a goal back when Brian Lafferty hit the net. Then as time seemed to be slipping away for the hosts Shaun Mc Gowan levelled matters when his diving header flew past the visiting keeper, game on. Bonagee now looked a bit deflated and Ballybofey had the momentum.
With the final whistle only minutes away Ryan Duffy became the local hero when he found the net to ignite jubilant scenes within the home team, bench and supporters. An amazing comeback from United, of the Ballybofey kind, and a valiant effort from their Dry Arch opponents. Referee: Paddy Duffy.
Greencastle F.C. 4 Rathmullan Celtic 1
Greencastle got off to a perfect start on 2 minutes after Nigel McMonage fed Michael Henry whose early cross picked out Jamie McCormick to drill low to the corner from the edge of the area.
McCormick then fired over before McMonagle was denied by a good save from Sean Gallagher. Against the run of play the visitors got back on terms when Darragh Patton broke clear and fed Brad Patterson to cut in and fired a superb effort to the bottom corner past Dylan Doherty.
Greencastle upped the tempo with McMonagle and Stephen Grant off target before the former was denied by the advancing Gallagher.A brilliant back heel from James Henry set up Conor Gillen who went within inches of restoring their lead. After McCormick’s free kick smashed off the bar Gillen was first to react and he slotted home on 35minutes.
Rathmullan replied with an Adam Sachai free well held by Doherty. Greencastled finished the half well with Gallagher producing two stunning saves from a Gerry Gill free and a McCormick effort from 25 yards. Greencastle dominated the second half with Gill seeing a shot saved before McCormick fired over.
Then in an amazing triple chance attack Grant’s effort was deflected onto the bar to Ronan Doherty whose effort was parried by Gallagher and the keeper recovered to save McCormicks effort.
The home side made it three-one when McCormick fed Ronan Doherty on the left and he beat two men before squaring for McMonagle to fire home.
They made it four late on after McMonagle completed his hat trick from the penalty spot after Doherty had been upended.
Cranford United 1 Cockhill Celtic 3
Cockhill have been doing well in the Inishowen Premier this year, and brought that form into this game to race to a 3-0 lead in the first half. Cranford upped their efforts after the restart, but found it hard to break down a stubborn Cockhill defence. Cranford pulled one back in the latter stages, with Chris Duffy putting it on a plate with a fine delivery for Chris Carr to cooly dispatch from 8 yards.
Buncrana Hearts 3 Moville Celtic 1
In a scoreless opening half the home side had early chances but Eoin Murphy had one shot well saved by Seamus Hughton before seeing another goal-bound effort blocked by a defender. Moville replied and when Michael McNaught beat the offside trap but fired over when well placed.
The hearts then had claims for a penalty waved aside before Mikey Friel spurned a clear opening when he headed wide after a Gerard McLaughlin cross. On the stroke of half time good work by John Timlin eneded when his cross was met by a bicycle kick from Friel which flashed just wide. Moville stunned the home side when Norbert Indyka threaded a ball to Keelan Doherty and he smashed the ball past Eoghan O Doherty to give the visitors the lead on 49 minutes. But the home side levelled within four minutes after a brilliant pass from McLaughlin sent Declan Fullerton away on the left and his cross was headed home by Gerard Boyle at the back post.McLaughlin then headed over the top when well placed before at the other end McNaught was denied by a good save from O’Doherty. Buncrana upped the tempo in the last quarter and after good work by Friel his cross was headed over by Kevin O’Loughlin. They took the lead when a John Timlin cross found McLaughlin whose header was well parried by Houghton but Friel pounced to drill the ball home. They sealed the tie on 90 minutes after Timlin’s cross cum shot deceived Houghton and bounced into the net of the underside of the bar.
Clonmany Shamrocks 1 Cavan Town 4
The visitors had the first chance after Cormac Boyle raced clear and when forced wide by Patrick Harkin his effort was blocked by the keeper.
They took the lead on 17 minutes after a Tiernan Reilly free was sidefooted home by the unmarked Paul O’Connor. They doubled their lead minutes later in controversial fashion when after Harkin had saved Packie Sheridan s penalty the keeper was adjudged to have moved off his line and Sheridan made no mistake at the second attempt. The shamrocks got a goal back on 28 minutes after good work by Niall McLaughlin on the left and his early cross was slotted home by Mark McLaughlin. But when the home defence failed to deal with a long ball Sheridan pounced to lob the advancing Harkin and make it three one at the break. Cavan increased their lead after Callum Lynch controlled and went past three defenders to finish superbly low past Harkin. Clonmany tried hard with Pearse McCarron seeing a header well saved by Coombes. Cavan were happy enough to see the game out and advance to the next round.
Glengad F.C. 1 Castlefin Celtic 2
Click here for report on this game
Drumkeen United 5 Culdaff F.C. 1
Drumkeen progressed to the next round of the Ulster Cup with a good victory against visitors Culdaff. Both teams had a couple of chances before Gary Patton put Drumkeen ahead after 12 minutes. The visitors got back on level terms through Jack McLaughlin on 40 minutes.
Lee Guthrie restored the home lead just before half time when he finished well from a Gavin Sweeney cross. Drumkeen extended their lead early in the second half after some great build up play in the box by Eoghan Kennedy which was well finished by Gavin Sweeney.
Conor McNulty made it four with a great header from a Benny Bonner corner. Drumkeen could have added another couple but Eoghan Kennedy missed an open goal and Benny Bonner had a shot well saved by the Culdaff keeper Dara McLaughlin. Jason Mc Daid added a fifth for Drumkeen with a good finish just before full time.
Referee: Liam McLaughlin.
Carndonagh F.C. 2 Milford United 3
Carn broke the deadlock on 5 minutes when a Conor Doherty pass from the centre of defence found Brandon Browne unmarked on the right wing and he rounded the defender and fired a powerful shot to the bottom right corner of the net from 10 yards.
Ballybofey has a great chance on 16 minutes when Darren McLaughlin made a pass from midfield to Jonah Serrinha who went one on one with Daniel Houghton but shot high to the right and wide from 15 yards.
Carn nearly doubled their lead midway through the half after Tiernan Coyne broke to the right hand side of the area but failed to hit the target from 10 yards.
Milford equalised on 26 minutes when a TJ Evesson free kick from 30 yards which rebounded off the keeper and MarkFlood got the rebound and drove it low to the bottom right corner of the net from 10 yards.
Carn regained the lead on 29 minute with a Cade Cooke corner from the right found Tiernan Coyne unmarked and he managed to slide the ball through the bottom of the net from 10 yards.
Carn nearly got a third on 39 minutes when Will Quinn made a long pass from the centre of defence to find Christy McDaid on the right wing and he crossed for Cade Cooke whose low shot towards the bottom right corner of the net was parried away past the post by John Matthews in the Milford goal.
Milford equalised again on 53 minutes when Damien Egan broke on the right wing and crossed for Daniel flood who challenged the Carn keeper Houghton coming out and TJ Evisson got the ball and slotted it to the net from 10 yards.
Carn nearly regained the lead on the hour mark after a Donal Doherty pass from midfield found Will Quinn on the left wing and he rounded the defender before crossing to Brandon Browne who shot wide from 12 yards.
Milford took the lead on 75 minutes when Jonah Serrina broke on the right wing and tried to cross it in but was intercepted by the defender who tried to clear it but in turn was intercepted by Kyle Black who shot low to the bottom left corner of the net from inside the 18 yard box.
Carn nearly got the equaliser on 86 minutes when Brandon Browne was upended in the box and Cade Cooke’s resulting penalty was parried away to the left by John Matthews.
Killylough F.C. 2 Kildrum Tigers 4
William Lynch scored twice as Kildrum Tigers defeated Killylough in Monaghan this afternoon.
Lynch netted a brace while veteran former Finn Harps star Kevin McHugh and Gareth Colhoun also netted as the St Johnston men booked a place in the next round of the Ulster Junior Cup.
Donegal Town 5 Monaghan Town 2
(No Report Submitted)
Glenea United 0 Aileach F.C. 5
Aileach ran out comfortable winners with a 5-0 victory over Glenea in the Ulster Cup. Tommy Mc Monagle got the first in the 11th minute when he got on the end of a corner.
Within 6 minutes Aileach were two up, a well worked move between Dean Curran and Darren McMonagle found Darren Gallagher at the back post to side foot into the net.
The goal of the match came in the 23rd minute when Tommy Mc Monagle placed a delightful chip into the top corner from 20 yards. Darren McMonagle finished off a strong half for Aileach when he scored from five yards.
A more settled Glenea started the second half and worked hard to create a few half chances with Ciaran McGeady and Sean Coll going close.
Aileach always looked dangerous on the break and Glenea were punished when Gavin Doherty shot low to the corner from the edge of the box to make it 5. A team effort from Glenea but up against a superior, well organised Aileach side.
Drumoghill F.C. 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic 5
Kilmacrennan Celtic demonstrated the gap between the Premier and First Divisions of the Donegal League with this convincing win over Drumoghill at The Moss.
Drumoghill though will feel the scoreline was somewhat unfair on them as they were still in the game until the late stages, but a brace from Christy Connaghan saw the visitors run out comfortable winners in the end.
There was little or no sign of the goal-fest that would follow after an opening 35 minutes that produced plenty of nice football but little by way of attempts on goal.
Substitute Kevin O’ Donnell did come close with a couple of headers that narrowly missed the target as Kilmacrennan dominated but found Drumoghill resolute at the back.
When the breakthrough did happen, it did so after a good break down Kilmacrennan’s right hand side. Terence Shields and James Doherty combined well down the right and it was the latter whose cross was touched home by Daire Doherty at the near post. Within minutes, it was 2-0 and again resulted from a good move down the right after Doherty again had crossed for O’Donnell to slide home at the far post.
Drumoghill did start the second half the stronger of the two teams and were given a lifeline on 61 minutes when referee Andrew Mullin noticed a handball in the box and duly pointed to the spot. Up stepped Ritchie Moore and he made no mistake from 12 yards, sending Graham the wrong way.
Drumoghill now sensed a route back into the game but Kilmacrennan gradually regained control with a neat brand of football that caused Drumoghill all sorts of problems at the back.
Time and again, the incision and the movement of Connaghan, Shields and McLaughlin created good openings and it was only a matter of time until they beat the offside trap as John Sandilands set up McLaughlin to make it 3-1 and restore their two-goal advantage on 75 minutes.
There was still time though for the game’s two best goals as Christy Connaghan took over.
On 81 minutes, he latched onto a wayward pass on the edge of the box and hammered into the top corner before delicately chipping over Toner with an exquisite finish on 86 minutes after being sent clear by Gary Gorman.
