STRAND Rovers lost out in a derby to Arranmore United while Kildrum Tigers Reserves toppled Oldtown Celtic – here’s all the action from the Donegal Saturday League.
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Strand Rovers 1 Arranmore United 2
Arranmore flew out of the traps with a shot from Brian Procter which hit the bar and the ball fell to Michael Mc Hugh who crossed for Gavin McGlanaghey to score.
Arranmore increased their lead before half-time. The second half was very poor with very little action in the penalty boxes. Strand pulled a goal back when a Matthew O’ Donnell header found the back of the net.
Strand Rovers pushed for a second goal but a few clearances off the line in the last few minutes saw Arranmore hold out to win the game.
Glencar Celtic 1 Donegal Town Reserves 1
Glencar took the lead when Paddy Collins finished off a great move by the home side. Donegal Town were resolute however and kept plugging away in search of an equaliser. Their efforts were rewarded when James Ward scored a free-kick with ten minutes remaining. It ended with honours even. Referee: Colm Mc Gonigle
Keadue Rovers Reserves 2 Glenea United Reserves 0
Keadue Reserves kept up their good start to the season with this win at home to Glenea Reserves. The game started in good conditions and Keadue were to the fore and by the tenth minute had made some decent chances for both Peter Mc Gee and Christy Greene. Glenea had a half chance on thirteen minutes with a shot that was blocked and two minutes later Keadue keeper Declan Ward cleared off his line following a defensive mix-up.
The game then became very scrappy and the weather worsened. The away were handling it better without creating much by the way of chances. Adam Neely went close on the half hour mark with a shot just over the bar. Keadue continued to knock it around well and good movement close to half time led to a shot just wide from Christy Greene.
Into the second half and with the deteriorating weather it was Keadue who stepped on the gas, starting with a Christy Greene effort well saved by Neil McGeever in the Glenea nets.
For the next ten minutes the home side laid siege to the Glenea goals but efforts from Peter McGee, Luke Neely and Jack Doherty just couldn’t find their way to the net mostly due to some very stern defending from Glenea.
However just after the hour the deadlock was broken when a long range free from Adam Neely was parried and Luke Neely was on hand to knock it to the net.
From there on Keadue kept possession well and were rewarded on 73 minutes when, following great individual work, Jack Doherty scored to make it 2-0.
Glenea to their credit worked tirelessly and were in the game to the end, moving it about well but they hadn’t much by the way of attacking threat.
Keadue made several substitutions towards the end and were always comfortable.
Best for Glenea was keeper Neil McGeever while best for Keadue were Jack Doherty, Christy Greene and Peter McGee.
Referee: Gerard Devine.
Oldtown Celtic 2 Kildrum Tigers Reserves 3
The game started with both sides having chances to score. Sean Cleary went close for Oldtown and Lynch headed over for Kildrum.
Oldtown took the lead when Reece Short applied the finish after a fine through ball had put him in on goal.
Kildrum level five minutes later when the striker was given too much time in the box and he picked his spot, into the top corner. Kildrum soon took the lead when a fine passing move was finished off with Michael Gibson in the Oldtown goal unlucky not to keep the ball out as it trickled over the line. Oldtown came out the traps quick in the second half and pushed for a leveller.
A magical set piece finish from Joe McCarron drew Oldtown level after 70 minutes.
Both sides pushed for a winner, both squandered good chances. Kildrum did get the winner on 89 minutes when they got the benefit of a ricochet that put the striker through on goal and he finished well to win the game.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Copany Rovers 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 1
(No Report Submitted)
Cranford United Reserves 4 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 3
Cranford rallied late to secure a great comeback victory at home to Drumoghill. Cranford started bright and went ahead after 15 minutes when Danny McBride’s left foot drive found the bottom corner.
They had chances to double their lead but couldn’t take them and were punished when Drumoghill scored three quick fire goals to lead 3-1 at half time.
Danny McBride reduced the deficit after 60 minutes to get Cranford back in the game.
Cranford were then reduced to 10 men when Dale McFadden received a straight red.
Cranford still pushed hard with the man less and equalised when Connor Shiels scored from the penalty spot.
It looked as though it would end a draw until Danny McBride scored a peach of a free kick to complete his hat-trick and earn the three points.
Drumbar F.C. 5 Castlefin Celtic Reserves 1
On a great afternoon for football, Drumbar had a point to prove after recent results. They started well scoring the first goal on the ten-minute mark with a Dan Bennett looping header at the back post.
Drumbar continued to look very dominant and doubled their lead ten minutes later after a great team effort was finished by Nathan Carr from the edge of the Castlefin box. The second half saw Drumbar resume with up the same intensity that they had ended the first half. Keelan Heeney scored a second half hat-trick, scoring his third after a Castlefin consolation goal.
Drumkeen United Reserves 3 Cappry Rovers Reserves 3
It was the clash of the top two in The Old Orchard Saturday Division Two as Drumkeen welcomed Cappry to St Patrick’s Park. The game got off to a hectic start with three goals, including a penalty, and a red card all inside the first twenty minutes.
The visitors started well and Ronan Carlin put them ahead after ten minutes. Drumkeen were then reduced to ten men when Conor McNulty saw red.
Things then got even worse for the hosts as Peter Lafferty put Cappry two goals up. The hosts were then given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for handball. Aaron Doherty took the penalty which was well saved by the Cappry Keeper but he followed up to scramble it into the net to make it 2 -1.
Drumkeen lived somewhat dangerously for the rest of the first half but they managed to get to half time without suffering any more damage.
They came out much better for the second half and you wouldn’t think they had only ten men. Their pressure paid off when Aaron Doherty got them back on level terms with a great free kick early in the half.
Drumkeen continued to play well and dominate the game and a large part of the second half was played mostly in the Cappry half of the pitch.
The hosts then took the lead when Marty capitalised on a mix-up in the Cappry defence to put his side 3 -2 ahead. The last fifteen minutes were very open as play swung from end to end as both sides went in search of another goal. As the clock was ticking down the extra man was beginning to tell as Drumkeen were tiring and as it neared the end Cappry managed to get an equaliser.
The goal came when Peter Lafferty and a Drumkeen Defender both went for a cross into the middle from the right wing. The final touch may or may not have come off the Drumkeen player but Lafferty will be claiming it.
All in all this was a fair enough result as neither side deserved to lose what was a good competitive game.
Referee: Zach Mc Laughlin.
Dunlewey Celtic 4 Ballybofey United Reserves 1
Dunlewey Celtic continued their winning form with a 4-1 win over Ballybofey United in Glentornan Park.
The hosts took a 2-0 lead into the half time interval with goals from Conor Mc Mahon and Brendan McGeady. Ballybofey battled hard in the second half and halved the deficit to bring the score back to 2-1 and put the pressure on the hosts.
Dunlewey restored their two-goal lead with a goal from Chris Cannon and sealed the win with a goal from the penalty spot from Kyran Glennon to ensure the three points didn’t leave Glentornan Park.
