OWING TO some Cup action, there wasn’t quite a full programme of Donegal Junior League matches today – but there were some big games through all the Divisions. Here’s a full roundup:
Premier
Keadue Rovers 2 Donegal Town FC 1
Keadue Rovers continued their recent impressive run with this all-important victory over Donegal Town in the Premier League.
On an ideal but cool day for football, the hosts were to the fore in the first ten minutes with plenty of possession and creating half chances for both Jack Boyle and Luke Neely.
It took Donegal Town a while to settle down but they did after ten minutes and on sixteen minutes their striker took a ball on the turn at the edge of the box but Keadue keeper Danny Rodgers cleared the danger.
Twenty minutes in, a dangerous free kick from Adam Neely 30 yards out was deflected off a Donegal Town defender and Barry Curran shot wide from a great chance. Keadue went one better two minutes later when another Adam Neely free kick found its way on to the head of captain Chris Greene who guided it to the corner for the opening goal. However Donegal Town almost hit straight back with Matthew McKenna just heading over from a free kick.
The visitors upped the tempo and were rewarded for their decent spell when Matthew McKenna guided home a fine header after some good work on the left wing.
Luke Neely almost responded on thirty minutes for Keadue when his run on the edge of the box finished with a curled effort just wide.
The second half started in the same vein with the visitors forcing a number of corners and the game was well opening up after fifty minutes.
Adam Neely had a good run halted near the box but in general Donegal Town were top on possession and territory. David Ward had a long range shot on sixty minutes and suddenly the home team were gathering some momentum with Chris Greene wide from a header shortly after that. Shaun Yank Boyle was wide with a header on sixty five minutes but after a few substitutions and continued pressure,
Keadue took the lead on 69 minutes, when following good work down the left flank, Luke Neely’s shot was saved but Shaun Yank Boyle was on hand to bang home the rebound.
The home side continued on top for the next ten minutes and stretched the visitors defence with both Shaun Yank Boyle and Luke Neely continuing to show well.
Donegal Town brought on two attackers in the last ten minutes and a fine mazy run by Joe McIntyre almost ended with a spectacular goal. They kept the pressure on and on eighty four minutes a long range effort flew just wide of the Keadue goal via a deflection.
In a very lively last few minutes, both Luke Neely and Barry Curran should’ve extended Keadue’s lead but in the end it was a deserved 2-1 victory for Keadue. A decent game for what both sides showed today, both could very easily climb the table.
Best for Donegal Town were Matthew McKenna, Ben Sweeney and Joe McIntyre while best for Keadue were Shaun Yank Boyle, Chris Greene, Luke Neely and Barry Curran.
Milford United 2 Cappry Rovers 3
Cappry Rovers came from a goal down at half-time to collect all three points in a tough battle at Moyle View Park. Milford took the lead on the half hour when Ryan Campbell rose highest in the box to head home a Darren McLaughlin cross.
Cappry got the perfect start to the second half when Sean McBride scored from close range.
McBride again on the hour mark drove home from eight yards with a little help of a deflection off Jonah Serrinha.
As Milford pushed for the equaliser Cappry broke on 75 minutes and David Gethins scored following a great through ball and calm slotted the ball home.
Milford got one back in 85 minutes when Lee Burke cross found Mark Flood who slotted home. Cappry Rovers held on to collected full points in a game where both teams put in maximum effort and commitment.
Drumkeen United 2 Bonagee United 4
The December sun was shining as Drumkeen welcomed Bonagee to St Patrick’s Park on Sunday afternoon.
The home team got off to the worst possible start when Lee McMonagle capitalised on some uncertainty in the Drumkeen defence to put the visitors ahead almost directly from the kick off.
Drumkeen took a while to settle after the early setback but when they did settle they played some good football as they tried to get back in the game.
Drumkeen were creating several chances but they were finding the Bonagee Keeper John Carr in fine form as he was out quickly and bravely to deny Jamie Gallagher and he made a couple of other saves as well.
Drumkeen found themselves further behind when another defensive lapse allowed Jason Ashmore to nip in and score the visitors second.
A third Bonagee goal looked to be on the cards and it duly arrived when Aidan McLaughlin headed home from a corner. This was looking like it was going to be a long afternoon for Drumkeen but Lee Guthrie pulled a goal back when he headed home from an Odhran Grant cross.
The home team went after another goal and came very close when Gavin Sweeney hit the crossbar with a spectacular bicycle kick after another good cross from Grant.
Bonagee then hit the crossbar at the other end just before the break.
Drumkeen started the second half well and got another goal back when Gavin Sweeney got on the end of a Lee Guthrie cross.
A Little on later Guthrie nearly added a third after he created an opportunity for himself but his shot when wide of the post.
The game then fizzled out for a while midway through the second half.
Drumkeen were still well in the game but any hopes of a comeback were killed off when Aidan McLaughlin headed home his second and Bonagee’s fourth with about ten minutes left to put the issue beyond doubt.
Division One
Lifford 1 Convoy 2
Lifford where undone by two Joe McGill goals in either half in this local derby.
Convoy started brightest with McElwaine and Mailey both bringing saves from Lee White in the Lifford goal. Convoy got their rewards after a McGill run from deep managed to finish at the near post on the half hour.
Daniel Lyndsey almost levelled the game prior to the half time whistle when his free kick just cleared the crossbar.
Second half was a fairly balanced affair with both defences on top keeping clear cut chances to a minimum.
Convoy doubled their advantage around 75 minutes following a free kick, McGill found the net again after a deflected strike.
Lifford responded shortly after when McBrearty found the net from a 20-yard free kick. Lifford pushed hard for the remainder but Convoy held firm.
Kerrykeel 71 0 Glenea 4
Glenea left Rabs Park with all three points with the scoreline very harsh on the home side.
Both teams started well with Michael Sweeney hitting the post for Kerrykeel and Michael Barry going close for Glenea.
Against the run of play Glenea took the lead with a shot from outside the box took a deflection and flew past Boyce in the Kerrykeel goal. Kerrykeel started the second half well and went close from Patsy Friel, Evan Hewitt and Sweeney.
They were caught on the break on 65 minutes when Michael Barry met a great Harley ball and he Cooley slotted home from 15 yards.
With the home side pushing they were leaving gaps at the back and Glenea got two in the final five minutes from McCarry and Coyle to seal the three points and move top of the league, a point above Kerrykeel.
Gweedore Celtic 1 Ballybofey United 2
Ballybofey United secured all three points and so maintain their promotion push with a hard earned victory against the home team.The visitors struck early when Shaun Mc Gowan scored in the tenth minute following a mix up in the home defence.
Parity was restored midway through the half when Micheal Cutliffe finished after Thomas Diver’s through ball.
The second half saw few clear cut chances for either team.The crucial score came in the 70th minute when Lafferty beat the Celtic defence to finish well.Gweedore’s best effort saw John Paul Gallagher’s header, from Roarty’s free ,go the wrong side of the post.
Despite late pressure from the home team it was Ballybofey who came away with all three points.Best for Gweedore were John Paul Gallagher and Ciaran McHugh while Lafferty was best for Ballybofey.
Letterbarrow 2 Drumoghill 1
A great day for football in Tymeen today. Both sides struggling of late but Letterbarrow started strongest and missed a number of chances to give them the lead before half time.
They soon took the lead in the second half however after a great cross from Mark McHugh found Gerard McBrearty lurking in the box who finished well. They added a second when Gerard McBrearty was there again from an in-swinging corner.
Letterbarrow were now down to 10 men and Drumoghill pushed and found their break through when Liam O’Donnell slotted home a well worked goal.
Letterbarrow held tight though and gained all three points putting them in a place to push on in the new year.
Division Two
Dunkineely 0 Lagan 4
Lagan were a goal up after 3 minutes when Jack Cannon took advantage and found the net when Dunkineely failed to clear the ball, both teams had their chances.
It was Lagan who doubled their lead after 29 minutes when Ronan Carolan scored after a misunderstanding between keeper and defender. There was nothing fortuitous about the third Lagan goal,
Darren Nelis shot from 25 yards out found the top corner for an excellent score.
The second half started badly for Dunkineely when, three minutes in, minutes in Christopher Boyle took a heavy contact in a tackle and fell to the ground in pain, the game was stopped for 25 minutes while he was attended to by paramedics and taken to hospital.
The game restarted and on 72 minutes Lagan got their fourth when Jack Cannon scored his second with an easy tap in. Martin Gallagher was best for Lagan with three assists, a team performance from Dunkineely.
Raphoe 0 Curragh 0
The conditions were perfect at Deele College for this local derby match.There wasn’t many chances created in a very tight first half.The second half was much the same as both teams battled hard for the upper hand.Raphoe did have a great chance of winning the game in the 32nd minute.Christy Bogle seen his penalty brilliantly saved by the Curragh’s keeper ending the game 0-0.
Deele Harps 0 Swilly Rovers 5
Deele Harps welcomed League leaders Swilly Rovers to The Athletic Grounds in a crisp and cold afternoon. The home side were missing a few key players due to illness and work commitments and it was the away side who took all three points.
Goals from Marty McDaid on 4 and 17 minutes had Swilly Rovers well on their way to victory but on a surface not owing to any quality football Swilly adjusted to the conditions and added further goals from Matthew Sweeney on 34 minutes before Marty McDaid completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half time.
The second half started with Swilly adding a fifth goal on 50 minutes as Marty McDaid grabbed his fourth goal of the day and that is the way the game ended. Marty McDaid was best for Swilly Rovers.
Gweedore United 0 Whitestrand United 0
A tight affair at Carrickboyle saw hosts Gaoth Dobhair United lock horns with Whitestrand United. The game was played in perfect conditions with some crisp passing from both teams in the first quarter. Whitestrand saw a good chance fly over after 20 minutes, a good run from Mark McFadden resulted in an opportunity for Niall Friel who was off target with his effort.
Play became scrappy until an interchange from Whitestrand saw them hit the back of the net; Aaron Curran created an opening with Ronan Morris heading home with an excellent close-range effort only for the goal to be disallowed offside. Whitestrand broke again soon after but Ryan Kelly was excellent in defence to deny the visitors.
Early second half Whitestrand had a second goal struck off, Paul Curran’s excellent lob also disallowed by referee Colm Mc Conigley, offside the decision. Gavin McBride’s dead ball delivery was an outstanding feature second half as was strong running from Ronan O’Donnell and Frances Gallagher,
Sean Kerr and Ronan Morris threatened for the visitors.
Frustration in front of goal was order of the day with both teams guilty of poor finishing, both teams missing guilt edged chances in the last quarter.
