RATHMULLAN CELTIC, Cappry Rovers, Kildrum Tigers, Drumoghill FC and St Catherine’s all got the points in the Donegal League Premier Division.
Gweedore Celtic 0-1 Rathmullan Celtic
A Ryan Connolly goal for Rathmullan Celtic (pictured above) in the 10th minute was enough to see the visitors take all three points from this encounter.
It was a game dominated by defences and although Gweedore dominated possession for long periods they found it hard to break down a resolute Rathmullan defence well marshalled by Shea Coyle. Gweedore should have equalised in the 40th minute but Odhran Mac Niallais saw his effort saved by the visiting goalkeeper Mark Gallagher.
The second half was a dour affair with few chances. Gweedore’s best chance came with 15minutes remaining when Eugene Ferry sent Colin Ferry through but Gallagher was again the away teams saviour when he saved a certain equaliser. Rathmullan were well served by their defence and will be happy with three away points while Gweedore have lots to do especially in the final third.
Milford United 1-2 Cappry Rovers
Milford entertained Cappry Rovers at home in the day’s later kick off and did enough from general play to get more out of the game as they create many scoring opportunities with some fast flowing football.
Cappry took the lead on 15 minutes when Milford failed to deal with a long throw in and Colm Melaugh tapped home. Milford pushed for an equaliser and following good work by Adam Serrinha and Kyle Black they found Joey Cullen at back post to finish. Milford pushed for a winner in the second half and we’re well on top.
Cathal Mc Gettigan was fouled in the box and Eoghan Gallen saved Mark Flood’s penalty. With Milford still dominant Cappry broke and scored as Melaugh slotted home past Mc Gettigan in the Milford goals.
Milford pushed for an equaliser but Cappry defended well and took all three points. Milford will have to shake the defeat out of their system for their visit to Castlefin next week.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 3-4 Kildrum Tigers
Sunday’s action saw Kilmacrennan Celtic take on Kildrum Tigers in a game that was switched to Errigal College.
Kildrum started the better side creating several chances but it wasn’t until the 29th minute they put the ball in the net after a corner which Shane Mc Intyre converted. Kildrum were then awarded a free kick from outside the box which was fired into the top right hand corner by Frank Mc Brearty giving Kildrum a 2-0 lead.
Kilmacrennan weren’t giving up and came back with a goal on the 45th minute after a free kick from Kevin McMenamin was turned into the net by Timmy Burke. Kildrum responded to this with a goal on the stroke of half time from William Lynch.
Kilmacrennan came out stronger in the second half and scored in the 48th minute through Christy Conaghan. Just one minute later Garry Gorman equalised. Kildrum were then awarded a penalty which was scored by Reece Laird. Kilmacrennan kept pushing for another goal, creating numerous chances in the last 20 minutes but were unfortunate to have two goals disallowed in the last few minutes.
Drumoghill 2-1 Glenea United
Keith Malseed was the hero of the hour for Drumoghill after his brace of goals sank the men from Glasserchoo to earn his side their first points of the season.
Sandwiched between Malseed’s strikes was Glenea’s equaliser when the excellent Dean Gallagher exploited hesitancy in the Drumoghill defence to level the scores on the half hour. The equaliser arrived only minutes after Keith Malseed had opened the scoring on 27 minutes. Drumoghill were the better team on the day as Glenea seemed content to soak up the pressure and try to hit on the break through Darren Mc Geever.
They looked likely to earn a share of the spoils but Keith Malseed was to have the final say. There looked to be little danger when the midfielder gained possession 30 yards out but Malseed took aim and fired into the top corner with 15 minutes remaining. Glenea laid siege to the Drumoghill goal but the home side were resolute until the end and held on for a deserved win.
St. Catherines 5-2 Castlefin Celtic
St Catherine’s played host to Castlefin Celtic in the Brian Mc Cormick Premier Division on Sunday afternoon. Â
Both teams started the game well and it was St.Catherine’s that scored first when Ryan Mc Closkey got the ball and ran at the Castlefin defence and put the ball past the Castlefin goalkeeper.
Castlefin created a chance for themselves but their shot came to nothing as the St. Catherine’s keeper Anthony O’ Hara saved well.  Then on 20 minutes Gary McHugh slotted the ball past the Castlefin keeper to make the score 2-0 to St. Catherine’s.
Within two minutes of going two up Shane O’ Rourke scored a third goal for St. Catherine’s.  Castlefin still were creating chances in the game and just before half time were given a life line when they were awarded a penalty when a Castlefin player was fouled in the box.
The penalty was scored to make the scoreline the 3-1 to St. Catherine’s at half time. St.Catherine’s got their fourth goal of the game when the ball was played to the back post and Conor O’ Rourke scored.
Castlefin then got another goal before Andrew Mackey finished the scoring for St. Catherine’s when he beat a couple of the Castlefin defenders to slot the ball home and make the final score 5-2Â to St. Catherine’s. Â Â Â Â Â Â
Watson Hire Division One
Cranford United 0-2 Bonagee United
Bonagee United left Cranford with a 2-0 win over Cranford United
Cranford started brightly with some early chances however Bonagee countered well and broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Craig Jacob’s shot come cross found the back of the net. Cranford kept the pressure on but failed to find the net despite having a number of good chances. Bonagee started well after the break and made it 2-0 when Chris Darby got on the end of a good cross.
Keadue Rovers 2-0 Raphoe Town
The day’s early kick-off was at Central Park where Keadue Rovers entertained Raphoe Town.
Keadue took the lead in the 23rd minute through Conor Greene. Adam Neely then floated in a free-kick which was headed to the net by Ryan Greene on 37 minutes. Stephen Craig and Craig Kelly were best for Raphoe Town and it was a team effort from Keadue Rovers .
Lagan Harps 4-2 Â Lifford Celtic
Lagan claimed the three points but Lifford will feel hard done by to have got nothing out of the game.
After a quiet start the game burst into life just before halftime. Alan Gethins put Lifford ahead with a superb free-kick from the edge of the box. Lagan equalised just on the halftime whistle when Travis Crawford headed home from a corner after Lee White did well to parry the first effort onto the bar.
Lagan missed a great chance on the restart when, after Daniel Clarke’s free came off the crossbar, Marty Brogan shot over. Lagan took the lead on fifty minutes when Mark Hunter scored direct from a corner kick. Lifford equalised on 55 minutes when James Connolly side stepped a defender before firing home. Lagan got their third on 75 minutes when Glen Gallagher put Daniel Clarke through to score.
Lifford were dealt a double blow with the loss through injury of Stephen Devine and Paul Martin. James Connolly forced Damien Mc Fadden into a number of good saves as Lifford threw everything at Lagan. Lagan secured the points when Travis Crawford headed home Mark Hunter’s corner. Best for Lagan were Mark Hunter and Damien Mc Fadden. For Lifford James Connolly and Stephen Devine were best.
Convoy Arsenal 1-2 Donegal Town
Donegal Town couldn’t have asked for a better start with less than a minute on the clock they were awarded a penalty from a corner when Emmet Patterson handled the ball and the home team could have no objection about the decision.
Up stepped Daniel McHugh to fire the ball into the corner. It took Convoy a while to settle into the game but when they did they created a few chances of their own with Anthony Bogle going through on goal and Jonny Robb also had one or two sightings.  Convoy got a deserved equaliser on 34 minutes when Emmet Patterson’s shot from 18yards was poked into the net by Robb.
Two minutes later however Donegal Town regained their lead thanks to Mc Monagle who forced the ball home from two yards out. In the next attack Convoy almost drew level from a corner when the corner kick hit the bar and Lee Guthrie’s effort was cleared at the back post.
In the second half Donegal Town’s chances were to a minimum. Convoy created a few half chances and pushed for an equaliser and their best chance fell to Micky Melaugh who just couldn’t get on the end of the cross in the six yard box. Convoy had the visitors under some pressure for the last few minutes but couldn’t get that all important goal.Â
Gweedore United 8-0 Kerrykeel ’71Â
This game played in ideal conditions at Carrickboyle saw the home side claim the three points following a good performance.
United got off to a lively start with Ciaran Mc Fadden and Cian Mulligan going close however Shane Sandilands in the visitor’s nets was excellent on each occassion. United opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Shane O’Donnell scored a penalty following a hand ball in the box. John McFadden made it 2-0 on the half hour mark after good play by Ciaran and Padraig Mc Fadden.
Seven minutes later Niall Friel made it 3-0 when he tapped in from close range following a corner kick. Shaun Patton for the visitors hit a good shot in the 40th minute but it went just wide. Ciaran Mac Fadden and Michael Barry both hit the cross bar for United before half time.
In the second half United continued to press and got their 4th in the 57th minute when a great pass from Daniel Gallagher was well finished by Cian Mulligan. Mulligan on his full senior debut made it 5-0 in the 65th minute with a good finish. Matthew Burns came off the bench and made it 6-0 in the 80th minute after some good individual work. John Mc Fadden made it 7-0 three minutes later when he scored from close range.
Cian Mulligan completed his hat-trick in what was a great debut when he scored a penalty in the 87th minute. Bernard Martin, Matthew Stewart and Conor Mc Fadden went close for Kerrykeel however it just wasn’t their day. Best for Kerrykeel were Shane Sandilands, Shaun Patton and Niall Doherty while it was an excellent team performance from a youthful home side with good senior debuts from Conor Mc Fadden, Odhran Mc Fadden, Daniel Gallagher and Cian Mulligan.Â
CT Ball Division Two
Curragh Athletic 1-1 Whitestand United
The points were shared as Curragh Athletic as Whitestand United were the visitors.
Shane Elliot shot over the bar on 22 minutes as the experienced Lloyd started to dictate midfield along with Tinney. On 25 minutes Whitestrand cleared two shots off the line from Elliot after good work down left from Barney Lafferty.
Whitestrand were unlucky with a shot on 40minutes. Lloyd scored with a great lob after 50minutes but then went off injured. Whitestrand equalised from the spot on 55minutes. They had a couple of good chances between 60 and 70 minutes but returned to Mc Garvey Park with a share of the spoils
Deele Harps 1-2 Â Glenree United
Deele welcomed Glenree United to The Athletic Grounds on a fine day for football.
The playing surface hampered any free flowing football but Deele started well and deservedly took the lead when Shane Gallagher grabbed his fourth goal in two games. This was as good as it got for Deele as they struggled from this point. Glenree grew into the game and equalised when Colm Gallagher bundled his way through the Deele defence to finish well.
The second half was similar with the pace of the game pedestrian at times. In the 60th minute Glenree took the lead when right back Marty Mc Laughlin ran through midfield and deceived the defence to poke home to the bottom corner. Deele never threatened much after this on a disappointing day for the home side. It was a good team performance from Glenree United.
Ballybofey United 5-1 Dunkineely Celtic
Ballybofey United made it two wins from two games in the CT Ball Division Two of the Donegal Junior League.
They defeated the recently relegated Dunkineely Celtic by five goals to one on Sunday afternoon at the Finn Valley Complex in Stranorlar.
Dunkineely were a pale shadow of the team feared throughout the county in the not too distant past. Ballybofey ran into a two goal lead before the Darney Park side pulled one back from the penalty spot. That was to be Celtic’s only offering on an afternoon that saw the home side dominate. Mark Marley, on his welcome return from injury, scored for Ballybofey as did David Whyte.
Another three from the prolific Damien Glackin meant that the points stayed on Finnside and for the second season running PH Bonar’s side have started their campaign in convincing fashion. Ballybofey United supporters will be hoping that they can keep up their good form and gain promotion this term.Â
Copany Rovers 1-0Â Eany Celtic
Copany hosted Eany Celtic at Killowen Park in good conditions. A headed goal 20 minutes into the first half from Thomas Given proved to be enough for the home side to grab the three points in a match dominated possession wise by Eany.
They had two efforts that went just the wrong side of the post in the opening 15 minutes. The home side took the lead on 20 minutes when Thomas Given met Cian Gallagher’s deep free kick with a header from eight yards. Eany took complete control of the game in the second half and created numerous chances. Mark Ward’s glancing header over the bar was as close as they came to scoring.
The home side defended with determination to hold onto the three points with the visitors unlucky in defeat on the day. A good battling effort from the home side with Thomas Given and Lee Doherty impressing in midfield and with Pauric McHugh dangerous throughout on the left for the visitors.Â
Erne Wanderers 2-1Â Letterbarrow Celtic
Erne Wanderers hosted Letterbarrow Celtic in the Lakeside and scrapped a 2-1 victory from a game that the away team will feel they should have won.
Seamus Kane and Mark Dorrian both scored for Erne with both assists coming from Darren Mc Nulty, the first on the stroke of half time and second coming five minutes from the end. Letterbarrow pulled one back with seconds left on the clock but it was too little too late from the away side. Man of the Match was John Roper of Letterbarrow Celtic.
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