ST CATHERINE’S LOST their first league game in over 18 months when they went down 2-1 to Drumoghill FC this afternoon.
That meant that both Milford United and Castlefin Celtic overtook the Saints, with the side managed by Joe McGee and Seamus Kee now top of the standings.
Photo caption: Action from the Temple Domestic Appliances Division One match with Patrick McGowan in possession for Bonagee United against Lagan Harps on Sunday in the Donegal League. Photo: Gary Foy, League PRO
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Milford United 3 Â Â Â Â Kilmacrennan Celtic 0
Milford United came out on top with a great win over neighbours Kilmacrennan Celtic at Moyle View Park on what was a heavy pitch for both teams with Gary Merritt scoring a hat-trick.
It was a fairly even contest in the first half with both sides creating half chances but no goals for either side as the teams went in at half time. In the second half Milford started to get a grip of things and were rewarded with Merritt finishing off a good move.
Milford’s second goal in the 60th minute was a bit more fortunate when a poor back pass put the Kilmacrennan keeper under pressure and his clearance came off the back of  Merritt and ended up in the back of the net. Merritt completed his hat-trick on 75 minutes after some good spade work by Kyle Black. Kieran Gorman was best for Kilmacrennan and it was a great team performance form Milford, Final score.
Gweedore Celtic 1 Â Â Â Â Kildrum Tigers 2
Read Chris McNulty’s match report here.
Castlefin Celtic 3 Â Â Â Â Rathmullan Celtic 0
Castlefin Celtic enjoyed a fine 3-0 win over Rathmullan Celtic on Sunday.
the home team took an early lead on four minutes, Ronan Tourish’s excellent free kick from 25 yards went straight into the top corner. Â
Rathmullan’s best chance of the half fell to Eoin Sheridan who’s effort came off the cross bar after 15 minutes. Both teams struggled to create any clear cut chances for the remainder of the half.
Castlefin doubled their advantage three minutes into the second half when Ronan Tourish’s through ball found Mark Lafferty one on one with the Rathmullan keeper Mark Gallagher. Lafferty tapped the ball past the keeper and into the bottom corner. Castlefin then began to pile pressure on the Rathmullan defence, Ronan Tourish’s chance going the closest bringing a great save from Mark Gallagher. Â
Castlefin wrapped up all three points in the 70th minute. Mark Lafferty’s cross from the left wing found JP Malley who got a head to it from six yards out to finish into the net at the front post. Referee: Paddy Duffy. Best for Castlefin: Peter Bryson and JP Malley.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Bonagee United 1 Â Â Â Â Lagan Harps 3
Mark Hunter led the charge for Lagan Harps against his former club Bonagee United this afternoon.
Lagan opened the scoring on six minutes when Hunter shot home from six yards. Lagan came close again on 10 minutes when Mark Hunter broke down the right and his strike from the edge of the box went just wide of the post.
Kenny Doran for the visitors shot over on 12Â minutes from 10 yards after he was put through by Glen Gallagher. Lee Mc Monagle came close for the home team on 20Â Â minutes after a good cross from Paddy McGowan from the left.
Hunter again came close on 25Â minutes for the visitors after a great cross from Doran which he headed over from six yards. Eamon Cannon and Gareth Temple had strikes on target but nothing to bother McFadden in the Lagan goal.
Lagan got their second through Kevin Doran on 40Â minutes when a Mark Hunter cross from the right into the box he hammered home from 12Â Â yards. Lee Mc Monagle scored for Bonagee on 55Â minutes when he shot home to the roof of the net from just outside the box.
Mark Harkin got Lagan’s third on 63 minutes when he broke down the left cut inside the defender and hammered home to the bottom corner  of the net. Team effort by both sides.Â
Convoy Arsenal 3 Â Â Â Â Raphoe Town 1
As with most matches between these two neighbours Convoy Arsenal and Raphoe Town, the game started at a hectic pace.
Raphoe had the better of the opening exchanges and never let the home side settle on the ball. Keelan Gillen looked sharp up front for the visitors and came close to breaking the deadlock on a couple of occasions.
Despite all the Raphoe pressure it was Convoy who took the lead through Darren Harvey who curled a lovely free-kick into the top corner. Convoy lifted their game after this point and got their second in the 34th minute when Gary Brolly tapped in after the Raphoe keeper couldn’t hold another Convoy free-kick.
It looked like Convoy would go in at half time with a two goal lead until Raphoe scored a free-kick of their own when Stephen Laird riffled home from 25 yards out.
The second half was more of the same with both teams battling it out in the middle of the pitch. Convoy looked to keep things tight and hit Raphoe on the counter attack for the remainder of the game and it worked well as the home side were creating the better of the chances and only for some great work from the Raphoe goalkeeper they could have extended their lead.
Raphoe started to force a lot of free-kicks around the Convoy penalty area and these looked to be their best chance of an equaliser. Lee Guthrie then put the game to bed with 10 minutes to go when he broke from deep to beat the offside trap and at the second attempt headed the ball home to give Convoy the two goal cushion they were searching for.
Raphoe pushed to get back into the game but Convoy held out comfortably in the end to continue a good start to life in Division One. Best for Convoy were James Kee and Anthony Bogle with Roy Duffy and Keelan Gillen best for Raphoe.Â
CT Ball Division Two
Dunkineely Celtic 1 Â Â Â Â Eany Celtic 2
Eany Celtic came out on top against their neighbours Dunkineely Celtic in the south-west derby.
This game was evenly balanced for the first 15 minutes with both sides playing some good football. Cian Kennedy had a shot just over in the third minute and Emmet Kennedy had a great effort cleared off the line when he lobbed the keeper from the edge of the area as the home team threatened.
On 16 minutes a through ball caught the home defence out and resulted in the keeper receiving a red card. Stephen Griffin scored the resulting penalty to give Eany the lead. Eany started to take control of the game and doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Mark Ward fired home from 20 yards.
Dunkineely to their credit came back into the game and pulled a goal back on 32 minutes when Jon Gallagher headed home a Paul Murrin corner. Aaron Byrne saw his header from a Paul Murrin free go just wide as Dunkineely pushed for an equaliser. Eany came out strongly in the second half to try and kill the game off.
Stephen Griffin had his shot on 49 minutes blocked by a last ditch tackle. Dunkineely came more into the game and dominated for long spells. They had numerous chances and only a combination of poor decision making and resolute defending kept them from getting the equaliser their play deserved.
Despite the pressure from 10 man Dunkineely Eany held on for the win. Dunkineely had good performances from Jon Gallagher and Ronan Kennedy who took over goals and made a number of fine saves. Stephen Griffin and Mark Ward were best for Eany.Â
Ballybofey United 4 Â Â Â Â Letterbarrow Celtic 0
Ballybofey United welcomed Letterbarrow Celtic to town on Sunday afternoon but sent them back home with little to celebrate.
Niall McCloskey gave PH Bonar’s men a half time lead at the Finn Valley Complex. In the second half the home side started to get their game into a higher gear and added to their tally through Damien Glackin, Conor Doherty and Ronan Mc Menamin.
This victory keeps the Twin Towns men in contact with the table toppers as December looms on the horizon. Although lagging behind on points they have two games in hand which they will need to win to make up the ground on Glenree United and Erne Wanderers. Deele Harps are also well in the mix at this stage.
Erne Wanderers 0 Â Â Â Â Deele Harps 3
Erne Wanderers hosted Deele Harps on Sunday at the Lakeside Centre in perfect conditions and it was the away side that went back through the gap happiest after some clinical finishing saw them leave with all three points.
The game was 15 minutes in when Deele got in behind the home team and Ryan O’ Brien could only bring down the Harps’ striker inside the box and Gallagher dispatched the penalty to Boyle’s left.
Erne were seeing a lot of the ball but were lacking a cutting edge as the away side proved hard to break down. Harps then doubled their lead on forty minutes when Wanderers lost possession in the middle of the pitch and Deele broke at pace with numbers and their striker finished well past Boyle.
The second half was a lot better from Erne and they laid siege to the away goal but chance after chance went abegging with some terrible finishing and excellent saves kept them scoreless. Harps broke in the 90th minute, to rub salt into the wounds, and the midfielder slotted under Boyle for number three. The scoreline didn’t reflect the game but Deele defended very well and played brilliant on the counter attack and leave Wanderers scratching their heads at the scoreline.
Glenree United 3 Â Â Â Â Curragh Athletic 2
Glenree hosted Curragh today in an entertaining affair.
The away side took the lead when Neil Lloyd rose highest to power a header home leaving the home side trailing at half time. Â Glenree started brightly in the second half and won a penalty through Colin Gallagher. Barney Boyce made no mistake from the spot.
The home side then took the lead when a free kick was palmed out by the goalie and fell at the back post for Johnny McClafferty who volleyed home. Glenree extended their lead from another corner when Pat Mc Groddy found space and finished well. The away side pulled one back through Gary Heaney when he broke through and drilled home. Glenree held on to take all three points.
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