There was a truncated programme in the Donegal Saturday League yesterday with bad weather resulting in a number of cancellations. Here are the reports from the games that did go ahead:
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Keadue Rovers Reserves 1 Glenea United Reserves 1
Keadue and Glenea played out this draw at Central Park on Saturday with both trying to move up to mid-table.
It was a really poor day for football in a very strong wind with hail showers. The home side were the stronger in the opening ten minutes but no chances were forthcoming.
After ten minutes Glenea started to create a few openings and from a corner they were unlucky not to go ahead when a close-range shot was cleared off the line.
In the 20th minute Hugh Moy went close for Keadue with a long-range effort. Glenea were rewarded for their efforts against the wind. Some decent passing found Michael Barry and he made no mistake slotting home from the edge of the box.
Keadue responded well to this and Christy Greene had a couple of efforts coming up to the half hour mark, both of which were saved, while Glenea had another chance on the break with a shot going just wide.
Towards half time Keadue had a great chance to equalise when Mikey McFadden’s cross was fumbled but there was nobody there to take advantage. At the start of the second half Glenea were much the stronger and had a chance to go two ahead when Peter Sweeney got free in the box but he shot over the bar.
Around the hour mark a couple of Keadue substitutions seemed to have an impact and they got a lot more ball round the middle of the park.
Aaron McCafferty just missed from a close-range chance. Further efforts came from Michael Greene and Aaron McCafferty with the keeper saving. In the last minute substitute Francis Gallagher was in the right place to head home a cross from the left hand side to give the home side a deserved point for their efforts.
Best for Glenea were Dean Gallagher, Peter Sweeney and Michael Barry while best for Keadue were Aaron Mc Cafferty, Michael Greene and Christy Greene.
Referee: Marty Quinn.
Orchard F.C. 4 Cappry Rovers Reserves 1
This game was reversed to Cappry on a chilly day. Both teams tried to play football and it was the Orchard who took the lead on 15 minutes when Luke Friel scored after running onto a through ball which Tommy McLaughlin had kicked from his own box.
Orchard kept the pressure on and added a second through Ciaran Gibson after a goal mouth scramble. Cappry to their credit kept playing and had a few chances to pull one back only for good goalkeeping to thwart them.
The third goal was scored after Brendan Devine set up his younger brother Michael who tapped home from five yards.
The second half started with Cappry having a good chance only for the forward to miss narrowly .Orchard scored their fourth goal after good work from Micheal Gibson sent Micheal Devine in on goal and he drilled the ball home.
Cappry kept trying and were rewarded when David Carr scored from just inside the box. Best for Orchard were Micheal Devine and Kyle Gormley, a good team performance from a young Cappry side.
Strand Rovers 4 Milford United Reserves 2
(No Report Submitted)
Donegal Town Reserves 1 Castlefin Celtic Reserves 3
The visitors came out on top in this one with a solid performance. Both sides enjoyed possession early on with James Kerrigan going closest for the home side but he saw his effort well saved by the keeper.
Castlefin took the lead on the half hour when a wide James Mc Connell free kick eluded everyone to sneak in at the back post.
Niall McMenamin doubled the lead right on half time when a mix up in the Donegal defence allowed him to eventually scramble the ball home.
Donegal’s young keeper Eamonn Jordan was unfortunately taken off on his senior debut after a collision in the lead up to the goal. Keith Nelis was the benefactor of some goalmouth pinball shortly after the restart to put the game to bed finishing off a bizarre passage of play.
Donegal got one back through James Kerrigan from the spot but couldn’t put any further pressure on the visitors who ran out comfortable winners. Good team performance from both sides. Referee: George Clinton
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Drumbar F.C. 4 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 4
(No Report Submitted)
Fintown Harps AFC 3 Lagan Harps Reserves 6
On a cold day Fintown welcomed Lagan to Pairc Achla.
Fintown had the best of the early exchanges but it was lagan that took the lead through Stephen Gallagher. Fintown came straight back through Ultan Doherty.
Not to be outdone Lagan took the lead again before Ultan Doherty equalised again.
Lagan took the lead again right on the stroke of half time to go in ahead. Lagan increased their lead early in the second half and eventually ran out 3-6 winners.
Gweedore Celtic Reserves 1 St. Catherines Reserves 1
Killybegs travelled to An Screaban for this top of the table clash and were first off the mark to go one up after 15minutes when Eamon Bonner headed home from a corner.
Na Ceiltigh started to come more into the game and were unlucky not to equalise when Joe Bonnar’s effort came back of the crossbar. Gweedore started well in the 2nd half and were rewarded when Daniel McLaughlin scored from a Michael Coll cross.
The home team kept pressing but could not break down a stubborn Killybegs defence. Both teams sharing the spoils in what was a highly entertaining match
