Here’s all the latest reports from the Donegal League.
Saturday
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Keadue Rovers Reserves 4 v 1 Milford United Reserves
Keadue Reserves took a big step towards safety with a good win over Milford Reserves at Central Park on Saturday.
The game was played in ideal conditions and Keadue were on top from the off with the benefit of a slight breeze. Jordan Doogan had a great chance for the home side on seven minutes but just got under his effort. Christy Greene, two minutes later also went close with a shot saved by the Milford keeper.
Just after the quarter hour mark James Boyle hit a cross deep into the Milford box and it evaded the keeper to go in at the far post. Further chances fell to Keadue in the next few minutes and they should’ve been a few goals clear but a combination of good goalkeeping and missed opportunities allowed Milford back into the game and they began to settle well around the half hour mark.
They were almost level on thirty-two minutes when a good free kick led to an effort just wide of the post. Keadue again went close on forty minutes when their front two combined, but yet again some inaccurate finishing meant it was 1-0 at half time with Milford well in the game. The visitors started the second half well and were almost level on fifty minutes when a free kick from 30 yards brought a great save from Declan McCready in the Keadue nets.
The home side began to get a grip on possession round the hour and with a few substitutions started to stretch the Milford defence. On sixty-five minutes they went two up through Christy Greene. A few more subs worked well for Keadue and on seventy-two minutes an excellent ball through by Jack Doherty gave Mikey Mc Fadden a run-on goal and he finished it off very well. Five minutes later another ball over the top found Mc Fadden again and he buried it on the half volley to the top corner.
Milford, to their credit, never gave up and on eighty-three minutes Jason Mc Conigley was on the end of a move to tap in at the far post. Keadue finished the stronger and could’ve added to their tally in what was a decent performance for the home side. A good overall effort from Milford while for Keadue Hugh Moy, Christy Greene and Mikey McFadden were best. Referee: Mickey Mulhern.
Orchard F.C. P v P Castlefin Celtic Reserves
(No Report, Match Postponed)
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 0 v 4 Dunlewey Celtic
In the 27th minute Leon McMullan scored a bullet like header into the top corner to give Dunlewey the lead. Into the second- half and McMullan’s effort was well saved by Keenan at the expense of a corner.
Dunlewey then went two ahead on forty-eight minutes. The visitors had numerous other chances before they increased their lead to three on eighty-two minutes. Eamonn Collum completed the rout in the eighty ninth minute. Best for Kildrum were Shane Brown and Glen Bovaird. Best for Dunlewey was Leon McMullan.
Voodoo Venue Cup Quarter Finals
Glencar Celtic 2 v 1 Strand Rovers
This game never really got going in the first half and both teams cancelled each other out with chances few and far between and neither keeper having much to do. In the second half, it was a livelier affair and Strand started brightest putting pressure on the Glencar rearguard.
Doalty Boyle broke free down the left wing and shot low at goalkeeper Friel but he was more than equal to the task and pushed the ball around the post with a strong left hand. Glencar stood firm and weathered the storm. It was Glencar who broke the deadlock on the hour mark through Garvan Grieve when his low drive nestled into the bottom corner beating the outstretched keeper after good work from Rory Gallagher down the left wing.
Glencar could have doubled their lead straight on the re-start but Joe Baker’s effort was tipped over the bar by the visiting keeper. Glencar made a double substitution with Michael Molloy replacing Paddy Collins and Kieran Doherty coming in for Baker. The game was drawing to a close and with Strand desperate for the equaliser they started to give away some silly free kicks.
Marty Brogan sent one of these frees accurately to the head of Kevin Rafferty who had three Strand defenders for company but he rose highest to nod back across the keeper and increase the Glencar lead to two. Strand weren’t finished yet though and with three minutes of injury time remaining they pulled a goal back. Glencar saw out the remaining minutes however and progress to the semi-final stage of the Voodoo Venue Cup.
Fintown Harps AFC 6 v 0 Gweedore Celtic Reserves
Fintown welcomed Gweedore to Pairc Achla for the quarter finals of the Voodoo Venue Cup. Fintown started sharp when captain Shan Mc Millan pounced on a defensive mistake and was brought down in the box, he duly converted the penalty himself.
Jason Campbell added a second with a fine solo run 10 minutes later. Gweedore pushed forward and Gerard Diver was unlucky to see his 20 yarder hit the crossbar. In the second half Fintown were sharpest out the blocks again with Jason Campbell soon adding a third goal. Although Gweedore pressed hard to get on the score sheet the Fintown back line held firm.
Mc Millan added a fourth and Eunan Doherty a fifth before Barry Smith smashed in a bullet of a header to make it 6. Gerard Diver was best for Gweedore with a team effort for Fintown. Referee: George Clinton
Cappry Rovers Reserves 6 v 4 Drumbar F.C.
Cappry hosted Drumbar in the quarter final of the Voodoo Venue Cup.
The home team started quickest. Joel Bradley Walsh got the first goal of his hat-trick when racing clear and finishing well on 16 minutes. 3 minutes later he scored again before Darragh Mc Cafferty slotted the ball between the keeper’s legs to make it 3-0 at half time. The game was far from safe and Drumbar began the fight back when Gavin Bennett scored a penalty.
Drumbar made it 3-2 five minutes later, again through Bennet. Kyle O’ Meara then scored for Cappry but the visitors came back with David Giblin strike. Bradley Walsh then got the ball in his own half before beating four defenders and smashing home. Drumbar’s response was quick with Giblin making it 5-4. Kyle O’ Meara finally secured the victory with a good finish. David Giblin was best for Drumbar. Joel Bradley Walsh and Kyle O’ Meara were best for Cappry.
Donegal Town Reserves 2 v 1 Glenea United Reserves
A closely fought contest at the hospital field saw Donegal progress to the semi-final of the Voodoo Venue Cup.
Glenea started the game the brighter and had a few half chances but as Donegal grew into the game a cross into the box from the right was handled and Stephen Graham calmly dispatched the resulting penalty to give Donegal the lead. This was short lived as Lee O’ Brien equalised with a fantastic strike that found the net from all of 25 yards. The teams went in level at the break and when they reappeared it was Donegal that started the 2nd half the stronger.
This was rewarded with a goal on 60 minutes when Micheal O’ Donnell fired home from close range after a bit of ping pong in the Glenea box. From here Glenea pushed hard with Donegal having a few break away attacks. Stephen Curneen nearly put the tie to bed but his shot hit the post and with almost their last push forward Glenea were awarded a penalty.
Gavin Mulreany was the hero of the day when he dived low to his right to keep Lee O’ Brien out from a well struck penalty. Mulreany saved the rebound and the victory was confirmed for Rory Dunleavy’s men a few seconds later when referee Tony Mc Namee blew the full time whistle.
Best for Donegal were JP Byrne and Stephen Graham. Great team effort from Glenea in a well contested game.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Drumoghill F.C. 1 v 6 Castlefin Celtic
Castlefin Celtic maintained their outside hopes of winning this season’s Premier Division by cruising to a comfortable victory over an injury hit Drumoghill side at the Moss.
Ronan Tourish helped himself to a hat-trick with Shane Gallagher (2) and JP Malley also on the scoresheet for the visitors. The game was over as a contest after 30 minutes after Castlefin had scored 4 without reply to leave them 4-0 up at the break.
However, the home side will feel the score-line was somewhat harsh, with the actual game being a lot more even than the score-line suggested. The difference between the teams was highlighted by Drumoghill being hesitant in possession and they simply afforded too many chances to their opponents by unforced errors.
Tourish scored twice during that opening spell with Gallagher and JP Malley also getting on the scoresheet before half time. Gallagher and Tourish were ruthless on the day and were just too strong for Lee Smyth, Kyle Devine and Co. in the Drumoghill rearguard. Drumoghill never felt sorry for themselves though and picked themselves up from the floor at the break.
They were rewarded when Karlos Rodgers restored a bit more respect to the score-line, hammering home after good work from Liam O’Donnell and John O’Kane.
Late strikes though would make things worse for the home side with Tourish and Gallagher both adding to the first half tallies during the final few minutes. Referee: Liam McLaughlin
Rathmullan Celtic 3 v 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic
A late brace from JD Alohou secured Rathmullan Celtic all three points in their crunch relegation battle with local neighbours Kilmacrennan Celtic after earlier strikes from Declan Mc Garvey for the Hoops and Gary Gorman for the visitors on a very special day at the Flagpole Field.
The Hoops launched their New Jersey with Opt For Life logo with committee member Cain Connolly who donated a kidney to his father Michael in 2013. With the Junior Hoops Academy leading both teams out, there was a carnival atmosphere at the Seaside which was enjoyed by all and an Easter eggstravaganza replacing the traditional ice cream for the 300 plus in attendance. Referee: Joe McNulty
Cappry Rovers 6 v 2 Milford United
Cappry hosted Milford in this Premier Division clash. With both teams missing players the first half was cagey with little chances.
Cappry scored first through Joel Bradley Walsh on 26minutes. Milford replied with a good finish by Darren Mc Laughlin leaving it 1-1 half time. Cappry pressed more in the second half and were rewarded when Aaron Kelly got up highest to head past the keeper.
Paddy Mc Nulty then rounded the keeper for Cappry’s 3rd. Milford got one back when a free kick was headed to the top corner. Alan Gethins scored two quick goals before Joel Bradley Walsh rounded up the scoring at 6-2 to Cappry. Two Team performances. Referee: Paddy Martin
Donegal Town 5 v 0 Lagan Harps
Donegal Town ran out comfortable winners over a youthful Lagan Harps at the Hospital Field. The hosts were two up at half time through a Daniel McHugh brace and from the moment the second goal went in the game was all but over as a contest.
The highlight of the game came 10 minutes into the half when Eoin Slevin clipped a wide free kick back to the feet of Ben Sweeney at the edge of the area. Sweeney took the ball in and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner giving the ‘keeper no chance.
McHugh completed his hat-trick shortly after with a superb individual goal, beating several defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the corner from the edge of the area. David Graham sealed the victory with a close range finish late on.
Lagan to their credit never gave up and showed a good team spirit to keep going to the very end. An solid display from all in maroon and blue with Joe McIntyre’s performance unfortunate not to be rewarded with a goal. Referee: Mick Lagan
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Raphoe Town 0 v 1 St. Catherines
Raphoe and St. Catherines played a very tight game up at Deele Park. Both defences gave nothing away in a close first half with no real chances. The 2nd half remained a tight affair but St Catherines scored in 62 minute after a goalmouth scramble to take all 3 points.
Lifford Celtic 1 v 2 Bonagee United
In a game that meant so much to both teams in their quest for automatic promotion it was Bonagee who took the early lead with Mark Hunter getting them off the mark.
Both teams created chances but were unable to convert. Just after the half hour mark Lifford got their leveller with Kevin Mc Brearty passing out wide to Johnny Robb who crossed into the box and Bonagee only cleared to Ross Porter who hit it perfectly into the net.
The second half saw most of the football played around midfield but the two teams still created chances and Dylan Early made a super save to keep Lifford in it. Lifford missed a few good opportunities before Bonagee took advantage with a winning goal from Aiden Mc Laughlin. Lifford tried to get back on track to get a point out of the game but just couldn’t manage to find a way through.
Keadue Rovers 0 v 1 Gweedore Celtic
Gweedore Celtic came to Central Park and gained a crucial victory over the hosts in a reverse scoreline to the game played in Gweedore before Christmas.
As is often the case with local derbies, form goes out the window. It was a good day for football and Gweedore were much the livelier in the opening exchanges moving the ball at pace. Gavin Mc Glanaghey did come close for Keadue after five minutes but Gweedore’s enterprising start was rewarded on eight minutes when the tricky Shane O’Donnell caught out the flat footed Keadue defence and chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net.
One minute later they should’ve made it two but O’Donnell was this time blocked by Danny Rodgers in the Keadue nets. The home side did start to get some momentum around fifteen minutes and stringed a few passes together but nothing to trouble the Gweedore keeper.
Around halfway through the first half play was getting scrappy which was to Gweedore’s advantage and it took until after the half hour for Keadue to muster a good effort with Cory Gallagher’s effort from long range just going wide. On thirty-eight minutes Jack O’Brien’s header was wide from a corner and it was the home side who finished the first half the brighter.
Into the second half and on fifty minutes a Jack Boyle effort went just wide and two minutes later a David Ward free kick went just wide. Keadue were now bossing possession and created further chances after the hour through a Chris Greene header and perhaps their best chance fell to Christy Greene on sixty-five minutes but his shot was well blocked by a rock-solid Gweedore defence.
On seventy minutes as Keadue piled on the pressure they had six successive corners, one of which was almost an OG but Gweedore’s defence remained firm. For the last twenty minutes, apart from some breaks by the ever-dangerous Shane O’Donnell, it was almost all one way traffic but try as they might, Keadue just couldn’t get past a defence excellently marshalled by Michael Mc Kelvey and Willie McBride.
The final few minutes were tense but in the end Keadue came up just short and probably would have deserved at least a draw but it wasn’t to be and hats off to Gweedore for a good, firm display. Best for Gweedore Celtic were Willie McBride, Michael Mc Kelvey and Shane O’Donnell while best for Keadue were Hugh Moy and Jack Boyle. Referee : James Malseed.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Deele Harps 0 v 2 Drumkeen United
Drumkeen settled better and dominated possession early on. Chances were few for both teams until Drumkeen took the lead when Chris Kyle headed home a corner on 25 minutes. Deele came into the game after this and spurned a great chance to equalise on 40 minutes.
The second half was a tight affair with both teams going close on a number of occasions. On 60 minutes Kevin Bonner turned well and evaded two defenders and his shot squirmed through Deele’s keeper to double the lead. That’s how it remained as Drumkeen moved closer to the league title and only need a point to secure the title. Team Performances. Referee: Frank Duff.
Cranford United 2 v 1 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C.
The lads secured a hard-fought victory over Kerrykeel to secure promotion. It was a tight affair throughout but Cranford just edged it. Cranford went one up after 20 minutes after a great ball from a Seamy Carr free a Kerrykeel defender turned the ball in to his own net.
Kerrykeel responded 5 minutes later with an equaliser. Cranford took the lead again after 35 minutes when Shane Mc Teague scored a screamer from 30 yards. That’s how it ended as Cranford held off late Kerrykeel pressure.
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