HOLDERS KEADUE Rovers bow out of the Brian McCormick Cup as Glenea United claimed a 3-2 win in the Gweedore Area semi-final this afternoon – here’s a full roundup from the area semi-finals:
Lifford Area
Kildrum Tigers 3 Castlefin Celtic 1
Click here to read Charlie Collins’ match report from Station Road Park
Lifford Celtic 3 Raphoe Town 4
(No Report Submitted)
Gweedore Area
Glenea United 3 Keadue Rovers 2
Glenea came out on top in this exciting local derby, by the odd goal.
Glenea opened the scoring in the fifth minute when a well worked move between Shaun Curran and Ryan Tannahill ended up finding Ciaran McGeady who slot home from 10 yards. Within three minutes the score was level, Keadue floated a 30-yard free onto the head of Greene who beat the keeper from the edge of the six-yard box.
Glenea came close to getting their second in the 25th minute when Sean Coll found Sean McBride free at the back post, but his shot shaved the post.
McBride came close again in the final minute of the first half but his shot was well saved by Danny Rodgers in the Keadue goal.
Rodgers was called into action again early in the second half when Tannahill found Mc Geady and his shot from four yards was tipped over by the Keadue goalkeeper. In the 53rd minute Keadue took the lead, Shaun Boyle picked up a loose ball and let fly from 30 yards.
Ten minutes later it was all level again when Luke McCarry crossed for Darren Doogan to head home. In the 70th minute Glenea had a great chance to take the lead when Darragh Breen ran at the Keadue defence and slipped it through to McBride but his shot missed the target.
The game looked destined for extra time until Ryan Tannahill created space on the wing and managed to find McBride who calmly slotted home to give Glenea the win. Both teams produced good performances.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 2 Gweedore United 0
Kilmacrennan proved too strong for a hard-working Gweedore United outfit to advance to the area final of the Brian McCormick Cup.
From the start, Kilmacrennan dominated possession but found it hard to break down a resolute Gweedore side, the breakthrough finally came in 30th minute when Enda McCormack played a great through ball to Mark Friel, who missed his one on one after some excellent goalkeeping. The ball fell to veteran Michael Mc Laughlin who slotted home from five yards.
Indeed, it wasn’t Friel’s only miss as he somehow blasted over from two yards with the goal at his mercy moments later.
Gweedore did have a chance to level the score after some poor Kilmacrennan defending but Shane Graham was equal to Ciaran Mc Fadden’s shot.
Kilmacrennan should have doubled their lead before half time when Enda McCormack missed his penalty after Ryan Shields was fouled in the area.
Kilmacrennan doubled their lead mid-way through the second half when Michael McLaughlin got his second, a great cross from Terence Shiels was met by McLaughlin who once again showed his obvious threat in the air with a bullet header into the top corner.
Michael McLaughlin was best for Kilmacrennan with his pace and physical power proving a real handful, team performance by a hard-working Gweedore side. Referee: Mick Lagan
Donegal Area
Donegal Town 0 Ballybofey United 1
This game was played in excellent conditions at the hospital field Donegal Town.
Both teams started brightly but Donegal Town were dealt a serious blow with Stephen Graham receiving his marching orders from referee Gourley after only 13 minutes.
Both teams created good chances throughout the 90 minutes with both Glackin from Ballybofey and Stitt from Donegal Town squandering good chances.
Ballybofey took the lead through Jude Patton on the stroke of half time in the first half of extra time following indecision in the Town defence.
Donegal to their credit battled gamely but Ballybofey qualified for the Area Final where they will meet Cappry Rovers.
Good team performances from both teams.
St. Catherines 1 Cappry Rovers 5
There was little to separate the teams in the first half hour with chances at both ends. Cappry grew stronger and stronger as time progressed and Paddy McNulty was awarded for his hard work and opened the scoring on 35 minutes.
The floodgates opened then as Cappry showed their experience. Two more goals from McNulty gave him his hat-trick. Two further goals for Cappry came from Jamie Murray and Aaron Kelly which gave the visitors five in total.
A very young home team plugged away and were rewarded with a consolation goal through Andrew McMorrow.
Best for the home side was Niall Campbell and shining brightly for the visitors was Paddy McNulty.
Letterkenny Area
Bonagee United 2 Drumoghill FC 0
Aiden Mc Laughlin for the home side came close on four minutes when he headed over from a Drew Connelly cross. Glen Gallagher saw his header on eight minutes, from twelve yards, well saved by Toner in visitor’s goal.
The home side took the lead on sixteen minutes when Aaron Wasson broke down the right and he played the ball through to Daniel Stolarczyk and he hammered home from the edge of the box.
Jason Doherty, for the visitors, saw his shot on twenty-two minutes go just over the bar from twelve yards. Four minutes later Charles Rodgers saw his header go wide of the Bonagee goal. Aiden Mc Laughlin for Bonagee then shot wide from the edge of the box from an Aaron Wasson cross on 28 minutes.
The home side made it two nil on thirty-five minutes when Aaron Wasson broke clear of the defence and he was brought down outside the box by the keeper who was shown a red card. Richie Moore went into goal but Daniel Stolarczyk fired home from 25 yards.
Carr in the home goal made a good save from ten yards from Doherty on 48 minutes. Wasson for Bonagee saw his shot from 20 yards go over on the hour. Jason Doherty again saw his effort on 65 minutes well saved by Carr in the home goal.
Aiden McLaughlin for the home side on 75 minutes came close when he turned the defender on the penalty spot but his strike came off the bar.
Drumoghill dominated the last 15 minutes and Carr in the home .goal made three great saves from Ronnie Carlin and two from Jason Doherty to secure the win. Team efforts by both sides with John Carr man of the match.
Referee: Paddy Duffy.
Whitestrand United 6 Lagan Harps 1
Whitestrand United took on Lagan Harps in the Brian McCormick Cup at McGarvey Park. Whitestrand started well and had much of the early possession. The first goal came when Darren Ferry turned on a loose ball on the edge of the box and calmly slotted home. They doubled their lead mid-way through the first half when Liam O’Riordan crossed and Aaron Curran converted. Whitestrand went in at half time two up.
Whitestrand extended their lead early into the second half when Aaron Curran continued his superb early season form and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Whitestrand scored again when Ronan Morris converted a great ball across the box.
Kevin Loughrey got in on the act when he was put through and he placed it past the outrushing keeper.
Lagan got a consolation goal when they scored a free kick but Whitestrand scored their sixth and final goal when Mark Peoples took his goal very well and took the ball on the edge of the area and placed the ball in at the near post.
