There was another entertaining of action in the Jackie Crossan Premier Division on Sunday as Glengad United emphatically beat Aileach FC 3-0.
Glengad United 3 Aileach FC 0
In a crucial game for both clubs the home side spurned a great chance on 5 minutes after Christy McLaughlin crossed for Terence Doherty to head wide from six yards.
On 15 minutes John G McLaughlin’s ball over the top found Doherty who knocked the ball past the advancing keeper and his shot was cleared off the line by Keith McColgan.
The home side opened the scoring on 40 minutes when McLaughlin’s free from the left came off a defender for Dillon Ruddy to head home from eight yards.
They doubled their lead on 43 minutes after Matthew Byrne fired a superb twenty yards free past the wall and into the bottom corner.
Aileach lifted the tempo on the restart and on 55 minutes good work by Chris McGarrigle found Thomas McMacken who in turn fed Gavin Doherty but he fired over from the edge of the area.
There was little goalmouth action until the 79th minute when McMacken fed substitute Paddy Slevin to race clear but his effort was brilliantly saved by the legs of Daniel Mullarkey from fifteen yards.
Glengad responded with Seamus Doherty crossing for Christy McLaughlin whose header was cleared off the line by Darren Gallagher.
The home side sealed the win on 87 minutes when Adam Byrne fed Cathal McDaid on the left and he crossed for Terence Doherty to turn and shoot low past Ciaran Bradley.
Clonmany Shamrocks 1 Carn FC 2
In good conditions at Shamrock Park Carn had the first sight of goal on 19 minutes after Cade Cooke broke on the right but dragged his effort wide.
Clonmany responded but were restricted to long-range efforts from Niall & Declan McLaughlin and Ferghal Harkin which failed to trouble Fergal Doherty.
On the half-hour Harkins free came off the wall a quick Carn break ended with Cooke’s strike turned round the post by Patrick Harkin.
Hesitation in the home defence on 43minutes saw Brandon Browne nip in and poke the ball past Harkin to give the visitors the lead. On the stroke of half timekeeper Harkin made a stunning double save to deny Browne from six yards.
Clonmany upped the tempo on the restart and a great Declan McLaughlin cross from the left saw Jake Harkin just fail to connect.
They equalised on 57 minutes when Oisin Hession fired a spot kick to the top left-hand corner after Steve Harkin was upended.
But Carn then regained the lead on 69 minutes after Harkin had made a brilliant reaction save but Ryan Kelly was the quickest to react to slot home.
Clonmnany pressed but the Carn defence stood firm and a superb Niall McLaughlin delivery from a corner went abegging late on.
Illies Celtic 0 Greencastle FC 1
Illies had the opening chance of the game after Adam Duffy sent Liam Doherty into the area but Dylan Doherty advanced to smother well.
Greencastle responded and when Nigel McMonagle pounced on a poor back pass his effort was saved by Johnathan Noone. Matthew Henry then had another effort well saved by Noone before at the other end Duffy fired a snapshot just over.
On the stroke of half time the visitors were unlucky after Jamie McCormick advanced and unleashed a powerful effort which crashed off the bar before being cleared.
Greencastle had two good chances in the opening ten minutes after excellent deliveries from Shaun Doherty saw Mark Henry first head over unmarked at the back post before seeing another header cleared off the line by Liam Grant.
At the other end, Doherty made a superb one-handed save to deny Duffy. The crucial goal for the visitors arrived on 73 minutes when McMonagle retrieved a ball from a corner and curled a brilliant effort into the top corner.
Illies pressed and Grant and Duffy both had late efforts saved by Doherty as Greencastle made it a perfect seven wins from seven.
Buncrana Hearts 3 Culdaff FC 1
There was an unfortunate start to this game when after chasing Jack McLaughlin’s ball over the top Michael Coyle collided heavily with Eoghan O’Doherty in the home goal resulting in the Culdaff player being taken to hospital with an arm injury and O’Doherty retiring midway through the half.
In a hard-fought opening period there were few chances with Ryan Curran’s effort saved by Martin McLaughlin who then saved from Calvin Gallagher after a mazy run.
Before the break, Gallagher went close with a well-struck effort which shaved the post. Culdaff started well and were unlucky after a Jack Mclaughlin effort crashed off the post before Jack O’Brien then raced clear on the left but his shot was very well saved by replacement keeper Paul McDaid.
The visitors then had a let-off when Michael Coyle rounded keeper Martin McLaughlin but saw his goal-bound shot cleared off the line.
The introduction of Darragh O’ Connor and Stephen McHugh had a dramatic effect for the home side as within minutes they had taken the lead on 77 minutes after O’Connor broke on the right and his superb cross was headed home by Gallagher.
Five minutes later Gallagher burst into the area and squared for O’Connor to tap home.
Culdaff replied and got a goal back on 85 minutes when an Aiden Cunningham cross was parried by McDaid and substitute Ben Curley slotted home.
With the visitors trying to salvage a point they pushed forward but were caught on the break in the final minute with O’Connor finding McHugh who clinically finished from ten yards to seal the points.
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