Jackie Crossan Premier Division action took place over the weekend, with Buncrana Hearts claiming an impressive 3-1 victory over Culdaff.
Buncrana Hearts 3 Culdaff FC 1
Buncrana got a dream start when they scored in the opening minute after Kieran McDaid advanced on the left and crossed for Gerard McLaughlin to slot home from close range.
McDaid then fired over the bar before the visitors got back on terms when a great Jack O’Brien cross found Aiden
Cunningham whose superb glancing header nestled in the bottom corner. Buncrana took control then with Mclaughlin firing one effort wide before heading over another chance.
Culdaff replied and Damien Duffy saw a twenty-five yards free shave the outside of the post with Eoghan O’Doherty beaten. Before the break a mazy run by McDaid took him past three defenders before he poked wide.
Culdaff were dealt a real body blow when Conor Keddy was red-carded ten minutes into the second period. Buncrana then went close with McLaughlin firing just wide.
Culdaff had a great chance after a superb burst by Bryan McCandless on 71 minutes took him into the area but he fired just past the post. Within minutes the home side then regained the lead when a pinpoint Michael Caroll cross was superbly headed to the top corner by McLaughlin.
Shane Dillon then had a header from a corner superbly saved by Thomas O Brien. The hearts sealed the points in the final minute after Declan Fullerton’s cross was again superbly headed home by McLaughlin.
Cockhill Celtic Yths 4 Illies Celtic 2
Cockhill will feel relieved to get over the line in this fixture after leading 4-0 at one stage only for them to let their local neighbours Illies back into the contest with two quick goals midway through the second period.
Cockhill had the first chance on 6 minutes when an Adam McLaughlin free from 25 yards out, on the left, was sneaking in at the near post only for Illies keeper Johnny Noone to get across with a strong hand low to his right; Noone gathering at the second attempt with Mark McDaid ready to pounce.
Illies responded and Liam Doherty ghosted his way into the box on 12 minutes to shoot at goal from six yards but Liam McGonagle was up to the task saving low to his left with the ball eventually cleared by Michael Noone.
Cockhill had another effort saved by Noone on 14 minutes when they broke at pace from an Illies corner with Mark McDaid feeding Adam Duffy wide on the left and his square pass was picked up by Christy Duffy 25 yards from goal but the midfielder failed to get a proper connection with his effort and the ball was gathered low to his right by Noone.
The home side opened the scoring on 25 minutes when Adam Duffy swivelled on the ball 8 yards from goal to shoot powerfully right footed to the net, giving Noone no chance, after Illies failed to clear a McLaughlin corner from the right.
Cockhill should have added a second on 35 minutes when Adam McLaughlin dragged his shot wide from the penalty spot after a great run and cross from Keegan Hegarty on the right.
Illies at times looked dangerous with Kevin McGonagle & James McGonagle always an outlet with their pace in behind. On 38 minutes McGonagle got in down the left and his ball across looked a certain goal for Domnick Coyle only for a last ditch challenge by Shane A Doherty round on the cover.
A great team goal on 44 minutes put Cockhill two up at the break. Keeper McGonagle passed the ball to Bradley Callaghan in the midfield and he turned to pass the ball to McDaid wide on the touchline who released Duffy in the inside left channel, Callaghan continued his run to receive a pass from Duffy just inside the area before opening up his body to curl a delightful shot right-footed past Noone from 18 yards on the angle with the keeper having no chance.
Illies started the brighter in the opening minutes of the second period and young Brendan Doherty, on for his brother Liam who unfortunately got injured in the opening period, was causing Cockhill a few problems down the right.
On 47 minutes he got the better of his man but his ball into the box was gathered by Coyle only for Cockhills Noone to spot the danger and clear the ball.
Illies will be disappointed with the third goal they conceded on 48 minutes as they tried to play out from the back Adam McLaughlin pounced on the keeper Noone when in possession to rob him off the ball and tap home to the unguarded net from 6 yards out. Cockhill added their fourth goal on 63 minutes when Christy Duffy smashed the ball past Noone from 12 yards out in the middle of the 18-yard box after great build up play by Mark McDaid on the left.
Cockhill made a few changes on 65 minutes to freshen thing up but conceded a goal on 69 minutes when Paul Doherty was afforded too much time in the midfield and when he received a pass from his brother Brendan he hit a speculative effort from 35 yards out that looped high over McGonagle in the Cockhill net to make the score 4-1.
Illies unsettled the home side who seemed to lose their composure and the visitors hit a second on 73 minutes when the home side got sloppy in possession and Liam Grant won the ball for Illies high up the pitch and after exchanging passes with Kevin McGonagle the young full back squared the ball to the unmarked Domnick Coyle who side-footed to the unguarded net from 5 yards out.
Cockhill gained control again and started to create other openings as Illies pushed for a third. On 83 minutes Keegan Hegarty was fouled in the box only for Adam Duffy to see his weak penalty effort saved by keeper Noone diving low to his right.
The final action of the game saw the referee brandish two harsh red cards for an altercation deep in the Illies right back area as the home side try to see out the game with Adam Duffy and Kevin McGnagle getting their marching orders.
Glengad United 1 Greencastle FC 0
Glengad dominated for long periods of the opening half and had an early chance when Terence Doherty crossed for Michael Byrne whose effort clipped the outside of the post.
They took the lead on 21 minutes after James McKinney’s free fell to Cathal McDaid on the edge of the area and his effort was brilliantly saved by Dyaln Doherty but Byrne pounced to drill home the loose ball.
They could have added a second when Conor Barrow s cross found Ternece Doherty but his effort was again well saved by Doherty.
All the visitors could muster in reply was a long range Nigel McMonagle effort which was saved by Kevin McLaughlin in the home goal.
Glengad had the first chance of the second half when McKinney’s cross fell to Byrne whose effort was brilliantly saved by Doherty but Terence Doherty blazed the rebound over. Greencastle had a spell then with Christy Hegarty racing onto a James Henry pass but firing weakly at Kevin McLaughlin.
Their best chance came on 77 minutes when Stephen Grant raced up the right and crossed for McMonagle whose first time effort crashed off the bar. Glengad should have sealed it then when Dillon Ruddy sent Terence Doherty clear and he rounded the keeper but somehow blazed over from twelve yards.
Aileach FC 6 Carn FC 0
Aileach took the lead after 8 minute when a fine 40 yard pass by Cathal McElhinney found Keith McColgan and the wing back raced to the bye line and crossed for Aaron Nash to finish past Gerard Crossan from six yards
.Number two followed 5 minutes later after a short corner found Gavin Doherty at the back post and he headed across for brother Dermot to head home.
Carn responded well and Brandon Browne fired just over before Darragh Deery caught an Aileach defender in possession but was denied by a last ditch tackle by Thomas McMonagle.
A combination of poor finishing by the home side and good defending and goalkeeping by the visitors kept the score at two until half time .Aileach upped the pace at the beginning of the second half and were three up on 50 minutes when Nash turned home a Darren McMonagle cross from the right past Crossan from close range.
The fourth arrived shortly after when Darren McMonagle got round his full back and finished low to Crossan’s right. On 65minutes Crossan did well to deny Dermot Doherty from the penalty spot.With the visitors tiring Aileach ran in two more goals before the end with Nash completing his hat trick and Anthony Doherty scoring off the bench.
