It was another busy weekend in the Jackie Crossan Premier Division with several high-scoring games taking place across the county.
Culdaff FC 3 Illies Celtic 5
Paddy Doherty for the visitors had the first effort on goal but his free-kick was well saved by Darragh McLaughlin. Culdaff took the lead on 35 minutes after Aiden Cunningham raced onto Michael Coyle’s flick to chip Johnathan Noone.
But Illies equalised within minutes when Odhran McColgan closed down a clearance and superbly chipped McLaughlin.
Culdaff hit back and Cunningham restored their lead when he collected a cross-field pass from Coyle and finished brilliantly.
On the stroke of half-time Illies had a great chance to get back on terms when they were awarded a penalty which saw Niall Gordon red-carded for handball on the line but Darragh McLaughlin made a superb save from Paddy Doherty’s spot kick. Doherty had the first chance of the second half but he blazed over.
Two minutes later Culdaff increased their lead when the visitor’s defence failed to deal with Eugene McLaughlin’s cross from the left and Paul McLaughlin finished neatly past Noone.
Culdaff then spurned a great chance Paul McLaughlin picked out Coyle but he volleyed over from a central position ten yards out.
The effect of playing with a man down began to tell on the home side in the final quarter and Illies got a goal back on 70 minutes when Adrian Donaghey Doherty headed home from a corner.
They levelled matters on 85 minutes when a Liam Grant cross from the left came off the bar and substitute Shane Doherty poked home.
Another corner minutes later was parried away by Mclaughlin but Shane Doherty reacted well to slot home and put Illies in front for the first time. In injury time Paddy Doherty added a fifth to seal the win and in the final action, Cunningham was denied his hat-trick by a fine save from Noone.
Greencastle FC 6 Glengad United 3
In a high scoring encounter, Greencastle served notice of their title ambitions with this victory in a high scoring clash at Chapel Lane.
Glengad got off to a dream start in the first minute when a Stephen McLaughlin corner was cleared back to him and he cut in to hammer a low effort to the bottom corner past Dylan Doherty. Terence Doherty then fired just wide from twenty-five yards.
Greencastle replied and got back on terms on 19 minutes when Sean Doherty went past a couple of players and fed Jamie McCormick on the right and he finished superbly past Daniel Mullarkey.
McCormick then fired the home side in front with a well struck free kick which took a slight deflection on its way to the top corner.
A long ball forward by Mark Henry saw Stephen Grant dispossess keeper Mullarkey and roll the ball into the net to make it 3-1.
Glengad replied and both Matthew Byrne and James McKinney went close with good efforts. But Greencastle increased their lead after Matthew Henry released Nigel McMonagle and he cut inside the area before rounding Mullarkey to slot home.
Glengad did get a goal back on 42 minutes when Christopher McLaughlin curled a superb effort into the top corner from the edge of the area. But ten minutes after the restart Greencastle made it five two after McCormick released McMonagle who raced into the area and hammered the ball low to the far corner.
Matthew Henry then fired wide and McCormick had an effort turned around the post by Mullarkey. Glengad hit back again and made it six three when substitute Patrick McDermott got on the end of a James McKinney cross to head to the top corner.
Terence Doherty then unleashed an effort which Dylan Doherty saved superbly. And the home side sealed the points when McCormick completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after he had been upended firing low to the bottom right-hand corner.
In the closing minutes, Shaun Doherty had a fine effort tipped round the post by Mullarkey.
Clonmany Shamrocks 3 Redcastle United 2
Redcastle will be very disappointed at not taking anything from this game as they led 2-0 with half an hour remaining.
Redcastle took the lead in the very first minute after Darragh McConway sped clear on the right and his cross was diverted into his own net by an unfortunate defender.
Clonmany replied and when Brendan Devlin controlled and turned well inside the area he was unlucky to see his effort crash off the crossbar. Clonmany had a lot of possession but struggled to break the visitors down and a looping Ferghal Harkin cross in the 42nd minute found Jake Harkin but his header was saved by Michael McCole.
After a quiet start to the second period the visitors increased their lead when Shaun Curran converted a penalty after Aiden McLaughlin had been upended. But within a minute the home side began the fight back after Niall Mclaughlin fed Jake Harkin whose cross was turned home from close range.
On 68 minutes they equalised when a long free from McLaughlin fell kindly in the area for Liam Hirrell to smash the ball home.
They turned it around completely on 79 minutes when Mark McLaughlin controlled a long ball spun a defender and fired low to the corner from sixteen yards for what proved to be the winner.
Buncrana Hearts 4 Carn FC 1
Buncrana started well and opened the scoring on nine minutes when Stephen McHugh picked out Gerard Boyle with a superb pass and although Boyle’s initial effort was parried he headed the rebound home.
John Timlin then raced clear but failed to hit the target before Kieran McDaid collected the ball in midfield and advanced to unleash a powerful effort from twenty yards to the bottom corner.
Sloppy play in the home defence then allowed Brandon Browne to gain possession and he fired past Caolan McGonagle in the home goal to make it two one.
The hearts had the final chance of the half when after a Kevin O’Loughlin free was parried Gary Duffy fired the rebound over. Buncrana continued on top after the break and McDaid beat two defenders but saw his effort well saved by Conor Doherty.
A superb run and cross by McDaid in the 58th minute saw Boyle convert from five yards to make it 3-1. Both Boyle and McHugh were off target before Liam McCarron had a twenty yards shot tipped onto the bar by Doherty.
Buncrana added a fourth goal late on when substitute Mark McFadden squeezed the ball past Doherty at his near post. Aaron McDaid was then denied a fifth in injury time when his effort clipped the crossbar.
Tags: