CULDAFF FC and Glengad United booked spots in the Ulster Junior Cup semi-finals, but Clonmany Shamrocks lost in Cootehill.
In Inishowen League action, Greencastle had a derby win over Moville and First Divisions leaders Carn continued their title push.
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Ulster Junior Cup
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Culdaff FC 3 Cavan Town 2
IN AN entertaining game the home side made their supporters suffer to the end when thyey failed to take a host of chances before edging a narrow but, well deserved win.
The visitors got a dream start on 5 minutes when James McKeown was given far too much space to thread a ball in behind the defence towards Packie Sheridan and when Darragh McLaughlin failed to cut out the ball Sheridan had the simplest of tasks to slot home.
Culdaff replied and when Dean O’Connor’s effort from the left bounced off the chest of James Heffernan the corner produced a scramble which was eventually cleared.
The home side levelled on 10 minutes when Paul McLaughlin pounced on a defensive error and when his first effort was blocked he volleyed the follow up superbly to the net.
Culdaff upped the tempo with Brendan Mclaughlin firing a free from wide on the right just
wide, Michael Coyle denied by a superb Shane Cawley tackle, O’Connor’s cross just too high for Noel McLaughlin and Coyle rounding Heffernan but from a tight angle seeing his shot go across goal.
On the half hour Cavan’s Cawley drove a powerful free from twenty yards just past
the post, but Culdaff resumed the pressure and when Heffernan twice punched deliveries clear Peter Doherty returned the ball from the right to Brendan McLaughlin who scored with an overhead kick from 12 yards.
Cavan tried to hit back immediately and were out of luck when a superb Brian Morris free crashed off the angle of the bar and post.
An error in the home defence in the opening minute of the second period saw a Sheridan snapshot saved by McLaughlin.
Culdaff replied and went three one up minutes later when a superb cross from Brendan McLaughlin was side footed home by Coyle.
O’Connor then raced onto a defensive error and lifted the ball over Heffernan but inches past the post.
On 58 minutes Brendan McLaughlin jinked past three defenders into the area and when his effort came off the post it hit brother Noel and bounced wide.
Midway through the half a corner was returned into the area where Brian Dolan was able to control, turn and slot past McLaughlin.
Culdaff tried to reply and when Conor Keddy released Paul McLaughlin who burst into the area but his first time effort crashed off the bar.
McLaughlin laid the ball off to Coyle whose effort was deflected wide.
Cavan threw caution to the wind and had two late chances with substitute Jamie O’Rourke
heading a free wide before their best chance came with the home side losing possession allowing Dolan to send Cian Byrne clear but his effort was superbly tipped over by McLaughlin as the home side advanced to only their second Ulster semi final.
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Glengad United 2 Aileach FC 0
GLENGAD dominated for long periods but found Aileach, who were missing a few players, a tough nut to break down.
Good work by Nigel McMonagle on 16 minutes saw him release Terence Doherty who rounded John Roulstone but from a tight angle hit the side netting.
Minutes later McMonagle and Doherty combined for the latter to pick out Christy McLaughlin who somehow fired over from six yards.
Aileach’s best chance came before the break when Darren McMonagle’s long range effort was held by Kevin McLaughlin in the home goal.
Glengad kept pressing and on 52 minutes after a good build up Michael Byrne fed McMonagle who in turn found McLaughlin but his effort crashed off the post.
Aileach were defending stoutly, but the home side made the break through on 78 minutes after good work by substitute Seamus Doherty saw him chip the ball across for McLaughlin to volley home. Seven minutes later they added another when McMonagle crossed for Seamus Doherty who controlled well and turned to volley past Roulstone.
They almost made it three nil on the stroke of full time when Patrick McDermott sent McMonagle clear but his effort rebounded off the post.
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Cootehill 3 Clonmany Shamrocks 1
UNDER-STRENGTH Clonmany, short Mark McLaughlin through suspension, and a few others injured were caught cold and trailed by two goals after only seven minutes.
Gary McCrudden was the man who caused the damage as first he powered home a header from a corner and then made it two nil when he got between defenders and looped a header
over Patrick Harkin from twelve yards.
Clonmany to their credit refused to throw in the towel and Paddy Doherty fired over after good approach play before Steve Harkin saw a sidefooted effort saved and Aiden Friel
had a header drop agonisingly past the post.
Two minutes into the second half Raymond McDaid miscued a header when well placed. But they did reduce the deficit when an attempted clearance from the keeper hit Jason
Devlin and bounced into the net.
Clonmany kept pressing and substitute Michael Devlin had an effort blocked before McDaid had a shot saved.
In the final minute Cootehill broke and McCrudden beat a defender and drew Harkin before chipping the keeper and sending Cootehill into the semi finals.
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Jackie Crossan Premier Division          Â
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Greencastle FC 5 Moville Celtic 2
IN THIS local derby clash the home side got a flying start in the second minute when a Matthew Henry free was punched out by Sean McGuinness to James Curran who headed into the top corner.
Moville replied and PJ Barr had a free deflected wide.
The home side had a good spell then with a Jamie McCormick free tipped onto the bar by McGuinness before the same player had another free wide.
Moville hit back on the half hour and equalised when Joe Doherty turned well on the edge of the area and saw his effort deflect off a defender but loop over JP O’Doherty and into the net.
Greencastle crucially regained the lead when substitute Danny Murphy rose highest to head home Henry’s free kick.
Minutes before the break they added another when McCormick picked up a loose ball and fired an unstoppable effort to the top corner from 30 yards.
In the opening minute of the second period the visitors’ Mark Henry had a free kick well saved by O’Doherty, but Greencastle resumed control with McCormick firing wide before on the
hour they made it four one.
A delightful chip over the Moville defenceby Matthew Henry released Murphy who calmly slotted past McGuinness.
Moville tried to respond with a snapshot from Doherty saved by O’Doherty before they were given a lifeline when awarded a penalty for handball which was converted by Graeme Doherty.
They continued to press and only a stunning point blank save from O’Doherty prevented Kevin McDermott from another goal.
Greencastle ended the game strongly with substitute Enda Faulkner having a shot saved before Murphy fired wide.
They sealed the tie late on when Murphy completed his hat trick from the penalty spot after James Henry was adjudged to have been upended.
Strand Hotel First Division
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Carrowmena FC 0 Cockhill Youths 1
IN GOOD conditions this early kick off saw the visitors first to threaten when Shaun Donaghey’s first time effort flashed past Kyle Dougal’s right hand post.
On 18 minutes Michael Coyle collected a loose ball on the edge of the area but his effort was blocked by Derek McGeoghaghan.
Cockhill spurned a gilt edged chance then after a diagonal ball from Noone released Declan Kearney on the right but he drilled into the side netting.
The pressure told when Kearney fed Ronan McLaughlin who in turn found Coyle and he turned well to drill low past Dougal.
Carrowmena responded but failed to create clear chances with a Caolan Mullarkey cross eluding all before both James Gillen and James Jackson had efforts blocked by the youths defence.
In the second half Cockhill had most of the possession and started well with Christopher Duffy releasing Jack McDaid but his cross just eluded the inrushing SP Fullerton.
The home side tried to responf and on 66 minutes Oran Canning had an effort which just cleared Shaun Parkers crossbar. Cockhill almost added a second but Dougal made a fine save to deny McDaid after good work by Michael Noone.
The home side pressed hard in the latter stages but failed to break down the youths defence.
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Dunree United 6 Rasheney FC 2
RASHENEY had the first chance of the game when Declan McLaughlin crossed to Paddy McGilloway but well placed he fired wide.
The home side responded and broke the deadlock when Liam Baldrick fired a twenty five yards free to the top corner.
Midway through the half it was two nil after Oisin O’Flaherty laid the ball off to Daniel McLaughlin who fired a low effort in off the post from 15 yards.
Shaun Doherty then added two goals in afive minute spell before the break firstly when he raced onto a William Doherty pass and neatly finished past Kieran Friel before running onto a ball over the top and slotting low past Friel.
Rasheney started the second period well and reduced the deficit when Declan Mclaughlin blasted an effort to the roof of the net.
Dunree hit back to quell any chance of a come back when Baldrick released Darryl Moran inside the area and he fired low past Friel.
On 71 minutes Philip McGuinness made it six after he beat a man and hammered a low effort into the bottom corner from twenty five yards.
Rasheney got a late consolation when Charlie Doherty advanced from midfield and unleashed a superb twenty yards strike low past Philip Doherty.
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Redcastle United 0 Carn FC 3
PLAYED IN perfect conditions Redcastle started well without creating anything clear cut.
On fifteen minutes Brendan Murphy brought a fine save from Daniel Houghton to keep the score level.
Carn opened the scoring on 28 minutes when a miss kick by a Redcastle defender allowed Declan Mc Gonagle to nip in and score against the run of play.
Two minutes later Carn make it two when Brandon Brown tapped home from close range. Late in the half Redcastle’s Kevin Toner tried a shot from distance which Houghton held with ease.
Carn had the first opportunity of the second half when Cathal Doyle had a shot diverted wide by a Redcastle defender.
Brendan Murphy then fired over from distance for the home side while Houghton tipped an effort from Darragh McConway on to the bar.
Houghton was called upon again to deny Mc Conway who volleyed a Philip Margey cross goalward. McGonagle broke clear but Seamus Doherty made up the ground to clear the danger.
Redcastle continued to press but were unable to breach to Carn defence.
Carn made the game safe late held on when Cathal Doyle latched on to a quick freekick to slot home on eighty nine minutes and claim three vital points in their title push.
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