A COMFORTABLE 4-0 away win at struggling Culdaff meant that Clonmany Shamrocks cemented top spot in the Jackie Crossan Premier Division on Sunday, but things remain tight with champions Glengad having two games in hand.
 JACKIE CROSSAN PREMIER DIVISION
 Culdaff FC 0 Clonmany Shamrocks 4
THE home side are in desperate trouble at the foot of the table and but for a superb display from goalkeeper Darragh McLaughlin this would have been embarrassing.
Culdaff had early penalty claims waved away before play swept to the other end where an underhit back pass presented Jason Devlin with a chance but McLaughlin saved at his feet.
On 11 minutes a superb Darren Mullarkey cross from the left found Paul Mclaughlin but his header was well saved by Patrick Harkin.
Clonmany took over after this with Niall Mclaughlin seeing an effort cleared off the line by Patrick McGrenaghan before Paddy Doherty’s header from a corner came off the bar.
A defensive clash allowed Jason Devlin a sight of goal but he lobbed over an unguarded net before on the stroke of half time Culdaff lost possession again inside their own area but McLaughlin made a brilliant reflex save to deny Mark McLaughlin.
Clonmany took the lead in the opening minute of the second half when the home side lost possession in midfield and Steve Harkin fed Michael Devlin who controlled turned and fired low to the corner from sixteen yards.
Minutes later Jason Devlin ran onto a ball over the top and when his cross deflected off a defender it fell to Mark McLaughlin whose mishit effort crept through a crowd of players and inside the far post.
McLaughlin then in the home goals denied both Michael and Jason Devlin before Harkin had a long range first time effort drift narrowly wide.
On 72 minutes Mark McLaughlin controlled a crossfield pass and hammered high past McLaughlin from fourteen yards.
Great work by Michael Devlin saw him tee up substitute Jamie Coyle for a simple finish.
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Aileach FC 1 Moville Celtic 1
AILEACH started the game very well with Darren Gallagher driving a fierce shot just wide.
A Gavin Doherty free then broke to Darren McMonagle whose deflected effort came off the post and into the arms of Maurice McGeady.
On the half hour Moville’s Shane Canning advanced and unleashed a 25-yard effort which drifted just wide.
On the stroke of half time McMonagle slipped his marker but saw his well struck effort saved by McGeady. Five minutes into the second period
Aileach broke the deadlock when, after a quick counter attack, a James Gillespie effort deflected off a defender past McGeady.
Moville upped the tempo in the last half hour with Kieran Devine’s attempted lob just over before Mark Henry advanced unchallenged and unleashed an effort past David McGeady but Damien Barr was on hand to clear off the line.
In the final minute they salvaged a point when Canning’s free kick was not cleared and Dermot Harkin poked home from six yards.
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Illies Celtic 1 Glengad United 2
ILLIES stunned the league champions when they opened the scoring on 10 minutes after Paddy Doherty controlled on the edge of the area before firing high past Sean O Donnell.
Glengad enjoyed large period of possession but created little.
They equalised when Terence Doherty controlled a ball into the area and laid it back for Michael Byrne to slot low past Johnathan Noone from twelve yards.
When Illies lost possession in midfield just before the break Christy McLaughlin advanced and unleashed a powerful effort which flew past Noone.
Again Glengad dominated possession on the restart but Illies defended deep and in numbers. On 75 minutes a quick break by the home side saw Darragh McDermott race clear and had strong claims for a penalty waved aside after O’Donnell seemed to impede him.
Illies pressed and in the final minute forced a corner which saw Paddy Doherty’s goal bound header cleared off the line by John G McLaughlin.
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Buncrana Hearts 0 Greencastle FC 3
This was a crucial result for the visitors and one which closes the gap on a number of teams above them.
They took an early lead when with the home defence appealing for offside Shaun Cavanagh advanced and slipped the ball low past Eoghan O’Doherty.
Buncrana replied with Bart Wesoloski firing one chance over, another wide and seeing a third hit the post.
Before the break Greencastle added second goal when James Henry fired a cross shot over O’Doherty and into the net.
The visitors made it 3-0 on 55 minutes when Sean Cavanagh controlled well on the edge of the area and swivelled to fire a powerful half volley past O’Doherty.
STRAND HOTEL FIRST DIVISION
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Carrowmena FC 1 Dunree United 4
THE game was only four minutes old with Dunree opened the scoring when Tommy Mulhern broke down the right channel to cut into the box and round Kyle Dougal to hit the net from 12 yards.
It wasn’t until the half hour mark when the next real opportunity fell the way of Dunree with McGuinness surging down the left side to cut into the box and bring the best out of Dougal but the rebound fell kindly for Sean Doherty to thread the ball through a cluster of players and hit the net for a two nil half time lead.
The second half didn’t come to life until 68th minute when McGuinness intercepted a poor clearance to play in Kevin McColgan who scored from 12 yards.
Straight from the centre Carrowmena attacked with Jude Harkin down the line who crossed into the area for Shane Skelly to shot but it was blocked out to Harkin who continued his run and finish to the net for glimmer of hope.
The home side had their tails up and put Dunree under pressure with a couple of consecutive corners one of which fell to Kevin Toner on the edge of the area but his shot just shaved the crossbar.
Another corner for the home team resulted in Raymond Campbells goal bound header cleared off the line and away to safety.
The home side had to play out the last fifteen minutes with ten men following an injury having made all their subs and it wasn’t long until Dunree capitalised when a loose pass was picked up in midfield and sent Eddie Cuffe in one on one with Dougal who shot under the keepers dive and the ball trickled over the line despite John Paul McDermott’s best efforts to clear it to safety.
Carn FC 4 Cockhill Celtic 3
CARN started well with Cathal Doyle, Brandon Browne and Darragh Deery all having efforts saved by Declan Caldwell.
Cockhill replied with James O’Donnell collecting a long throw in but seeing his effort blocked. Carn responded and Deery had an effort from point blank range saved before they broke the deadlock in the 15th minute after Brandon Browne picked up ball in centre of the field and played a cross field ball to Declan McGonagle who finished low across the keeper from eight yards.
Carn increased their lead in the 54th minute when a Matthew McLaughlin corner beat everyone to finish in off far post.
Cockhill got back into the game on 67 minutes when Doherty’s cross was headed home by James O’Donnell from close range.
Cockhill got back on terms a minute later when a long free into the area was headed home by Michael Coyle.
They stunned the home side on 75 minutes when they took the lead after Coyle was the first to react to slot home after a Martin Bradley shot rebounded off the post.
The home side got back on terms on 81 minutes when Browne crossed for McGonagle to finish first time at the far post.
They struck for the winner in injury time after an Aaron McCarron free was cleared to Matthew McLaughlin who fired to the roof of the net from the edge of the area.
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Rasheney FC 0 Redcastle United 3
IN a lively opening Philip Margey for the visitors and Ben Lafferty for the home side both had an effort blocked at either end.
Rasheney had a good spell with Declan McLaughlin spurning a good opening firing wide after good work by Paddy McGilloway before Tyler McBride had another effort blocked.
Margey had a header saved by Mc Gilloway in the home goal before at the other end Lafferty headed over the advancing Michael McCole but wide of the target.
Immediately the visitors took the lead after Darragh McConway crossed for Stephen McLaughlin who laid the ball back for Brendan Murphy to calmly slot the ball home from 14 yards.
On the stroke of half time John Downes missed a sitter after McLaughlin crossed and he fired wide when it looked easier to score.
Rasheney started the second period well and McLaughlin had an effort defelcted over before Christopher Ivers shot just wide and McLaughlin fired wide of an open goal after good work by Shane Gordon.
Redcastle doubled their lead when Margey’s inswinging corner drifted all the way into the net at the back post.
Murphy completed the scoring late on when the ball broek to him fifteen yards out and he finished with aplomb.
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