CLONMANY WENT to the top of the Jackie Crossan Premier Division yesterday thanks to a narrow 1-0 win at Aileach. Here’s how all the action went:
Culdaff FC 1 QPS 4
THE home side’s season of woe continues but the visitors recorded their first win of the season.
QPS started well with Joseph Mckinney denied by a fine save from Puaric O Donnell.
Culdaff replied and Michael Coyle headed wide from a corner before Dillon Ruddy released Coyle with a ball over the top but David Bell advanced to gather.
The Point spurned a great chance after an excellent Jordan Mclaughlin free found McKinney in front of goal but he miscued when he should have done better.
After the home side lost possession on 26 minutes Odhran McColgan fed Joe McKinney through the centreand he poked the ball home past the advancing O’Donnell.
McColgan then had a good effort well saved by O Donnell from a tight angle.
The home side levelled on 33 minutes when Eugene McLaughlin fired a stunning free kick to the top corner from the edge of the area. Another defensive error before the break saw McColgan lay the ball off to Jordan McLaughlin who curled the ball with the outside of his right foot past O’Donnell.
The Point had a great start to the second period when McColgan converted a penalty which the home side hotly contested.
Culdaff rallied and Coyle headed a Ryan Greene free over before Gary Collins released Niall McLaughlin through the middle and with Bell racing out of his area the big striker fired past him from thirty yards but it drifted just wide before substitute Jack McLaughlin had a shot blocked.
The Point completed the scoring when a Jordan McLaughlin free found Brian McColgan who powered a header to the roof of the net.
Glengad United 0 Greencastle FC 0
THIS top of the table clash failed to live up to expectations with a lot of the play bogged down in midfield and defences on top.
Of the two the home side will be happier with a point but the visitors will be slightly disappointed.
Glengad had an early chance after Terence Doherty cut in from the right past two defenders but saw his effort saved by JP O Doherty.
Greencastle replied and Matthew Henry fired a free kick over the bar midway through the half.
The best chance of the game fell to the visitors on 43 minutes when Henry cut into the area past two defenders but well placed fired into the side netting from 15 yards.
The second half saw defences dominate and neither keeper overly troubled. The only chance fell to the visitors again on 77 minutes when a Michael Barr cross found Jamie McCormick but his shot was well saved by Kevin McLaughlin.
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Aileach FC 0 Clonmany Shamrocks 1
THIS was a crucial win for the Shamrocks in a closely fought encounter with few clear chances.
After a close opening period Aileach forced a succession of corners but failed to trouble Patrick Harkin.
On 29 minutes a Kieran McGrory cross found Anthony Doherty but his glancing header drifted wide.
Three minutes later Aileach failed to defend a throw in allowing Mikey Friel to drill the ball across the face of goal for Jason Devlin to slot home for what turned out to be the winning goal.
Aileach upped the tempo on the restart with Dermot Doherty firing narrowly wide before Anthony Doherty got in behind the shamrocks defence but hesitated and the chance was cleared.
The closest they came was from a Darren McMonagle free which saw Cathal McElhinney’s powerful header brilliantly tipped over by Harkin.
Clonmany should have doubled their lead when James Gillespie done brilliantly to clear a Jason Devlin effort off the line to Paddy Doherty who blazed the follow up over the bar.
Aileach tried hard to the end but the Shamrocks defence well marshalled by Andrew Doherty and Philip Devlin stood firm.
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Buncrana Hearts 1 Dunree United 0
BUNCRANA started well and in the opening period and both Liam McCarron and Declan Fullerton fired over.
Dunree replied and Philip McGuinness should have opened the scoring but Eoghan O’Doherty produced a superb save. When O Doherty failed to control a back pass the home defence somehow managed to clear.
As half time approached the home side broke the deadlock against the run of play when the Dunree defence failed to clear a corner allowing Adam Duffy to brilliantly fire to the top corner.
The home side started the second period well and on 55 minutes Kieran McDaid was unlucky to see his header crash back off the post. Buncrana sat back and invited the visitors onto them and the introduction of the experienced John O’Loughlin helped keep the home side solid and they saw out the game to claim the points.
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