CLONMANY RESERVES and Carrowmena Reserves continued their respective marches towards success in the Reserve Divisions of the Inishowen League yesterday.
Inishowen Engineering Reserve Premier Division
Glengad Reserves 1 Buncrana Reserves 3
DESPITE playing against the wind Glengad had the first opportunity when PJ McDaid fired wide with only Ryan O’Sullivan to beat.
Buncrana then took the lead on 11 minutes when Stephen McHugh intercepted a back pass before rounding Michael Mclaughlin to slot home.
Within minutes they had made it two nil after John O’Loughlin released Michael Doherty who sidestepped a defender and slotted low past McLaughlin.
Glengad responded and midway through the half they got a goal back when the visitors defence failed to clear a Daniel McDaid cross and in the ensuing scramble PJ McDaid fired home.
Before the interval Buncrana restored their two goal advantage when O’Loughlin found Doherty again and this time he controlled well before firing high past McLaughlin from fifteen yards.
Buncrana had the first chance of the second half when Michael Doherty headed a McHugh cross over the bar from eight yards. Gengad had the majority of possession but created very few clear chances.
On 66 minutes Conor McColgan had a low effort well held by O’Sullivan. PJ McDaid then broke clear on 75 minutes but was forced wide by O’Sullivan who eventually smothered at his feet. Buncrana broke on 87 minutes with Doherty breaking clear but he fired weakly at McLaughlin. The final chance fell to the home side when a Paul McGonagle free from twenty five yards was superbly tipped onto the post by O’Sullivan.
Clonmany Reserves 3 Moville Reserves 2
SWITCHES to the Bayfield in Moville league leaders Clonmany started slowly and Moville had the first chance on 18 minutes when Finn McLaughlin broke into the area and when his effort was blocked by the legs of Liam McGonigle the ball fell to Gareth Foynes who blazed over.
Midway through the half Clonmany broke the deadlock after the Moville defence failed to clear a corner allowing Alan Friel to head home at the near post.
On 36 minutes they doubled their lead after a long ball from Martin Kelly found Friel who advanced to chip the advancing Coyle from twelve yards.
Moville got a lifeline on the stroke of half time when Norbert Indyka beat the offside trap to race clear and cooly finish past McGonigle.
Two minutes into the second period Moville equalised when Michael McNaught pounced on a defensive error and raced clear to drill low past McGonigle.
Moville were on top at this stage and midway through the half they were unlucky when another McNaught effort crashed back off the post.
Clonmany rallied and struck for the winner in the 86th minute when Aaron Harkin was upended in the area and Brendan Doherty fired the spot kick low to Coyle’s left hand side.
Inishowen Engineering Reserve Division One
Carrowmena Reserves 3 Redcastle Reserves 1
LEAGUE leaders Carrowmena continue their march to the title and with three games left they know that two wins should secure them the title.
With both their nearest challengers to play they can take nothing for granted yet. They started well in this game but Redcastle stood firm with Liam Davenport and Seamus Farren in commanding form at the back.
Both James and Oran McDermott had efforts well saved by Mark Doherty in the visitors goal. The home side broke the deadlock on 41 minutes when Gerard Gill collected a throw in from Declan McDermott and turned before shooting low to the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Minutes later they made it two nil when Declan McDermott broke on the left and fed Oran McDermott who scored with a superb lob finish from 16 yards.
Redcastle started the second half well with the benefit of the wind and reduced the deficit on 53 minutes when after the home defence failed to clear Michael Bonner slotted home.
Urged on by Daniel Harkin and Gerard McLaughlin the visitors kept pressing and forced a number of corners but really failed to create any clear chances.
Carrowmena sealed the tie then on 75 minutes when Gill threaded a ball into Oran McDermott who beat the offside trap to race clear and drill the ball low past Doherty.
Culdaff Reserves 3 Dunree Reserves 2
In drizzly conditions on an excellent surface Culdaff dominated the opening exchanges and created an early chance after Niall McLaughlin controlled well and back heeled the ball into the path of Aiden Cunningham whose effort was saved by James Gill.
On 7 minutes they went close again after a JJ Doherty free broke into the path of William Hutchinson whose powerful effort cashed off the bar.
They broke the deadlock on 9 minutes with an excellent goal when McLaughlin fed Niall Gordon who advanced on the left and crossed to Cunningham who controlled instantly and fired low past Gill from eight yards for his first senior goal.
Minutes later they made it two nil after a great run from Gordon saw him lay the ball off to Hutchinson who fired a 25-yards effort with the outside of the right foot to the bottom corner.
They went close again after a Jack McLaughlin corner found JJ Doherty whose headed was cleared off the line by John Doherty.
Dunree tried to respond and a superb run on the right by Jerry Farrell saw his cross from the end line clip the post.
The home side responded with another terrific goal when Mc Laughlin fed the ball into Cunningham who released Hutchinson on the right and his pin point cross as headed home at the back post by McLaughlin.
Dunree’s best chance of the half arrived on 41 minutes when great control by Bernie Doherty saw him release Farrell who advanced to the edge of the area but saw his effort superbly turned round the post by Callum Doherty.
Culdaff should have added a fourth on the stroke of half time when an inswinging corner from Cunningham found the inrushing McLaughlin but from point blank range he failed to direct his header on target.
Dunree started the second period well on top and got a goal back on 48 minutes when a superb diagonal ball from Martin Lynch released Tommy Doherty who outpaced a defender and slotted low past Callum Doherty.
On the hour mark they reduced the deficit to the minimum when Doherty broke onto a long clearance and when his initial effort was blocked he was upended in the area and he picked himself up to slot the penalty to the net.
Culdaff responded and Cunningham broke into the area but his effort was blocked by a defender.
Dunree were in the ascendancy and when Tommy Doherty broke on the right he cross for Bernie Doherty but unmarked he headed over.
On 86 minutes a free kick from the left by Lynch was well gathered by Doherty in the home goal, but the home side held firm in the closing stages to claim the points.
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