SEA ROVERS, AILEACH RESERVES, Greencastle Reserves and QPS Reserves have advanced into the semi-finals of the Donegal Signs Reserve League Shield after claiming wins in their quarter-final ties at the weekend.
 Aileach Youths 0 Sea Rovers 2
SEA ROVERS lived up to their tag as favourites for this tie but Aileach Youths gave them a run for their money for long periods of the game.
Rovers started the game brightly and went close early on when Damien Ward shot from twenty yards but Dylan Clarke got down smartly to parry the ball past the post.
Aileach started to get a foothold in the game and a Stephen O’Donnell free kick was deflected into the path of Callum Porter but his shot was dealt with comfortably by Glenn Watson in the Rovers goal.
Rovers took the lead just before half time when Ward played Keelan Doherty through on goal. His shot was saved by Clarke but rebounded kindly back into his path to slot home.
Rovers made it 2-0 with 20 minutes to go when Ward broke clear of the Aileach defence before rounding Clarke and slotting in at the near post.
Aileach Reserves 3 Cockhill Reserves 1, AET
AILEACH started brightly and almost opened the scoring within five minutes when Dermot McGlynn fired a shot from the edge of the box that rattled the crossbar.
This stung Cockhill into action and they shocked the home team by taking the lead in the 10th minute when Marty McDermott saw his initial shot saved by John Roulston, but he forced the rebound home from 12 yards.
With Aileach still rocking Alan Fletcher almost doubled their lead when he forced a smart save from Roulston minutes later.
Aileach almost equalised on the stroke of half time when Conor Bradley smashed a volley from 30 yards that was heading for the top corner before Robinson pulled off a fingertip save to divert the ball over the bar.
On the hour Cockhill were reduced to 10 men when Bernard Gubbins was given his marching orders for a second yellow card.
Aileach continued to press but the Cockhill defence stood firm until Gregory Doherty released Ruairi Bradley on the right and he cut inside to fire his shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards in the 80th minute.
Aileach pressed for a winner in normal time but only half chances were created.
Five minutes into extra time Cockhill had a fortuitous escape when a David Ryan cross was headed against the post by Ruairi Bradley and as the ball bounced around the box, Thomas McMackin smashed a shot towards goal that cannoned off the crossbar and away to safety.
Five minutes later, Aileach had the lead when a pass by Stephen Doherty was dummied by Ryan into the path of Bradley who again turned inside his marker and shot Aileach into
the lead.
In the second half of extra time with Cockhill visibly tiring, Ruairi Bradley released McMackin who outpaced the away defence and shot across Robinson into the far corner to wrap up the game.
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Greencastle Reserves 1 Illies Reserves 0
PAURIC Gillen got the only goal of the game when a poor clearance from Illies defence came bouncing out to Gillen who’s half volley in the 23rd minute from 30 yards looped over the visiting keeper and into the net.
Illies had their best chance of the game when Gerard McDaid was one-on-one with Greencastle keeper Seamus Bovaird in the final minutes of first half but Bovaird was in good form to save well.
Joe Mc Daid came close for Illies from a corner after the break but his header from the back post was tipped over the bar by Bovaird.
Man-of-the-match Rory Lafferty came close to adding a second on the hour mark but the Illies keeper Jason Campbell saved well.
With Christy Hegarty and David Gillespie missing chances near the end the home team could not settle until the final whistle.
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Buncrana Reserves 2 QPS Reserves 4, AET
IT TOOK the opening goal to ignite this match into a full blooded cup tie and this didn’t arrive until ten minutes into the second half.
The opening goal came from a scramble in the six yard box which was only cleared as far as McConnalogue to fire home.
This seemed to awaken the Hearts’ attacking mode and five minutes later Wesolowsky had them back on level terms.
The Point regained the lead on seventy minutes when they were awarded a free kick 20 yards out which Paul Hegarty converted by firing the ball directly into the top right hand corner.
Eoin Murphy was a handful for the Point throughout the match and on 80 minutes, after a brilliant run from deep in his own half, he unleashed a shot from 25 yards which beat the keeper but crashed back of the crossbar.
It fell to the unmarked Adam Duffy who stroked past a stranded David Bell.
Into extra time and Hearts were now enjoying their best period of the match.
Dale Kerr should possibly have given them the lead if he hadn’t rushed his shot and Adam Duffy was unfortunate to see his lob on go inches wide.
Within minutes of this Ultan Mc Cool pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to score the decisive goal.
Injuries reduced the Hearts to ten men in the second period of extra time and this proved to be a hurdle too much.In the final minute Denim McLaughlin intercepted a defensive pass and strolled forward to slot home.
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