With Glengad and Greencastle in Junior Cup action, Aileach joined them at the summit of the Jackie Crossan Premier Divisions thanks to a win over Illies – here’s a full round-up from the Inishowen League.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Redcastle United 0 Clonmany Shamrocks 4
Redcastle started the game well with some good possession but the high press from Clonmany (pictured) seen them create the first chance of the game.
A through ball from Niall McLaughlin found Oisin Hession who took the ball around the onrushing keeper and rolled the ball into the back of the empty net, to make it 1-0.
Clonmany dominated for the rest of the half and with 17 minutes played they almost doubled their lead when a cut-back from Christopher Harkin found Declan McLaughlin who put his effort wide from six yards out.
It wasn’t long before Clonmany got their second, on 24 minutes a corner from Niall McLaughlin found Jason Devlin who headed in past the Redcastle keeper.
With five minutes played in the second half a cross from Jake Harkin was volleyed well by Declan McLaughlin who put it past the keeper to make it three.
Clonmany got their final goal when a run from Fergal Harkin beat three Redcastle players and his pass found Niall McLaughlin who beat the keeper at the near post.
A dominant performance from Clonmany who deserved their win.
Culdaff FC 2 Carn FC 1
In difficult conditions for both sides Culdaff started well forcing a number of early corners one of which saw an in-swinging Paul McLaughlin effort tipped over the bar by Fergal Doherty.
Michael Coyle then ran on to a quick throw in but Doherty advanced to smother well. Carn replied and Brandon Browne broke into the area on the left but fired into the side netting.
Culdaff replied and following a scramble in the area after a corner Bryan McCandless saw his effort loop over the bar.
The home side took the lead then before the break when a superb Thomas O’Brien cross from the right found Michael Coyle to slide in and force the ball home from six yards.
Coyle then broke into the area on the left but his shot was deflected behind by Conor Doherty sliding in.
Carn had territorial advantage in the second half but really failed to trouble Darragh McLaughlin in the home goal.
They got back on terms on 71 minutes when a long clearance from Conor Doherty deceived the advancing McLaughlin and bounced into the net.
Culdaff regained the lead on 83 minutes when Dermot Diver released substitute Ben Curley with a quick free on the left and when he cut in and crossed to Aiden Cunningham he laid it off for Bryan McCandless to drill home.
Carn spurned a great chance on 89 minutes after a defensive error gifted substitute Matthew McLaughlin the ball on the edge of the area but he snatched at the chance and McLaughlin saved easily.
Illies Celtic 1 Aileach FC 2
After an even opening to this game a defensive error in the home defence allowed Gavin Doherty to fire high past Johnathan Noone from 12 yards on 21minutes.
Illies replied with a half chance after Paddy Doherty fed Kevin McGonigle but he lifted his shot well over the bar.
Aileach doubled their lead on the half hour when Doherty burst through the home defence and again finished high to the net.
Before the break Paul Doherty for the home side drove over the bar. Illies had a lot of pressure in the second half but failed to trouble Ciaran Bradley in the visitors goal.
Paul and Paddy Doherty and Adam Duffy all fired efforts over the bar.
They got a consolation in the last minute after a Liam Grant corner was inadvertently headed into his own net by an unfortunate defender.
Strand Hotel First Division
Rasheney FC 4 QPS 0
QPS dominated large parts of this game and Stephen Harley had an effort saved by Kieran Friel before setting up Deaglan Bown but Brian McColgan released John McCluskey up the left and he crossed for Bown again to slot home on the half hour. Rasheney replied with Tiernan McDonald dragging an effort across goal and wide before Brian Doherty saw a header palmed away by Aiden Lynch.
On the stroke of half time the visitors made it three nil when after Friel had parried an Aaron McColgan effort the ball kindly for Bown to slot home and complete his hat trick.
It was a similar pattern in the second half with Sean Downeys low cross eluding all before the same player had an effort saved by Friel.
On 67minutes a defensive lapse allowed McCluskey to slot home the fourth.
Aaron McColgan then saw a lob drift over the bar before Downey’s effort came off the bar. McCloskey had the final chance but after his effort was parried Friel recovered to hack off the line.
Dunree United 1 Gleneely Colts 1
Dunree had the first chance on 19 minutes when a Philip McGuinness cross found William Doherty well placed but he scuffed his effort straight at Ben Miller.
The colts responded with a fine strike from Billy McCann but his effort was well gathered by Sean Parker.
Before the break good play from Darryl Moran saw him curl an inviting cross to the back post but there were no takers.
When the home defence failed to clear a corner midway through the second half Nathan McLaughlin reacted well to fire the visitors into the lead.
The home side equalised when Bernie Doherty converted a penalty low to the corner after he had been fouled.
Both sides had late chances to win the game with Miller denying Moran while McCann saw his effort tipped around the post by Parker.
Moville Celtic 4 Cockhill Youths 0
The visitors had the first scoring opportunity in the 6th minute when Jack McDaid struck David Laird’s cross from the right from eight yards but home keeper Coyle did well to tip around his near post for a corner.
Moville took the lead in the 14th minute after Michael McNaught played the ball forward low around the Cockhill defence to the onrushing Nathan Harkin who’s first time angled drive beat keeper Kyle Dougal and went in off the far post.
Moville’s second came in the 39th minute when Caolan Doherty did well to intercept the ball out of defence. His square ball to McNaught left him free to fire past Dougal from 16 yards.
Dougal kept the score at two-nil in the 42nd minute with a fine tip over the bar from Doherty’s turn and shot from 12 yards out.
McDaid and Laird combined again at the end of the first half but Coyle again did well to tip McDaid’s header around the post.
The home side made it three nil minutes into the second half with Harkin’s chip over the Cockhill defence setting Caolan Doherty free. His shot from 18 yards comfortably beating the visiting keeper.
Moments later Moville’s Conor Lafferty had an attempt from outside the area which was blocked by Noone and gratefully smothered by Dougal.
In the 56th minute Moville had their fourth after Finn McLaughlin this time caught out the visitors with a ball over the top allowing McNaught to race into the box and dispatch a low angled drive into the far corner.
Midway through the second half Cockhill had chances with McDaid blasting over when well placed and substitute Darragh McDermott hitting the side netting after intercepting a Moville back pass.
In the last minute Moville could have had a fifth after McNaught won a penalty but he chipped the spot kick over the crossbar.
Sea Rovers 1 Glengad Res 4
There was a scrappy opening to this game before Glengad had the first chance after a John McDaid free found Joe Doherty but he failed to hit the target.
They took the lead midway through the half when a Brian Doherty shot dipped under the bar despite Glen Watson getting a hand to it.
Rovers replied and a Damien Ward effort was superbly tipped over by Michael McLaughlin.
Glengad then broke with PJ McDaid on the right and his cross found John McDaid but he fired over.
The visitors doubled their lead on 51 minutes after Paul McGonigle hammered a penalty low into the bottom left hand corner after Gary Kelly had been upended. Rovers responded and both Gary Farren and Conor Gallagher were off target with efforts from outside the box.
They got a goal back on 69minutes when Ward converted a penalty awarded for hand ball. William Logan then fired narrowly wide with a free kick before at the other end Joe Doherty was unlucky to see his effort crash off the bar.
Glengad sealed the points when Gary Kelly rounded a defender and slotted low past Watson.
They completed the scoring on 89 minutes when an in-swinging Joe Doherty corner eluded all and nestled in the top corner.
Buncrana Res 3 Aileach Res 3
Goals twenty seconds after the kick off and twenty seconds from the final whistle bookended this very entertaining draw.
A defensive error from the kick-off saw Hearts’ Darach O’Connor put thwm in front.
Hearts almost extended this lead extended this lead on 12 minutes when John O’Loughlin broke from midfield and put O’Connor in on goal but Aileach keeper fox saved.
Fox was in action again shortly after when Stephen McHugh was through one on one with the keeper but he made a fine save with his feet.
McHugh did extend the lead on twenty two minutes when Craig Doherty picked him out in the penalty box and this time he rounded the keeper to score.
Aileach came back into the game on thirty seven minutes when Eamonn Brown scored and two minutes later they when on level term when a poor defensive clearance was volleyed to the back off the net from 30 yards by Gareth McGlynn.
As the half was drawing to a close a Hearts’ free kick into the Aileach box held up in the stiff breeze and O’Connor headed home his second goal of the match.
The second half started with Hearts on the attack, Kevin O’Loughlin tested Fox from distance and the base of the post prevented Mc Hugh from adding to his and Hearts goal tally.
After this the game swung from end to end but neither keeper was seriously tested. With time running out Shane McMonagle got in on the back post to earn Aileach a share of the points in what was a very entertaining game.
Division Two
Cockhill Res 1 Aileach Youth 1
It was an even start to the match in very blustery conditions but neither side really created any clear cut chances of note in the opening stages.
However, it was the home side who threatened first after 10 minutes when good play from Cockhill led to a chance for Shay McLaughlin who broke through from the corner of the box but Aileach keeper Dyan Clarke made a good block to deny Cockhill an early lead.
Aileach started to put Cockhill under some pressure, forcing a number of corners. From the breaking ball Pol McGrory had an effort well saved by Kevin McDaid who tipped his close range effort over.
Aileach’s pressure eventually paid off as they took the lead on the half hour mark from another corner, this time Benny Hegarty rose highest to head the ball home past Kevin McDaid from six yards.
Aileach almost made it two nil with a replica of the first but this time Benny Hegary’s effort was cleared off the line by Shay McLaughlin.
Cockhill responded well and almost equalised right on half time.
A good through ball by Ryan Mallett to Michael Owen Doherty who held off two strong challenges to get through on goal and his effort looked in all the way but took a slight deflection off the recovering defender and hit the post. Cockhill started the stronger of the 2 teams in the second half creating a number of good chances and forcing a few fine saves from Dylan Clarke.
Damien Friel was first up with a curling 25 yard effort that looked in all the way until Dylan Clarke somehow got a strong hand on it to tip it round the post.
Gary Breslin found himself in a bit of space in the box shortly after and his goal bound effort was again well saved by Dylan Clarke.
Aileach were dangerous on the counter attack and almost scored when Aaron Doherty made a good run inside and looked like he was about to score but a great recovering run and tackle by Mark Gillespie denied him.
Cockhill almost equalised midway through the second half, a well struck free kick by Daibhidh Grant hit the bar as Cockhill pushed hard to level the match up.
However, with 15 minutes left, Cockhill scored the equaliser.
A dangerous corner was not cleared and landed in the six yards box and it was Cockhill captain Barney Gubbins who was quickest to react and slot the ball home.Almost right away
Aileach took the lead again with a quick break as they caught Cockhill flat, Benny Hegarty setting up Stephen Doherty but his effort went wide.
Cockhill settled after that Aileach chance, passing up a few good chances in the latter stages and almost grabbed all three points at the very end and with two men pulling clear but the final pass to put them through on goal was just too heavy and the chance was gone as the final whistle went.
Dunree Res 0 Illies Res 2
In a game of few chances Illies took the lead on 25 minutes after a Shane Devlin corner found the unmarked Joe McDaid to head past Ryan Fitzpatrick from eight yards.
Dunree replied before the break when Ryan O’Donnell’s effort the edge of the area was well saved by Kevin Gallagher.
Dunree had the first clear chance of the second half on 67 minutes when Eamon Fullerton broke into the area but his shot was deflected away by the legs of Gallagher.
Illies sealed the points on 88 minutes after Ethan Doherty robbed a defender and fired low past the advancing Fitzpatrick.
Moville Res 3 Greencastle Res 0
Moville clinched their spot in Division 2A with this emphatic win over their close rivals.
They took an early lead after a Graeme Doherty free came off the post to John McGeady to follow up and slot home.
Greencastle responded and Joe Doherty had one effort which flew inches over the bar before another one on the stroke of half time was turned round the post by Sean McGuinness.
Both Joe and Ronan Doherty went close with half chances after the break. But the home side increased their lead when a Lee McColgan corner found McGeady to head home.
Greencastle kept pushing and Conor Gillen shot weakly into the side netting when in the clear.
Andrew Peoples fed Joe Doherty but his shot came off the underside of the bar and out. Moville sealed the tie late on after a Graeme Doherty clearance sent Danny Murphy clear and he slotted low past Aiden Campbell.
Clonmany Res 3 Carn Res 2
Clonmany took the lead in the second minute after Conor Doherty fed Pearse McCarron and he fired low past Jack Nelson from just inside the area.
Carn equalised on 28 minutes when Christy McDaid sent a superb left footed curling effort into the top corner past Cillian McCarron who had a fine game in the home goal.
McDaid then released Tiernan Coyne but he sliced horribly wide when well placed twelve yards out.
Before the break McDaid then fired another effort which crashed off the bar. Clonmany regained the lead on minutes when Doherty’s cross was controlled on the six yard line by Thomas Comiskey before he drilled low past Nelson.
Carn levelled again midway through the half after Coyne advanced from midfield and drilled a low shot past the advancing McCarron.
Once again the home side went in front after Nathan McKinney’s shot was parried by Nelson but Conor Doherty reacted first to slot home.
Carn pressed and Dayton Cooke robbed a defender but fired wide. The visitors pressed hard but the home defence stood firm to claim all three points.
QPS Res 1 Redcastle Res 2
After a quiet opening, Josh Boyle for QPS found Caolain Harkin 30 yards out and his well struck shot was deflected just wide of the post with the keeper beaten.
From the resulting corner, Jack McConnellogue worked an opening but Redcastle keeper Paul Doherty, saved smartly to his left.
Brendan Murphy and Terry McColgan combined for Redcastle, but Murphy was crowded out when he looked poised to score.
Redcastly opened the scoring on 34 minutes, when Emmet McConway won a header in midfield, Brendan Murphy flicked on and Terry McColgan beat QPS keeper Bell to the ball and scored into the corner.
QPS started the second half well, but a well organised Redcastle defence kept them out.
Redcastle doubled their lead on 51 minutes when a misplaced pass came to Brendan Murphy inside the Redcastle half and his well struck shot sailed over QPS keeper Bell and into the net.
QPS pushed Redcastle back but Redcastle were always dangerous on the break and a Mark Doherty shot on the run was tipped onto the crossbar and scrambled clear by the Point defence.
Ronan Lafferty and Josh Boyle for QPS were causing problems with their strong running and Boyle pulled one back on 76 minutes when he ran onto a Lafferty pass and his fiercely struck shot on the run flew into the net.
Joe Johnstone and Paul Grant had chances to equalise but the Redcastle defence held firm.
