AILEACH FC went to the top of the Jackie Crossan Premier Division after they beat Carn and Buncrana overcame Clonmany to go second. Here’s a round-up of all the Inishowen League action:
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
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Buncrana Hearts 1 Clonmany Shamrocks 0
BUNCRANA Hearts ran out narrow winners in this game at home to last year’s runners up Clonmany.
Hearts welcomed Ryan Doherty back into their side today and he was man of the match in this game.
Hearts opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Calvin Gallagher played an excellent ball from the middle of the field out to Pat Loughrey who found Adam Duffy who scored an brilliant half volley from the edge of the box.
Clonmany finally came into this game minutes before half time when Mark McLaughlin saw his close range effort bounce back off the post and into the grateful hands of hearts keeper Eoghan O’Doherty.
The second half was again was all Hearts and Stephen McHugh fired a close range effort wide. Hearts again pressed the Clonmany goal and Ryan Curran flashed a long range effort over with 15 minutes left to play.
Mark McLaughlin once again went close when he hit the post from five yards. Hearts closed out this game and ran out deserved winners.
Aileach 2 Carn 1
AILEACH begun well and five minutes in Jordan McGeady got free down the right and his early cross found Cathal McElhinney but the centre half couldn’t keep his header on target.
On 20 minutes Aileach took the lead when a long through ball by Cathal McElhiney found Dermott Doherty in loads of space inside the box and he drilled the ball low past Daniel Houghton from 12 yards.
The middle of the half was a very scrappy affair with both sides guilty of wasting possession. With half time approaching, a miss hit clearance by Houghton was collected in midfield by McGeady and his goal bound lob from all of 40 yards brought a fine stop from the recovering Houghton.
Carn started the second half better and on 50 minutes Shane Doherty played a diagonal ball for Dermott Doherty but the winger just failed to control the ball and it fell nicely for Roulstone.
On the hour,Aileach replied when Anthony Doherty broke clear on the right but his shot from an acute angle was comfortably dealt with by Houghton.
Carn got back on terms on 70 minutes when Girn Dzelins got behind the Aileach defence and pulled the ball back for sub Darragh Deery to turn home from close range.
With five minutes left, Aileach regained the lead when Caomhan McFeeley rounded the full back and crossed for Thomas McMackin to head home from six yards.
With time almost up, a goal mouth scramble resulted in Darren McMonagle clearing off the line to secure the three points.
Quigley’s Point Swifts 0 Dunree United 2   Â
DUNREE United picked up their first points of the season with a hard-fought victory against Quigley’s Point Swifts in Muff.
The home side were on the attack early. In the first minute, Chris Montieth’s low shot forced a good save from Dunree keeper Phillip Doherty. On three minutes, Stephen Grant’s cross from the right was met by Raymond Buchanan but his shot was deflected over the bar from six yards.
The away side got into the game, with Phillip McGuinness going close with a sixteen yard effort on twelve minutes. Three minutes later, a long high ball from Liam Baldrick was latched onto by James O’Donnell but his Point keeper Oisin Burke blocked his shot from eight yards.
The rest of the half was scrappy affair with much of the play bogged down in midfield. Brian McColgan headed wide for the Swifts from another good cross from Grant on twenty-four minutes. A minute before the break, Dunree forward Oisin O’Flaherty was played through by a Darryl Moran pass but his shot found the side-netting.
The second half started much as the first ended, with the Quigley’s Point enjoying more of the possession but both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances.
On 55 minutes, Baldrick’s free-kick from the edge on the Point penalty box went over the bar. A minute later, Joe McKinney’s well-struck shot from 20 yards drew a strong save from Doherty.Dunree broke the deadlock on 66 minutes.
James O’Donnell was played in by O’Flaherty on the left hand side of the penalty box, and his shot from a tight angle went in off the far post.
The Muff side pushed for an equaliser, with Montieth going close from 16 yards on sixty-nine minutes.
The visitors were resilient and well-organised in defence, keeping the home side at bay under pressure.
Two minutes before the end, Montieth whipped in a free-kick from the left but an unmarked Brian McColgan failed to make contact with ball from six yards.
With the last attack of the game, Dunree made it two-nil.
After some good play down the right flank the ball fell to O’Flaherty just outside the box, and the striker’s effort deflected off a Point defender and over Oisin Burke to secure a timely win for the visiting side and snap Quigley’s Point’s four-game unbeaten run.
Strand Hotel Division One
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Rasheney FC 5 Carrowmena FC 1
THE home side started brightly and created early opportunities. John Grant delivered across the six yard box but there were no takers.
Charlie Doherty slipped a ball through to David McLaughlin near the penalty spot but his low shot was blocked by Noone’s legs. It was Noone to the rescue soon afterwards when he gathered another McLaughlin effort at the second attempt.
Carrowmena stunned the home team and took the lead midway through. Kevin McCauley landed a long range free into the box and when the ball broke Andrew McLaughlin placed a neat volley from 14 yards just inside Shaun Friel’s left hand post.
After Damien Friel had blazed over Rasheney equalised when Declan McLaughlin’s cross from the left was turned home by Matthew McLaughlin.
At the other end an attack along the right wing involving Mc Laughlin and Marty McDermott saw the latter fire wide of goal. Two goals in the space of four minutes placed Rasheney firmly in control.
Charlie Doherty’s left wing cross was converted at the back post by John Grant and minutes later Friel’s superb dipping shot from distance made it three-one.
Excellent early second half chances fell to McLaughlin and Friel but neither could capitalise but short of the hour mark the home team moved further in front.
From wide on the right Charlie Doherty put in great cross which eluded Noone and dropped invitingly at the back post for Grant who couldn’t miss with a headed effort from close in.
Matthew Oggie set up David McLaughlin and he hit home from the edge of the area.
The visitors had an opportunity to reduce the deficit but when McLaughlin found himself with a reasonable opening following good approach play by Doherty he did not react quick enough and his effort was blocked.
The closest Rasheney came to adding to their scoreline was when Friel’s dipping shot was claimed by Noone at the second time of asking.
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Clonmany Reserves 0 Aileach Reserves 0
THE match was similar to their first encounter at Lakeside with both sides creating good chances but being unable to take them.
Aileach probably had the best chance of the first half in the 42nd minute when Connor Harkin pulled the ball back to Sean McHugh on the penalty spot but he drove his shot wide when well placed.
Clonmany had to reshuffle early on when right back Aaron Harkin was injured with Jake Harkin coming on to replace him. Clonmany’s Dessie Doherty had a header just off target as the first half ended and in added injury time Brendan Doherty saw a shot from the edge of the box rise over the bar.
The second half was only minutes old when Clonmany keeper Liam McGonigle made a good save from a Ruairi Bradley shot and bravely dived on the loose ball on his goal-line.
Aileach’s Sean McHugh, Ruairi Bradley and Tom Doherty all threatened but some resolute defending by Clonmany kept them to shooting from distance and the game ended in a stale-mate.
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Illies Celtic 6 QPS Reserves 2
THUS match was played under the lights on Saturday night and although the home side’s Paddy Doherty missed an early penalty they did break the deadlock when Dominic Owen Coyle scored following a goalmouth scramble a quarter of an hour in.
Five minutes later Coyle turned provider when he surged forward and delivered into the area where John Pio Donaghey headed to the net.
The Point reduced the deficit when Paul Grant’s free from just outside the box found the target.
However, Illies restored their two goal advantage close to half time when Marty Coyle broke the offside trap and fired low past visiting keeper Oisin Burke.
On 56 minutes the returning Adam Harkin got on the end of a long ball from Caolan Doherty and fired home.
Illies went on to score three further goals.
Following a break Marty Coyle scored to make it four two and the goal of the game arrived when Stephen Doherty beat two defenders on the edge of the area and found the bottom corner.
Right at the death Dominic Owen Coyle completed the scoring after being set up by Stephen Doherty.
Sea Rovers 2 Moville Celtic 2
SEA Rovers, playing with the breeze, started the better of the teams and took the lead on the 13th minute when William Logan’s free from his own half found its way past Sean McGuiness in the Moville goal.
Moville were unlucky when Finn Mc Laughlin’s shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Glen Watson in the Rovers goal.
At the other end Garry Dohety for Rovers played in Tiernan Stevenson and his effort beat McGuiness but was cleared off the line to leave rovers one up at half time.
Moville with the breeze in the second half came more into the game and drew level on 60 minutes when P.J. Barr’s shot was deflected past Watson.
Sea Rovers regained the lead on 70 minutes after Damian ward found John C. Doherty to fire past Mc Guinness.
Moville again came back and levelled on 75 minutes when following a corner Eamonn Reddin rose to head home at the back post both sides had half chances after this but a draw was a fair reflection of the game
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Redcastle United 3 Cockhill Youths 1
THE home side started well and  in the 12th minute Brendan Murphy picked up the ball from Shaun Curran from just inside the halfway line, turned and passed the ball out wide to Paul McGowan who cut inside and shot from 25 yards straight into the top let hand corner of the net leaving Declan Cauldwell with no chance of making a save.
Cockhill responded with Tommy Doherty finding Darragh McDermott who shot low but Michael McCole made a fine save before Jack McDaid beat three defenders and squared for McDermott but he fired wide.
On 29 minutes Redcastle were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, but Shaun Curran shots low just wide of the post before the same player fired high and wide from another free just outside the area.
Cockhill had the final chance of the half when McDaid found Jarlith Herrity but he blazed over the top.
Redcastle got a dream start to the second period on 47minutes when Curran fired a penalty low to the right hand corner past Caldwell after Murphy was upended in the area.
Murphy picked the ball up at the center circle and passed a through ball into the path of Cathal Crumlish rounds Caldwell and slotted home to make it three nil.
Cockhill rallied and Shaun Donaghy fired a free kick just wide of the right hand post.
At the other end Caldwell made a fine save to deny Kevin Toner.
Cockhill pushed to the end and were unlucky when a Fionn Deery effort crashed back off the post.
They did get a consolation in injury time after Jarlith Herrity crossed the ball high to Dara McDermott who headed the ball past Michael McCole into the roof of the net.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two.
Dunree Reserves 3 Carn Reserves 5
IN the proverbial game of two halves the visitors were four up at half time with Dunree fighting back after the interval, pulling thee goals back and almost equalising before Carn added a fifth in injury time.
Carn hit the front early on when Niall McGuinness got control inside the area and scored from ten yards.
McGuinness doubled his side’s advantage following a long distance strike over keeper Simon Taylor.
Dylan Cooke poked home from five yards in a crowded area to put Carn three up and it was four prior to the break when Thomas Doherty found the target.
The second half saw the home side claw their way back into the game. A free kick from Conor Doherty was headed home by James Doherty.
When TJ McKinley was brought down Conor Doherty converted from the spot and the scoreline moved on to 3-4 when Johnny Doherty cut inside and drove to the far corner of the net.
Dunree had a chance to equalise but just failed. They kept pressing but in added time Thomas Doherty broke and squared the ball to Cooke who scored from close in.
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Culdaff Reserves 3 Glengad Reserves 2
IN a tightly contested first half the home side threatened when Bryan McCandless beat three defenders only to see his attempt on goal go wide of the upright.
Glengad responded through PJ Mc Daid but his excellent header was palmed round the post by Callum Doherty.
Culdaff moved in front after 36 minutes when Benny Fildara headed Josh Conlon’s free into the far corner.
Glengad were unlucky not to be level just prior to the break when a Paul McDermott header came back off an upright.
However, they did equalise on 59 minutes when McDaid converted from the spot following a trip in the box.
Ten minutes later the home side regained the lead when Fildara was on hand to finish off good work by McCandless.
The visitors were soon level when Paul Anthony McDermott received the ball inside the box, turned and drove home from about twelve yards for a neat finish.
The decisive score came when McLaughlin – who was the difference between the 2 sides – brilliantly curled a 25 yard free to the net to complete his hat-trick and claim all three points for his team.
Aileach Youths 3 Buncrana Reserves 5
PLAYED in treacherous conditions on Friday night both sides played football that defied the conditions with some excellent football on show throughout.
Aileach were first out of the traps and took the lead after five minutes when a great run and cross from Patrick Curran was slotted home by Caoimhghin McFeely at the near post.
Aileach continued to press and extended their lead on 25 minutes when McFeelys shot was deflected into the path of Curran who made no mistake from ten yards.
Buncrana got a goal back before the break when Paul McDaid rose in the box to power a header home from six yards.
Buncrana started the second half strongly and pulled level on the hour when Alan Friel stepped forward and fired a shot into the top left corner which gave Clarke no chance in the home goal.
Buncrana took the lead in the 64th minute after a Friel shot was saved by Clarke but the rebound fell kindly to O’Flaherty who tapped home.
This sprang Aileach back into life and after a hopeful cross by Benny Hegarty wasn’t cleared properly McFeely lashed the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box past Cathal McNutt in the Buncrana goal.
With 15 minutes to go, Buncrana regained the lead when another excellent corner by Craig Doherty wasn’t properly defended the ball fell to Adam Doherty who drove the ball through a lot of players and into the net.
Buncrana wrapped the game up in the final minute when they broke following an Aileach corner and Adam Doherty fed Ben Bradley who slotted into the bottom corner to complete the scoring.
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