Full round-up of all the action from around the leagues in the Donegal Junior League.
Donegal Town Reserves 2 Milford United Reserves 1
Donegal Town won this encounter at the Hospital Field. Chances were at a premium for the opening half hour but the deadlock was broken when Ted slotted home from the edge of the box.
Donegal should have went two up shortly afterwards when James Kerrigan picked out Stitt at the back post after a great run. With the goal gaping the Milford keeper came from nowhere to deny Stitt.
Milford started the second half the brighter. They soon found themselves level after a great strike from the edge of the box when Donegal failed to clear a corner. Milford had the momentum at this stage and were taking the game to the Donegal but they couldn’t capitalise.
As the game drew to a close it was Stitt who had the last word as his long-range effort took a deflection and flew into the Milford net. Milford tried to rally but the final whistle sounded. An entertaining game with a solid effort from both sides.
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 1 Glencar Celtic 3
Eddie Mc Laughlin put Glencar ahead after two minutes. There were no further clear-cut chances for a while as both defences were in top form. On 40 minutes Michael Lynch had a one on one with the visiting Keeper who made a great save.
On 50 minutes Mickey Crossan sent through a great pass from the half-way line to Michael Lynch but his header was saved. On 65 minutes Eddie Mc Laughlin made in 2-0 to Glencar Celtic.
Micheal Lynch had another great chance on 70 minutes but he put it wide. Then on 75 minutes Micheal Lynch made it 2-1, from a scramble in the six-yard box. On 80 minutes Odhran Barron made it 3-1 to Glencar and that’s how it ended.
Oldtown Celtic 4 Fintown Harps AFC 1
Oldtown started brightly and found themselves two up after fifteen minutes. The first had great build up play, with one touch passing resulting in Ronan Curran crossing for Sean Cleary who had time to pick his spot. Shortly afterwards Curran made it two with a great one-touch finish.
It was 2-0 at the break. Oldtown then killed the game off when a great run from Luke Nelis saw him pick out Sean Cleary who made no mistake.
Oldtown scored their fourth when Ryan Tyrell headed home from a delightful free-kick into the box. Fintown to their credit battled on and got their reward when they won the ball outside the Oldtown penalty area and produced a magnificent finish, giving the keeper no chance.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Ballybofey United Reserves 3 Castlefin Celtic Reserves 2
When Martin O’ Reilly and Matthew O’ Rourke last shared a football field they were team-mates on the Ballybofey United Youth Team managed by Paul “Ollie” Doherty.
Saturday, now several years later, and the pair renewed acquaintances when they led their respective sides, Ballybofey United and Castlefin Celtic in a Donegal Junior League, Saturday League fixture. O’ Rourke has become a house-hold name in Donegal League terms, a prolific goal-scorer who has served his local team well. O’ Reilly on the other hand would be best known for his GAA exploits, an ex member of the Donegal Senior Panels of many recent seasons appearing only occasionally for his Underage club. They both led the lines on Saturday as the two Finn Valley Clubs met in the Old Orchard Saturday Division Two.
Ballybofey took the lead on twelve minutes thanks to a Kelan Browne effort. Lee Mc Laughlin levelled for Castlefin on twenty eight minutes. It remained deadlocked until the break. Five minutes after the re-start Ballybofey again went in front, this time through Aaron Gilhooley. On sixty minutes Reece Gallagher broke behind the Ballybofey defence and was awarded a penalty after contesting the loose ball with the home keeper.
He converted the spot-kick himself. With the possession stakes fairly even another goal would likely claim the points and that’s how it transpired. Prowling on the edge of the Castlefin penalty area, O’ Reilly needed no second invitation when the ball broke to him and he turned smartly to shot past Mc Brearty.
It was great to see so many young players in the ranks of both sides. Both teams can be pleased with their effort and determination. Referee: George Montgomery.
Cappry Rovers Reserves 1 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 0
Drumoghill started the game well and pressed Cappry back from the start but the Cappry defence held firm. The young Cappry side then came into the game and had a great chance to open the scoring mid-way through the first half but Jack Bradley saw his effort saved. Drumoghill could not find a way through the Cappry defence. In the second half both defences were well on top and chances were hard to come by.
In the 66th minute Cappry took the lead through Conor Scanlon who headed home a Ryan Mc Gee corner.
Drumoghill pushed on and tried to get level but couldn’t find a way through the Cappry defence. Cappry could have added to their lead but both David Gethins and Daire Mc Cafferty saw their efforts saved. Two decent team performances. Referee: Frank Duff
Dunlewey Celtic 1 Drumbar F.C. 1
A dogged affair between two old foes at Glentornan ended with the spoils shared. Drumbar struck early and took the lead when Vincent Breslin capitalised on a loose ball to slot neatly past the Dunlewey stopper. Dunlewey battled to get back into proceedings and were unfortunate not to level when their penalty was saved midway through the second half.
They eventually got an equaliser however through Kyran Glennon. Both sides battled in the second half to get the three points, but neither side could break the opposition defence down. A point apiece was a fair result.
Copany Rovers 0 Drumkeen United Reserves 3
(No Report Submitted)
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 9 Cranford United Reserves 2
There were goals galore at Lurgy Park as the hosts found themselves ahead inside the first minute through Mark Gallagher. It was level on five minutes when James Lee Mc Bride scored for the visitors. Kilmacrennan went 2-1 up through a tidy finish from Kyle Mc Garvey.
James Mc Sharry then scored the first of his four goals to make it 3-1 with 20 minutes on the clock. Cranford got one back through Paddy Shiels and the half ended 3-2.
It was all Kilmacrennan in the second half as Eddie Doherty bagged two goals and Mc Sharry added another three. Mark Gallagher got a second and the Sunday team gaffer also got on the scoresheet. Timmy Burke played brilliant throughout the match.
Sunday 29th September 2019
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Castlefin Celtic 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic 3
(No Report Submitted)
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Ballybofey United 9 St. Catherines 1
St. Catherines visited Ballybofey on Sunday afternoon loaded with young players who they have nurtured through their underage system over recent years. Ballybofey on the other hand had several seasoned players in their ranks and their experience told on the day.
They led 2-0 at the break and went 4-0 up before St. Catherines managed to get on the score-sheet. Ballybofey then went on to add a further five goals in a game where young mark Sproule made his senior debut for the club. Once again Damien Glackin did the majority of the damage for Ballybofey as he helped himself to a hat-trick.
Conor Doherty got two while Ronan Mc Menamin, Jude Patton, Mark Griffin and Shaun Friel grabbed one apiece. Referee: Barry Hunter.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre
Deele Harps 0 Whitestrand United 2
Deele entertained high flying Whitestrand at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday. Before the kick-off there was an impeccably observed minutes silence in memory of Paul “Diddler” Dillion. Both teams were up for this one and there were chances for both sides early on.
Adi Gallagher went close on two occasions before Whitestrand hit the woodwork and an Eddie Connolly headed clearance off the line on 35 minutes kept the scores level at half time. The away team had the bulk of possession in the second half but found Deele hard to break down.
On 70 minutes Deele had a golden chance to take the lead when Conor Catterson was through on goal but chose to pass and the chance was gone. From their next attack Whitestrand took the lead, an innocuous cross was headed home brilliantly by Liam O’ Riordan on 73 minutes.
Deele pushed for an equaliser but were caught in the dying minutes when Kevin Mc Carry slid home at the back post to finish a counter attacking move. Team performances. Referee: Tony McNamee.
Dunkineely Celtic 1 Curragh Athletic 3
Both teams started the game at a high tempo but it was Dunkineely who took the lead on 7 minutes when Adrian Nesbitt latched onto an excellent through ball from Aaron Mc Shane and he put the ball over the keeper and into the Curragh net. Curragh responded straight away and Corey Byrne got down well to his right to save a shot after 12 minutes.
Curragh continued to push and after 28 minutes a free kick was sent narrowly over the Dunkineely cross bar, Curragh continued to apply the pressure until half-time but could not get level.
Dunkineely also had their chances but could not hit the target. The breakthrough for Curragh came 8 minutes after the restart when James Carslan got the equaliser and Curragh then took the lead on 70 minutes when Mark Storri converted a free header from a corner. Dunkineely fought back and a few minutes later Adrian Nesbitt got onto another through ball but his attempt was well saved by the Curragh keeper.
Josh Laffan hit the post from a dead ball as Dunkineely looked to get back on level terms. Curragh got their third goal to secure the points 8 minutes from the end. A good team performance from both sides.
Glenree United 1 Lagan Harps 1
In superb conditions both sides played out a one all draw which over the ninety minutes was a fair result in the end. Glenree started the game with the most intensity and Daire Shields almost found the net after he rounded the keeper only to see his shot hit the side netting in the 15th minute.
Lagan were always a threat with Damien Nelis and Ross Hamlyn up top and both strikers had a few half chances that were well blocked by the Glenree defence. Young Kyle Donegan made his Glenree debut and he had a stormer with some vital saves for his new team to keep them in the game.
In the second half Lagan started stronger and the centre half partnership of John Mc Clafferty and Cathal Mc Ginley were dealing with any threats that came their way. Reece Mc Bride was doing excellently going forward and starting off attacks from defence which almost set Keelan Mc Groddy away on a few occasions. The two teams had a few decent chances to win the match but it ended 1-1. Referee: Frank Duff
