ALTHOUGH GLENGAD UNITED’S title challenge has wobbled of late, Shane Byrne’s side scored two late goals to rescue a dramatic 3-3 draw at home to Aileach while a 5-1 win away to Illies keeps QPS in the hunt, too.
Illies Celtic 1 QPS 5
ILLIES side had a great opening in the first few minutes after Shane Devine broke on the right but his driven cross was brilliantly gathered by Jordan McLaughlin.
The Point replied on seven minutes and when a deep corner was not held by Johnathan Noone the ball broke for Sean McCabe to drill home.
Minutes later Bob Buchanan fired a stunning free over the wall to the top corner to make it two nil.
On 17 minutes another Buchanan pass released Dean Barron whose effort was well parried by Noone only for Odhran McColgan to slot home.
On the half hour another poor clearance was pounced on by McColgan who unselfishly squared for Karl Donnelly to tap in.
Illies tried to respond and when Paddy Doherty charged down a clearance and fed Kevin McGonagle he fired straight at ‘keeper McLaughlin when well placed.
But on the stroke of half time McColgan was upended in the area and Buchanan converted at the second attempt after Noone had saved his initial effort.
Illies started the second period better pinning the Point back and substitute Joe McDaid had a fine effort tipped onto the post by McLaughlin before in a scramble in the area Paddy Doherty was again denied by McLaughlin.
They got a goal back on 71 minutes when a deep corner from Dominick Coyle found William
McLaughlin who powered a header to the roof of the net.
Glengad United 3 Aileach F 3
GLENGAD got out of jail in this one when they salvaged a point to keep their title hopes just about alive.
They had trailed by three one in the 87th minute, but fought back to earn a draw.
In a really lively opening Glengad poured forward and great work by Terence Doherty found Seamus Doherty who scooped an effort over the bar from close range.
A superb Aileach move saw them take the lead on four minutes when Anthony Doherty laid the ball back to Darren McMonagle who lifted the ball over the top on the left for Doherty to cross to Dermot Doherty and he controlled before slotting low across Sean O’Donnell from
14 yards.
Glengad replied with Christy McLaughlin cutting in from the right and firing inches past David McGeady’s left hand post before Matthew Byrne saw a close range effort rebound off the post
with McGeady gathering and sustaining a blow to the arm in the process.
Great work by McMonagle then saw him advance into the area but his effort was superbly turned away at full stretch by McGeady.
On 20 minutes the home side levelled after an inswinging free from the right hand side of
the area found the unmarked Adam Byrne who headed past McGeady and into the far corner from eight yards.
Aileach had a good spell then with a Gavin Doherty dipping effort turned round the post at full stretch by O’Donnell.
Aileach regained the lead when a long hanging free kick from Cathal McElhinney found Anthony Doherty who outjumped O’Donnell to glance the ball home.
On the stroke of half time James Gillespie advanced from midfield and saw his powerful shot turned round the post at full stretch by O’Donnell.
‘Keeper McGeady had to retire injured at half time and was replaced by Gillespie with the keeper’s son Jordan coming on for the visitors.
Glengad dominated the second period but created little. Matthew Byrne had one effort deflected over the bar before seeing another easily gathered by Gillespie.
On 65 minutes Stephen McLaughlin picked out the unmarked Terence Doherty but he headed over before McLaughlin again broke on the right and squared for Michael Byrne but he failed to hit the target from 12 yards.
Then on 87 minutes after a period of excellent possession, Aileach fed the ball to Dermot Doherty and he fired a twenty five yards volley over O’Donnell and into the top left hand corner.
Glengad got a goal back immediately when after the visitors’ defence failed to clear Seamus Doherty squared for substitute Patrick McDermott to drill home.
Glengad laid siege to the Aileach goal and in the third minute of injury time after a number of corners an inswinging Christy McLaughlin corner found unmarked captain John G McLaughlin to head home from six yards and keep their title hopes alive.
Strand Hotel First Division
Redcastle United 0 Cockhill Celtic Youths 1
COCKHILL had the first chance of the game on thirteen minutes when Michael Coyle was put through on goal but was denied by the advancing McCole.
Redcastle responded through Ryan Duffy who got in behind the Cockhill defence and got his shot away only for Parker to divert the ball behind with his outstretched leg.
Joe Doherty then had a shot from distance for the visitors that was gathered by McCole. Redcastle had a number of half chances as half-time approached, first through Greg Breslin whose effort hit the side netting and then when Gary Kelly had a snap shot that Parker collected with ease.
The second half began with the home side being awarded a penalty when a Cockhill defender was penalized for handball.
Colm McLaughlin stepped up to the spot but blasted over the bar. Cockhill had a good opportunity on 55 minutes when Coyle was clean through but Martin Farren got back to prevent him getting a shot away with a last ditch tackle.
Cockhill came more into the game from here on as they forced an number of corners while Doherty’s shot was deflected over by a defender, but the home side held firm.
Cockhill took all three points on eighty eight minutes in controversial fashion when Doherty’s goal bound effort appeared to be successfully cleared off the line by Farren, however the referee decided the ball had crossed the line and awarded the goal, much to the dismay of the home side.
Inishowen Engineering Reserve Premier Division
Buncrana Reserves 4 Clonmany Reserves 7
IN A game played in very testing conditions a young Buncrana team started very brightly.
Only 4 minutes were on the clock when Adam Duffy was played clean through but his left foot shot was saved well by Clonmany goalie Liam McGonagle.
A minute later Stephen McHugh also broke clear but his shot from the edge of the area was straight at the keeper.
On 8 minutes Michael Doherty was played in on the left hand side of the Clonmany box but he fired high and wide.
Buncrana would rue these missed chances as on 12 minutes Brendan Devlin found space to calmly slot home into the corner of the net.
Minutes later it was two nil as Jason Doherty capitalised on a mistake to drive the ball home.
Buncrana battled back immediately and a great through ball from Eoin Murphy sent Michael Doherty clear down the left and his first time cross was well finished by Stephen McHugh.
From the restart Clonmany won a corner and after some hesitancy in the home defence Brian Devlin slotted the ball into the net.
Clonmany were well on top now and after another mistake on the half hour in the home defence saw Jason Doherty calmly finish to make it four one.
Two minutes later it was five when another mistake allowed Brendan Devlin to fire home from the edge of the box.
Buncrana to their credit battled back and Stephen McHugh reduced the deficit after beating two men on the edge of the area to finish well and leave the half time score 5-2.
Buncrana started the second half brightly and in the 46 minute were awarded a penalty after Pauric O’Flaherty was brought down in the box. Stephen McHugh sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to claim his hat-trick.
Buncrana were playing with a new sense of urgency and a few minutes later Adam Duffy almost got on the end of a fine McHugh cross.
Clonmany didn’t panic though and on the hour they made it six three when substitute Oisin Hession broke free down the left and cut inside to finish on the near post.
Once again Buncrana battled back and after Stephen Mchugh hit the bar from the resulting corner some nice interplay saw Michael Doherty fire home from the edge of the box.
Despite a few chances for the home side Clonmany always looked dangerous on the break and scored their seventh goal through substitute Connor Doherty with ten minutes remaining after yet further hesitancy in the Buncrana defence
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