It was another eventful weekend in the Inishowen League as several teams got impressive results – Greencastle turning over Aileach, while Redcastle and Carn played out an entertaining draw.
Aileach FC 1 Greencastle FC 3
This game started evenly and there were very few chances in the opening half. Greencastle took the lead after a dangerous ball into the box was not dealt with and Michael Barr was on hand to tap home. They went close again when Eamon Donnelly shot over from outside the box.
The home side drew level midway through the half when a Killian O’ Rourke pass was collected by Thomas Mc Mackin and he raced by a couple of defenders to score in the bottom corner.
The second half started like the first half had begun but it was Greencastle that went close after a Donnelly free kick. Aileach had a chance when Anthony Doherty ran down the right but his shot went over.
Greencastle started to apply some pressure and got a penalty after a cross was punched clear by Ciaran Bradley in the Aileach goal but the resulting shot was deemed to have hit the defenders hand and Micheal Barr stepped up to score from the spot.
Aileach responded and had a chance through Darren Mc Monagle but he shot over when well placed. The away side got there third when they broke from midfield and Matty Henry scored from distance.
The home side tried to get back in the game but couldn’t score with chances from Coyle and Gavin Doherty.
Culdaff FC 0 Buncrana Hearts 4
In rough conditions, Buncrana were well worth the win but the home side will feel aggrieved about a couple of contentious decisions which went against them in the course of the game.
The Hearts took the lead on 10 minutes after Kieran McDaid’s deep free from the left found the unmarked Gary Duffy to head across Darragh McLaughlin to the bottom corner.
They doubled there lead minutes later with a hotly disputed penalty decision for handball allowing Kevin O’Loughlin to blast home the penalty.
McDaid then had a volley superbly tipped onto the post by McLaughlin before Stephen McHugh had an effort crash back off the crossbar. Culdaff replied with Eugene McLaughlin and Niall Gordon firing narrowly over before an Aiden Cunningham free was brilliantly tipped over the angle by Eoghan O’Doherty.
Buncrana spurned another gilt edged chance when McHugh released McDaid who rounded McLaughlin but fired into the side netting.
On the stroke of half time, Eugene Mclaughlin headed just over from a corner. Buncrana blitzed the home side again at the start of the second half and made it three on 53 minutes when McHugh collected a short corner and crossed for the unmarked O’Loughlin to head to the roof of the net.
On the hour Aaron McDaid slipped McHugh through the middle and he finished superbly first time to the bottom corner.
Both sides made a number of changes which disrupted the flow of the game but the home side spurned two clear late chances when Matthew Mullarkey and Michael Coyle both fired wide from good positions.
Redcastle United 3 Carn FC 3
There was a lively start with neither side having any real chances. On 13 minutes a great run from Aiden McLaughlin got him through on the keeper but a brilliant save from Dean Nelson tipped it around the post.
Ten minutes before half time Redcastle had another chance but this time a save and block from the defender prevented the ball from going in.
From the resulting counter attack a great run from Ryan Kelly put him in and he made no mistake and made it to the visitors at the break.
Three minutes into the second half a tackle on Aiden McLaughlin gave Redcastle a lifeline when the referee gave them a penalty and Shaun Curran stepped up and put it straight down the middle. In the 54th minute, a cross from Aiden McLaughlin found Eunan Mullan who headed well past the keeper and turned the match on its head.
After 82 minutes a corner was awarded to Cardonagh which developed into a goalmouth scramble and Conor Doherty knocked it in to equalise.
With minutes left a cross from Michael McDermott found Shaun Doherty who put it in the empty goal to put Carndonagh back in front. In added time Redcastle forced a corner and Darragh McConway’s kick went directly in to the net to earn the home side their first league point of the season.
Glengad United 2 Clonmany Shamrocks 0
Glengad with the breeze started slowly and their first attempt came on 21 minutes when a Stephen McLaughlin free failed to trouble Liam McGonigle in the Clonmany goal.
Clonmany broke five minutes later and when Raymond McDaid fed Jason Doherty he cut in but fired wide from sixteen yards when he should have done better.
Glengad had a lot of possession but all they had to show for it before the break was a Terence Doherty effort which flashed wide.
Glengad began the second period well and on 48 minutes Mclaughlin crossed to Conor Barrow whose effort from eight yards was brilliantly saved by McGonigle.
They broke the deadlock on the hour mark after great interplay from James McKinney and McLaughlin saw Dillon Ruddy fire home from a well-placed cross.
Clonmany almost equalised after a Niall McLaughlin cross picked out Brendan Devlin and his looping header drifted just over.
Glengad made the game safe then when substitute Patrick McDermott advanced from midfield and unleashed an effort which deceived McGonigle. Both Seamus Doherty and John McDaid had late efforts well saved by McGonigle.
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