THERE WAS A limited programme of games in the Inishowen League at the weekend due to the FAI Cup action.
There were just two games in the Premier Division, where QPS denied Clonmany the chance to go top, holding them to a 1-1 draw, while Culdaff overcame Dunree, who remain rooted to bottom.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Aileach FC 1 QPS 1
THE visitors started the better with Sean Martin controlling things.
They took the lead on 15minutes when a cross shot from Chris Monteith deceived John Roulstone and landed in the net.
This spurred Aileach on and Darren McMonagle fired a free into the wall. Anthony Doherty then broke clear of the visitors defence but hesitated and John G McDermott made a goal saving tackle.
Then a Cathal McElhinney free caused havoc in the point box but Thomas McMacken curled an effort just wide.
The home side did level things up before the break after McMonagle curled a 25-yards effort over the wall and into the top corner.
They went close again on 48 minutes when Kieran McGrory curled an effort just wide but the game developed into a midfield slog until the 70th minute.
Anthony Doherty broke on the right and squared for Dermot Doherty but he fired high and wide.
They spurned another chance when Doherty beat the offside trap and raced into the area but his 12 yards effort came off the post to McGrory who fired straight at David Bell.
The final chance came for the home side after Conor Gallagher threaded a pass across the area but it just eluded the inrushing McGrory.
[adrotate group=”80″]Dunree United 0 Culdaff FC 2
THIS was a crucial win for the visitors and they had their first chance on 22 minutes when a Brendan Mclaughlin effort was brilliantly tipped over by Philip Doherty.
Dunree replied with Liam Baldrick drilling a low effort goalwards but Darragh Mclaughlin tipped the ball around the post.
Culdaff broke the deadlock on 55 minutes after Dillon Ruddy rose high to head a Conor Farren corner down into the bottom corner. Dunree had a great chance to get back on terms after Kevin McColgan raced clear but Mclaughlin advanced to make a fine save with his legs.
Culdaff were on top with Eugene McLaughlin seeing an effort saved by Philip Doherty before Brendan Mclaughlin had an over head kick just wide.
Michael Coyle then had an effort superbly tipped around the post by Doherty.
They added a second from another corner when McLaughlin fired home from the edge of the area after the first effort was cleared off the line.
Culdaff had the final chance but Mclaughlin’s first time effort was well saved again by Doherty.
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Strand Hotel Division One
QPS Reserves 1 Clonmany Reserves 2
CLONMANY kept the pressure on Division One leaders Moville Celtic, but were made to work incredibly hard to secure a narrow victory over Quigley’s Point Swifts in Muff.
The opening minutes were evenly balanced. With three minutes gone, Brendan Doherty shot wide for Clonmany from twenty yards after a good lay-off from Ryan Doherty.
Quigley’s Point striker Josh McLaughlin then had an effort well blocked by Clonmany keeper Liam McGonigle.
The away side took the lead on 13 minutes. Mickey Devlin played a beautifully weighted pass through to Brendan Doherty, who beat the offside trap before finishing calmly beyond Oisin Burke in the home net.
The Muff side responded quickly. A minute after the goal, Reece Rutherford’s shot found the side netting from the right hand side after a good pass from Simon Wallace. On 17 minutes, Joe Johnstone capitalised on a loose pass but his weak shot was saved by McGonigle.
Clonmany doubled their lead on 28 minutes. A corner from the left found Jake Harkin in the six-yard box.
His shot was saved by Burke but the rebound fell to Conor Doherty, who blasted the ball home. Quigley’s Point were back in the game on 37 minutes.
Jack McConnelogue was fouled in the Clonmany penalty box, and the midfielder duly dispatched the resulting penalty in the bottom right corner.
Just before half-time, Dessie Doherty was unfortunate not to restore the visitors’ two-goal lead. His wonderful effort from twenty yards looked to be goal-bound but drifted inches wide.
The home side came out stronger in the second half and on fifty-one minutes they spurned a golden chance to equalise. McConnelogue’s corner from the right found Simon Wallace unmarked in the box, and the Point midfielder should have scored but blasted over the bar from six yards.
Clonmany were being forced to work harder defensively while being suppressed by a well-organised home side. Mickey Devlin had the away side’s best chance of the second half on sixty minutes.
His shot forced Burke into a strong save after the Clonmany man had shown good skill to create space for a shot in the box.
On 72 minutes Liam McGonigle kept the visitors lead intact, the keeper showing great reflexes to produce a stunning save from Paul Grant’s rasping half-volley from ten yards. Four minutes later, Grant had another chance from a Paul Hegarty corner but headed wide under defensive pressure. McGonigle was called into action yet again on eighty minutes, showing good awareness to bravely deny McConnelogue getting his second.
Brendan Doherty and Ryan Doherty both had late long-range efforts for Clonmany, with neither failing to test Oisin Burke. On 86 minutes Paul Hegarty’s cross from the left was headed on by Joe Johnstone, but substitute Connor Dunn was unlucky not to connect with the ball with the goal gaping and leave the Muff side frustrated to come away from the game empty-handed.
[adrotate group=”85″]Sea Rovers 1 Aileach Reserves 2
SEA Rovers dominated a lot of this encounter and will be very aggrieved that they failed to take anything from this clash.
The home side started well and Anthony Cantwell raced onto a ball over the top but fired wide before Puaric Doherty fired weakly at David McGeady when well placed.
Against the run of play Aileach broke the deadlock on 21 minutes after when Stephen Doherty fired a stunning volley to the top corner from a very acute angle.
Rovers replied and Graham Morgan headed narrowly wide before at the other end Jordan McGeady fired over from twenty yards.
Rovers began the second period in the ascendancy and equalised on 62 minutes when Kieran McNicholas fed Cantwell who beat a defender before slotting low past McGeady.
They spurned a great chance to go ahead when a superb Evan Mclaughlin cross found Doherty but from point blank range he somehow fired over the bar.
Aileach ended strongly and Ruairi Bradley headed narrowly wide from a corner on 81 minutes.
Then on 88 minutes they struck for the winner when Stephen Doherty’s cross found Joe McLaughlin to flick the ball low into the corner past Glen Watson.
[adrotate group=”76″]Â
Rasheney FC 2 Redcastle United 3
THE home side got off to a great start and John Grant had an early effort saved by Joe McCauley. They took the lead on 9 minutes when Charlie Doherty fired a 25- yard free around the wall to the top corner.
The visitors got back on terms on 17 minutes after a powerful Philip Margey effort was tipped over by Sean Friel and from the corner the ball broke to Margey to drive low to the net from ten yards.
Redcastle went close when Cathal Crumlish had a low effort blocked by the legs of Friel.
Brendan Murphy then had a hooked effort gathered by Friel before at the other end on the stroke of half time John Grant found David McLaughlin who drove wide from 12 yards when well placed.
After a slow start to the second half Ryan Duffy fired narrowly over for the visitors before the same player slipped a pass into Brendan Murphy whip chipped Friel from a tight angle for a superb finish.
Rasheney got back on terms on 77 minutes when Grant fed David McLaughlin who also from a tight angle drove across McCauley to the far corner.
Paddy McGilloway fired narrowly over before McLaughlin broke clear but was denied by a combination of McCauley and a defender.
On the stroke of full time Shaun Curran converted a penalty after Murphy was upended.
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Cockhill Youths 3 Moville Celtic 2
IT took a while for this game to warm up and on 21 minutes the home side fashioned the first chance when James McGonagle found Darragh McDermott whose perfect cross was taken off Tommy Doherty’s head by Liam Grimley.
Moville broke and minutes later had strong claims for a penalty waved away as Charlie Gill burst into the area.
Cockhill’s Christopher Duffy then had a free deflected off the wall and over the bar.
But on 38 minutes the home side broke the deadlock when the ball bounced off a defender to Darragh McDermott who drove low to the bottom corner from 20 yards.
On the stroke of half time Moville were awarded a penalty and Charlie Gill converted to get them back on terms.
On 55 minutes the home side regained the lead after Jarlith Herrity slotted home from six yards after a McGonagle free kick.
Moville deservedly got back on terms when substitute Norbert Indyka raced onto a Charlie Gill pass to slot low past Declan Caldwell from 16 yards.
On 80 minutes Grimley made a brilliant save low to his right to foil McDermott.
At the other end a Conor McDermott had a shot well saved by Caldwell.
Cockhill snatched a late winner after Jack McDaid advanced into the area and poked the ball past the advancing Grimley and into the net.
[adrotate group=”83″]Inishowen Engineering Division Two
Rasheney Reserves 0 Illies Reserves 3
PLAYED on Saturday night a first half hat trick from Charlie McLaughlin saw the visitors collect all three points.
The first goal arrived after three minutes when McLaughlin latched onto an over the top delivery from Kealan Whoriskey and drove to the net. Illies came close again when Gavin Doherty’s ball into the area caused confusion in the home defence before it was cleared.
However, they doubled their advantage after 15 minutess when Gavin Doherty fired the ball in for McLaughlin to score his second and the score moved on to three-nil when McLaughlin capitalised from a mix up in the home defence to fire home.
Rasheney’s best effort of the half came from Corny McCole whose drive was tipped over by Graham Doherty.
Just before the interval goalkeeper Kieran O’Neill had to be alert and rush outside his area to clear when Illies again threatened.
Early in the second period Martin Donaghey’s header following a corner went just wide of a post while a great tackle from Peter Doherty (S) deprived McLaughlin in front of goal.
At the other end Kevin Noone broke clear of the Illies defence but Graham Doherty came to the rescue with an excellent save. O’Neill was called into action again when he palmed away to safety an effort from Adrian Donaghey Doherty and Gavin Doherty shot wide when well placed.
The home side came close to scoring with two good opportunities.
Ciaran Dillon, who put in good effort throughout, was put clear by Peter Doherty but his shot was off target and then the ball was hacked clear close to the Illies goal line following close range attempts from Noone and Jack McLaughlin.
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Gleneely Colts 0 Greencastle Reserves 0
THE Colts had an early chance on 8 minutes when Pete Bond intercepted a pass in midfield and advanced to the edge of the area but his effort was tipped around the post.
Both defences were on top and the remainder of the half saw little goal mouth action.
It was a similar story in the second half with few clear chances albeit the home side doing most of the pressing. Midway through the half the Colts went close again after Neil G Duffy collected Kevin Doherty’s throw in, turned and unleashed an effort, which was again well saved.
The home side kept pressing to the end but could not breach the Greencastle defence well led by Mike Price.
[adrotate group=”53″]Moville Reserves 0 Glengad Reserves 1
GLENGAD moved into contention for the top split of the league when they inflicted a first defeat of the season on the home side.
Mark Smith went close for the visitors with a spectacular over head kick on three minutes.
Moville settled and Kevin McDermott had two good efforts well saved by Michael Mclaughlin as the half ended scoreless.
There were few chances in the second period too with a lot of the play bogged down in midfield.
However on 57 minutes Smith released PJ McDaid and he rounded Ryan Coyle to slot home. Coyle kept his side in the game with good saved from Smith and Paul McGonigle.
Moville pressed hard in the closing stages but the closest they came was another effort from McDermott which Mclaughlin saved well.
Buncrana Reserves 0 Cockhill Reserves 4
COCKHILL deservedly won this local derby but after a remarkably uneventful first half in which both keepers were reduced to the role of interested spectators a no score draw seemed the most likely result.
Hearts started the second have brightly and Eoin Murphy came close to breaking the deadlock on fifty three minutes.
Five minutes later Ryan Mallet burst through a static Hearts’ defence to slot home.
Four minutes later Mallet turned provider when his cross from the right was headed home by Gerry Breslion to double Cockhill’s lead.
Even then Hearts could not raise any urgency in there game and this was typified on seventy eight minutes when a quickly taken free kick found the Hearts defence awol and Kevin McDaid was able to lob and round the advancing Sullivan and then pass the ball into an empty net.
Things just got worse and with five minutes remaining Eddie Cuffe broke down the left, cut inside and beat Sullivan at his near post to seal what in the end was a very comfortable Cockhill victory.
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Redcastle Reserves 6 Carn Reserves 1
THE home side started well and took the lead on 9 minutes after a Brian Tracey corner fell to Mickey McColgan to head home.
Carn rallied and got back on terms six minutes later when Niall McGuinness fired low to the bottom corner from 20 yards.
From the centre the home side move upfield and Eunan Mullin fired home from the edge of the area.
On 33 minutes a solo run by Shane McColgan takes him past two defenders before finding the bottom corner to make it three one.
Mullin then fires home from the penalty spot after he had been upended
On 42 minutes Mullin’s cross finds Tracey who controls well and slots low to the bottom corner from 15 yards.
On the stroke of half time Ryhs Davenport feeds James Breslin and he fires low past Fergal Bradley from the edge of the area to leave the half time score six-one.
The home side took their foot off the gas on the restart but on 66 minutes Tracey released Evan Cariag but from a tight angle he fired into the side netting.
Carn tried hard in the closing stages but the home side saw the game out to claim the points.
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Aileach Youths 3 Dunree Reserves 2
THE game was played in bright conditions at Lakeside with the sun a factorin the opening half.
Dunree started the brighter and took the lead when a long ball upfield from Conor Doherty was misjudged by the Aileach defence and Jerry Farrell scored at the second attempt after Dylan Clarke saved his initial effort.
On 20 minutes Dunree doubled their advantage when Farrell again pounced on a defensive mistake to dink the ball over the onrushing Clarke.
Aileach finally sprang into life and reduced the deficit almost immediately when Patrick Curran raced into the box and fired into the roof of the net.
On the hour, Aileach were level when a long clearance from Clarke decieved the Dunree defence due to the sun and Shane McMonagle lobbed Simon Taylor from 20 yards with a superb finish.
Aileach had the acendancy at this stage and came close with a couple of long range shots from Micky Morrison.
Aileach dominated the start of the second half but Dunree were dangerous on the break with Farrell looking sharp. Aileach took the lead on the hour when Patrick Currans persistence won the ball back and his cross was headed into the bottom corner by Derek Gallagher.
Aileach pushed looking for the goal to give them a cushion but couldn’t find the breakthrough Micky Morrison somehow headed over from under the bar and Shane Bradley hit the crossbar from two of the opportunities. Dunree looked threatening from set pieces but Aileach
defended stoutly to keep them out with Killian O’Rourke and Matthew McDermott impressive at full back.
Dunree were reduced to ten men in the final few minutes when Farrell was dismissed for two yellow cards for dissent.
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Culdaff Reserves 1 Carrowmena Reserves 1
THE visitors got off to a dream start on two minutes after Gerard Gill fed Dane Doherty who turned well inside the area and drilled low past Adam Conlon from 12 yards.
Doherty went close again when he had a powerful effort tipped onto the bar by Conlon.
Culdaff came more into the game and on 33 minutes Joe O’Connor released Niall Mclaughlin and his cross found Bryan McCandless at full stretch but his effort flew just over the bar.
They had another chance when Thomas O’Brien’s free kick found the unmarked O’Connor but he headed straight at Michael Noone.
Despite being on top the home side almost fell further behind on the stroke of half time when on the break Derek McGeoghaghan cut in from the right an fired low across Conlon but also just past the far post.
After the restart McGeoghaghan collected a kick out from Noone but flashed an effort across the face of goal and wide. The home side responded and got back on terms on the hour mark when after a Noone advanced to control a long clearance but was crowded out and the loose ball fell to McCandless to slot home from 20 yards. Carrowmena replied and the unmarked Samuel Bredin headed over when well placed.
The home side dominated the closing period and on 75 minutes Michael McFadden found Niall McLaughlin whose cross was flicked just wide by O’ Connor. They almost got all three points on 87 minutes after McCandless found Patrick McGrenghan who turned well but saw his effort well saved by Noone.
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