Inishowen League: QPS continue unbeaten start as Aileach record big win

AILEACH FC were big 5-1 winners away to Culdaff, while Clonmany had a hard-earned 2-0 win at home to Greencastle and QPS continued their unbeaten start to the season.  

JACKIE CROSSAN PREMIER DIVISION

Clonmany Shamrocks 2-0 Greencastle FC                   

AFTER a quiet opening Jamie Coyle for the Shamrocks saw a free kick well saved by JP O’Doherty before a Jason Devlin angled cross eluded all.

On 34 minutes Michael Devlin had a thirty yards effort well gathered before Greencastle replied with Michael Barr, unmarked, heading a Matthew Henry free over.

Clonmany kept pressing and Mark McLaughlin had an effort from a tight angle well saved before a dangerous cross from Coyle was cleared by Ciaran Moore at the back post as the half ended scoreless.

Greencastle were on top after the restart driven forward by Matthew Henry in particular but failed to create clear chances.

Clonmany broke the deadlock on 69 minutes when Coyle fired a superb free into the top corner from the angle of the area.

Greencastle responded and a superb run by henry through the middle saw his effort tipped onto the bat by Patrick Harkin.

Clonmany then broke and increased their lead when Ferghal Harkin’s effort took a deflection on its way past O’Doherty.

Greencastle upped the tempo then with substitute Danny Murphy seeing a header come back off the bar before being scrambled clear.

A minute later Clonmany were reduced to ten men after Philip Devlin received a second yellow card.

Then Harkin in the home goal produced a superb double save to deny James Henry.

On the stroke of full time Clonmany almost added a third after Mark Mclaughlin fired just wide.

 

Illies Celtic 1-2 Buncrana Hearts           

THE home side started the better with Martin Coyle, John Campbell and Paddy Doherty all having shots saved by John McLaughlin in the Hearts goal.

It was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when James McGonagle threaded a pass into Stephen McHugh to fire low past Graham Doherty.

Illies went close on the stroke of half time when William Mclaughlin headed a corner across goal but there were no takers.

The home side did equalise in the opening minute of the second half after McLaughlin headed another corner across for John Campbell to head home from eight yards.

Buncrana hit back with McGonagle firing wide when well placed before the same player burst down the left and crossed for Kevin O’Loughlin but he fired over.

Illies responded with Martin Coyle finding Paddy Doherty but he fired over from the edge of the area.

Buncrana struck for the winner after a defensive error allowed McHugh to poke the ball across for McGonagle to fire home from twelve yards.

Illies almost snatched a point when William McLaughlin saw a header parried to John Pio Donaghey but his effort was cleared off the line

 

Culdaff FC 1-5Aileach FC  

AN understrength home side look to be in big trouble already as they fell to another heavy defeat and only wayward finishing and some excellent saves from Stephen Gray prevented a heavier defeat.

Aileach had the first chance on 13 minutes after a flowing move ended with Paddy Slevin crossing for Gavin Doherty who fired over.

Culdaff replied when Dermot Diver found Shane Diver who slipped the ball into Noel Mclaughlin but his effort was held by David McGeady.

Culdaff had a real let off when keeper Gray failed to collect a cross and substitute Caoimhin McFeely somehow hooked wide from point blank range.

Culdaff took the lead on 36 minutes after Shane Diver burst into the area but when tackled the ball broke to Noel McLaughlin who squared for the unmarked Diver to slot home.

Aileach got back on terms five minutes later when Darren McMonagle got on the end of a right wing cross to return the ball to the unmarked Gavin Doherty who controlled and slotted low to the corner.

On the stroke of half time McMonagle beat Gray to head the ball over the keeper but from a tight angle saw his effort cleared off the line by the retreating Gray.

In the opening minute of the second period Aileach took the lead after James Gillespie pounced on a defensive mis-control and fired a twenty five yards effort to the top right hand corner.

McMonagle then had an effort blocked by the legs of Gray before at the other end a Dermot Diver header was scrambled off the line.

Two goals in two minutes killed the game as firstly Paddy Slevin headed home a deep cross from Dermot Doherty before Doherty ran onto McFeely’s pass to hammer past Gray.

They added a fifth late on when Gavin Doherty beat the offside trap to race clear and slot home.

 

QPS 4-1Moville Celtic                    

THE Point continued their unbeaten start to the season when they finished strongly to see off Moville, who had battled back into the game.

Moville had the first chance after Shaun Doherty advanced up the middle and unleashed a shot which Jordan McLaughlin saved well.

Point had a let off then Mclaughlin’s clearance rebounded off PJ Barr but the keeper recovered to gather.

The Point replied with Odhran McColgan twice seeing shots saved by Sean McGuinness.

On 34 minutes the home side took the lead when McColgan collected an Oisin McCool throw in before turning inside on the edge of the area and firing in a low shot which went in off the far post.

In a lively start to the second period both McColgan for the Point and Doherty for the visitors had respective shots saved.

Moville got back on terms on 57 minutes after a Jack Keys cross from the left was only half cleared to Eamon Reddin who blasted home from fifteen yards.

The introduction of substitutes Karl Donnelly and Jack McConalogue saw them combine for the latter to restore the Point’s lead with a crisp low finish from fifteen yards.

Within minutes it had become three one after McConalogue pulled the ball back to McColgan to sidefoot home from twelve yards.

Sean McCabe then had a good effort tipped onto the bar by McGuinness before on the stroke of full time McGuinness done well to parry McColgan’s effort but Stephen Grant was on hand to slot home.

 

STRAND HOTEL FIRST DIVISION

 

Carrowmena FC 5-1 Rasheney FC                     1

THE home side got off to the best possible start with a goal after two minutes, Tony McClenaghan raced into the box and crossed for Kevin Toner to side step the defender and hit the net from six yards.

A short time later James Gillen slipped in Dane Doherty but Tiernan Devine was on hand to save a weak shot when the lead should have been doubled.

Rasheney had their first opportunity after 13 minutes following a corner when Jonathan Toland’s header was cleared of the line by Jude Harkin.

On the half hour Carrowmena doubled their lead with McClenaghan skipping past a challenge on the edge of the box to cross for Conor Doherty to side foot home from six yards.

After the break it was Rasheney to show first following a corner only for John Dohertys goal bound header to be cleared to safety by Shane Skelly.

On the hour mark second half substitute Billy McCann came close for the home side but hit the side netting from a tight angle after McClenaghan played him through with the keeper stranded.

Midway through the second half McClenaghan burst into the box only to be upended and Killian Dougal dispatched the spot kick to the roof of the net for a three nil scoreline.

Just one minute later it was four with Toner moving down the left flank to cross for McCann to hit the net from ten yards.

With ten minutes left the points were sealed when the energetic Toner, winning the ball inside his own half, advancing forward he spotted Devine off his line and chipped him from all of forty yards.

The last five minutes were frantic with Derek McGeoghan and Toner missing good opportunities for the home side and Toland sending a header just wide from six yards but in injury time Rasheeny got a consolation goal with Toland poking home following a goalmouth scramble after a corner.

 

Cockhill Cel Youths 2-1Redcastle United                     

COCKHILL Youths hosted Redcastle and got off to a near dream start when a Darragh McDermott shot came back off the crossbar in the opening five minutes,

Cockhill continued to press and Joe Doherty tried to lob McCole but the keeper got back to save on the line.From this Redcastle worked an opening for their first attempt, with Brendan Murphy going close and needing Decky Caldwell to come out and narrow the angle.

On the half hour mark Cockhill continued to put on the pressure with Ronan McLaughlin working a good opening on the right wing and squared for Joe Doherty to shoot over.

Darren Coyle then seen his shot go over from distance before Jack McDaid’s attempt came back out to play from the underside of the bar.

It was Cockhill who went in at half time the happier when Jack McDaid’s telling cross from the left was met by Joe Doherty in the penalty area to score and give the home team the lead.

Redcastle started the second half strong and Robert McLaughlin’s free kick was an early test for Cockhill but drifted wide.

Cockhill’s Michael O’Connor made a strong run through from the back and from thirty yards out he shot across the goal and out off the post.

Finally the pressure paid dividends when after seventy five minutes Jack McDaid was provider again for Cockhill’s second, when he squared the ball for McDermott to shoot and

score from edge the box giving Cockhill a two goal lead.

McDermott then went close again in the last few minutes but the Redcastle keeper tipped the

shot over.

With time running out Redcastle pressed to get back in the game and Darren McConway’s attempt from the right wing was the last of the game but shot harmlessly over and allowed Cockhill Youths to see out a home victory with a clean sheet.

 

Dunree United 1-2Carn FC           

NOT for the first time this season Dunree can only bemoan the fact that missed chances has cost them again.

They started well with Jerry Farrell firing into the side netting before Darryl Moran saw his shot well saved by Daniel Houghton.

Then Henry Connolly fed Liam Baldrick who in turn picked out Philip McGuinness and he crossed but Thomas Doherty headed wide.

Carn made them pay in their first real attack on 32 minutes when Brandon Browne raced onto a ball over the top and saw his effort deflected off a defender past Paul McGettigan.

Dunree replied but Darryl Moran fired straight at McCole .Carn increased their lead on the stroke of half time after the unmarked Brandon Browne headed home.

It was the same pattern in the second period when Baldrick was denied by a brilliant save from Houghton, Farrell had an effort which clipped the bar on the way over and McGuinness blasted over when well placed.

Carn replied with Shane Doherty going close with a free kick but Dunree kept pressing.

Substitute Oisin O’Flaherty headed wide from close range before they got a goal back on 80 minutes.

Neil Moran threaded a ball into the path of Darryl Moran and he lifted the ball superbly over Houghton.

They almost salvaged a point when Neil Moran beat a man and fed Kevin McColgan but the ball got stuck under his feet and the chance was lost.