Champions Glengad United served an impressive notice of their intentions as they came from behind to overcome Buncrana Hearts at Castle Park.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Buncrana Hearts 1 Glengad United 6
Buncrana started well and Stephen McHugh flashed an effort narrowly over the top.
On the half hour mark Terence Doherty for the visitors went close with two good efforts.
Buncrana stunned the league champions on 33 minutes when a Ryan Doherty cross was slotted home by Bart Wesoloski from close range.
Glengad had a purple patch before the break with Michael Byrne adding two goals in a two-minute spell from close range to turn the game on its head. Glengad dominated the second period and increased their lead on the hour mark when Patrick McDermott converted a penalty.
Doherty got in on the act with a brilliant chip over Corey Wilson from the edge of the area before the same player made it five-one when he beat three defenders and slotted home.
McDermott also added his second of the game when he fired low to the corner from twenty yards to seal an emphatic win.
Dunree United 2 Greencastle FC 4
After an even opening period the visitors took the lead on 21 minutes when a Jamie McCormick free found Michael Barr who powered a header to the top corner from 12 yards.
Midway through the half Barry Nixon for the home side advanced and fed Liam Baldrick whose low cross was tapped home by Daniel McLaughlin.
The visitors struck again when another cross was not cleared allowing Jamie McCormick to fire to the bottom corner from twenty yards.
Dunree equalised again on the stroke of half time when McLaughlin dispossessed a defender on half way and released Philip McGuinness to dink the ball over JP O’Doherty.
Greencastle started the second half well and regained the lead when McCormick was upended in the area.
Philip Doherty in the home goal saved Michael Barr’s effort but Barr pounced to drill home the rebound.
Midway through the half Ciaran Moore advanced on a mazy run from left back into the area to drill low past Doherty and make it four two.
Dunree then had the final chance when Liam Baldrick headed McGuinness’s cross just over.
QPS 1 Aileach FC 1
In the early exchanges Anthony Doherty headed wide and Darren McMonagle had a free saved by Oisin Burke for the visitors.
At the other end Brian McColgan fired narrowly over before a Chris Monteith cross found Conor Barrow but he blazed over from six yards.
Aileach had a good spell with Gavin Doherty seeing an effort crash off the post before Anthony Doherty drew a brilliant save from Burke and from the corner Burke blocked a Caoimhinn McFeely effort.
Before the break the points Denim McLaughlin fired over and on the stroke of half time at the other end after a scramble McMonagle saw his effort blocked by a combination of defenders.
On 53 minutes the home side had the first chance when aRoss Nicholas cross found Mclaughlin whose control and shot was superbly saved by John Roulstone and from the corner Barrow ‘s follow up was cleared.
[adrotate group=”46″]Barrow then headed an Antonio Rea cross wide. Aileach had a chance after Kieran McGrory ‘s cross was half cleared to Gavin Doherty but his driven effort was well saved by Burke.
The Point broke the deadlock on 68 minutes when Monteith’s corner found the unmarked McLaughlin to volley low to the corner from ten yards.
Aileach upped the tempo and mcGrory headed over from a corner before the same player was denied by a smothering save from Burke.
In injury time Gavin Doherty had a free well held by Burke and deep into injury time Aileach levelled when Dermot Doherty poked home after a scramble.
Clonmany Shamrocks 4 Carn FC 1
Clonmany got off to a dream start on 5 minutes when Mikey Friel released Jason Devlin and he pulled the ball back for Jamie Coyle to slot home past Daniel Houghton.
Carn replied and when Brandon Browne released Darragh Deery the home keeper Patrick Harkin advanced to flick the ball away.
On 22 minutes Clonmany’s Dessie Doherty sent Friel running into the area and he drilled low past Houghton.
Carn got a goal back on 28 minutes when Ryan Kelly got in front of his marker to fire home from eight yards following a corner.
At the other end Coyle had a free kick tipped onto the bar by Houghton.
On the stroke of half time the shamrocks made it three one after Jason Devlin intercepted a crossfield pass and fed Dessie Doherty who finished superbly.
The second half degenerated into a niggly affair in the opening period with both sides collected yellow cards.
Midway through the half Devlin fed Paul McDermott who beat a defender and fired a powerful effort to the top corner for a brilliant finish.
The last chance fell to the home side when Devlin crossed for McDermott to see his brilliant volley crash back off the angle of the post and crossbar.
[adrotate group=”81″]Strand Hotel Division One
Redcastle FC 2 Rasheney 1
Redcastle went ahead on five minute’s when Sean Curran played in Brendan Murphy and he slipped the ball past Sean Friel, into the bottom corner.
They increased their lead minutes later when Curran converted from the spot after a hand ball by the visitors.
Redcastle started the second half with Kevin Toner playing in Murphy but he shot straight at Friel. Curran released Murphy again soon after but he was denied by Friel’s out stretched leg.
Rasheney came more into the game then and David McLaughlin crossed for Charlie Doherty who volleyed wide from ten yards.
Redcastle squandered further chances to put the game to bed, through Murphy and Darrah McConway. Rasheney got a goal back on eighty minutes when Charlie Doherty headed home a Declan Mc laughlin cross following a short corner.
Rasheney then almost snatched a equaliser, following a scramble in the home area when James Curran was adjudged to have cleared of the line , with the visitors appealing for a goal.
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