AN ETHAN COLL goal sealed a 2-1 win for Kildrum Tigers and move the side into second place in the Donegal League Premier Division at the expense of Castlefin Celtic.
Castlefin Celtic 1 Â Â Â Â Kildrum Tigers 2
Kildrum left Castlefin with all three points after a hard fought 2-1 win in Parkview.
The hosts started the brighter and took the lead in the 13th minute when Ian Ward latched on to a JP Malley flick on, he raced down the right and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner.
Photo caption:Â Ethan Coll, Kildrum Tigers in possession against Peter Bryson and PJ McMenamin, Castlefin Celtic. Photo: Gary Foy, League PRO
The visitors responded with a William Lynch effort but it was well saved by Anthony Sweeney in the home goals. In the second half the visitors drew level when Del Crossan was fouled in the box and Lynch slotted home the resulting penalty with 49 minutes played. In the 54th Emmet White went close with a free kick from 25 yards but it just went wide of the post.
The hosts created another chance but a Matthew O’ Rourke header just flew wide after a Malley cross from the left. Castlefin looked more likely to hit the winner, O Rourke again went close after a shot from 20 yards with 15 minutes left. In the 85th minute Castlefin were caught on the break when the ball broke to Kildrum’s Lynch and he played through Ethan Coll who broke clear and slotted home to give the visitors the lead.
Best for Castlefin: Damien Mc Anenny. Best for Kildrum: William Lynch. Referee: Liam Mc Laughlin
[adrotate group=”46″]Rathmullan Celtic 2 Â Â Â Â St. Catherines 2
Sub Barry Rose netted a late, late equaliser for the visitors at the Flagpole as Rathmullan and St. Catherines were forced to settle for a point each.
In truth, the result does little for either side in the scrap for points and the home side surely thought they had the game won when Kevin Doran volleyed them 2-1 in front on 90 minutes.
On a wet and murky afternoon by the Seaside, there was plenty additional time from referee Joe McHugh and Killybegs made the most of it to snatch a share of the spoils. It was the Fishermen that got first blood.
Ryan Cunningham stepped away from a covering challenge and slammed home a shot from 18 yards. Rathmullan weren’t behind for long however, skipper Eoin Sheridan rifling home a powerful low shot that had enough on it to evade the dive of Michael Mullin.
The game was level at the break and, in truth, the second half was a tight affair which had all the hallmarks of being settled by a third goal if at all. It was the home side that duly found that elusive goal in the 90th minute with a goal of real quality. Dara Patton cushioned a long clearance from Mark Gallagher into the path of Ryan Connolly just inside the Killybegs half.
Connolly’s diagonal pass was straight into the path of the marauding James Gallagher and his teasing left-footed cross found Doran lurking at the far post to divert the ball over the line with great control. That looked to be that, but a resolute visiting side summoned one last push.
From a long punt, the ball was flicked goalwards and while Gallagher was alert to deny Dan Breslin, the follow-up was squared across the goal line and Rose was on hand to bundle home and prick Rathmullan’s late joy in the process. As is so often is, this was a battle from start to finish between these clubs and on a tough, tough day for football, both sets of players will eventually be soothed having not seen their efforts go unrewarded.Â
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Raphoe Town 2 Â Â Â Â Gweedore United 2
Raphoe Town and Gweedore United shared the spoils today in a 2-2 draw.
Raphoe opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Colin Laird fired home from close range. Raphoe dominated most of the first half however Gweedore pulled one back through Peter Barry with ten minutes remaining before half time.
Raphoe started sharpest in the second half and were rewarded with a goal from Oliver Quinn. Missed chances  from Raphoe  saw Gweedore come back again with Ciaran McFadden equalising to level it all level at the full time whistle
Gweedore Celtic 4 Â Â Â Â Glenree United 2
This game was played in dreary conditions at an Screaban.
The Celts opened the scoring on 10 minutes through a Tommy Diver penalty after Eamonn McGee was taken down in the area.
The second half was a much more lively affair and Glenree soon equalised 2 minutes into the half through Nicholas Ellis. Gweedore responded quickly and regained the lead just a few minutes later after Colin Ferry converted a long throw-in from Odhran Mc Niallais.
On 60 minutes Andrew Kelly scored a great volley to level proceedings once again. Colin Ferry then latched onto a long ball from Joe Bonner and managed to dribble past three defenders before finishing with a well weighted chip over the advancing keeper. The Screaban men then put the game to bed when Eamonn McGee rose to flick home a Jamie Boyle corner.
Micheal Mc Kelvey made a fantastic save from close range late on. The topsy-turvy game finished 4-2 to Gweedore.Â
Donegal Town 5 Â Â Â Â Bonagee United 1
Donegal started the game the better of the two teams and found themselves a goal to the good after 20 minutes.
Daniel McHugh’s free kick finding the top corner. Donegal had a number of chances to double their lead in the first half but the Bonagee goalkeeper pulled of a number of fine saves.
It was 1-0 to Donegal at half time. Donegal had a fast start to the second half. Stephen Curneen doubled Donegal’s lead on 50 minutes when he headed home Eoin Slevin’s cross to the front post.
Daniel McHugh got Donegal’s third on 55 minutes with a neat chip over the Bonagee keeper. Ben Sweeney got Donegal’s fourth and Stephen Curneen rounded off the scoring for Donegal late in the game.
Lee M Monagle got a late consolation goal for Bonagee when he turned his marker and finished well from inside the Donegal box.
[adrotate group=”55″]Keadue Rovers 3 Â Â Â Â Â Deele Harps 0
Keadue Rovers were comfortable winners over Deele Harps at Central Park on Sunday in a vital battle just above the relegation zone.
Keadue were ahead by the 10th minute when David Ward’s free kick from the left was flicked to the net by Sean Yank Boyle.
It was still 1-0 at the break despite another good effort saved just before half time by the Deele keeper. After the break though, Deele were much the brighter with a number of efforts, the best of which was saved by Hugh Boyle in the Keadue goals in the48th minute.
To their credit, Keadue started to get a hold on things just before the hour mark and went 2-0 up when Conor Greene was on hand to slot home at the far post after good work down the right hand side.
They went 3-0 up on sixty five minutes when Corey Gallagher headed in at close range from a corner. At that stage Keadue introduced a few subs and still maintained a good attack with a number of chances falling to both Conor Greene and Ryan Greene and the home side ended the game much the stronger and could well have won by a greater margin.
A solid and dogged team performance from Deele Harps while best for Keadue were Sean Yank Boyle, Danny Mc Glynn and Hugh Moy.
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Drumkeen United 4 Â Â Â Â Whitestrand United 1
Drumkeen got the new year off to a winning start at home to Whitestrand on Sunday but the game was a lot closer than the final scoreline would suggest.
The home team led by two goals at half time and it was no more than they deserved. The half time scoreline could have been a lot worse for Whitestrand only for their Keeper Paddy Kelly who made several good saves to keep Drumkeen at Bay.
The deadlock was finally broken on 35 minutes when Paddy Kelly made another save but this time the ball came back out to Jason Moore and he made no mistake from eight yards.
Having found it hard to get a goal Drumkeen got their second soon after. Aaron Doherty turned provider when his cross from the right was headed home superbly by Lee Kennedy to give the home team a two goal lead at half time.
All the Whitestrand pressure eventually did pay off as they pulled back a goal from an unexpected source. They were awarded a free kick on the half way line which was taken by goalkeeper Paddy Kelly. We will never know if he meant it or not but his free kick went all the way and ended up in the back of the Drumkeen net.
He tried the same thing a little later from a similar position but this time Michael Gibson was on his line and managed to get a hand to the ball and push it on to the crossbar. Drumkeen were getting a bit nervous now as they now only led by a goal, Michael Guthrie was introduced as a sub by Drumkeen Manager Sam Hegarty and it proved to be a good decision as the young player added a third goal when he calmly slotted the ball home from 8 yards to ease the home nerves and ensure the points were staying in Drumkeen.
The home team added a fourth goal near the end which was a bit unfortunate for the Whitestrand keeper as a shot deflected off one of his defenders giving him no chance of saving it.
Letterbarrow Celtic 1 Â Â Â Â Dunkineely Celtic 0
This match was reversed to Darney Park after Letterbarrow’s pitch was unplayable.
A minute of silence was held for Leo Gorman and Mary Gallagher. The match started with a frantic pace with Dunkineely creating many chances and nearly getting there just reward with a great effort by Aaron Byrne who was denied by the crossbar. Letterbarrow were awarded a penalty on the 56th minute which was slotted home by Alan Foxton. Dunkineely pushed on but couldn’t find the back of the net.Â
Eany Celtic 3 Â Â Â Â Lifford Celtic 2
A gutsy performance from a young Eany side saw their good run continue and another three points notched up when they brought Lifford Celtic’s unbeaten run to an end in Eany Park.
It was the home side that started the brightest and strikers Mc Groarty and Griffin went close in the early exchanges. In the 20th minute a fine cross by Caolan Gaffney found Paul Mc Groarty in the box and he set Stephen Griffin up to fire home from close range.
The visitors stepped up a gear and had a purple patch for ten minutes and this yielded a goal when Ross Porter found himself in space in the Eany box to score the equaliser on the half hour. The game looked like going to halftime 1-1 but Stuart Johnson made the most of another Mc Groarty cross and put Eany ahead in the 40th minute.
Lifford came out in the second half and found some rhythm and got back on terms on the hour when Jason Mc Brearty scored after a fine breakaway run.
Both sides worked hard for the three points but with ten minutes remaining Aidan Meehan stole in at the back post to get Eany’s third and decisive goal. Good team performances from both sides. Referee: Michael Mulhern
Curragh Athletic 1 Â Â Â Â Cranford United 4
The game between Curragh and Cranford ended 4-1 to the visitors.
The game was played in perfect conditions. It was Curragh to strike first after just 6 minutes with Gavin Sweeney latching on to a great Mikey Grant corner.
Cranford pressed hard and on 35 minutes got their reward. Cranford led at the break 2-1 . The second have saw Curragh start well and pushed looking for a goal but Cranford stood strong.
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