OLD ORCHARD DIVISION ONE leaders Orchard United dropped their first points of the season in a keenly contested local derby against Glencar Celtic.
Orchard United 1-1 Glencar Celtic
The first-half at Letterkenny Community Centre this afternoon produced little it terms of clear cut chances but then served up two in a six-minute spell.
Photo caption: Glencar Celtic striker Declan Scanlon in possession for his side against Orchard United in the Old Orchard Saturday Division One clash this afternoon. All photos by Stephen Doherty
Glencar, who lost the power of midfielder Eugene Sullivan with a cut early in the game, took a deserved lead in the 40th minute when the Orchard defence failed to clear Declan Scanlon’s free-kick and their former player Eddie McLaughlin blasted the ball to the roof of the net from 12 yards.
The lead, however, was short lived as Orchard equalised in the first minute of injury-time before the break, when Joe McCarron’s free kick eluded a number of defenders and Gio Peoples drifted in behind them and flicked the ball past Ray McFeely to leave it 1-1 at the break.
The Glencar Celtic team before their derby clash with Orchard United at Letterkenny Community Centre
The second-half was again well contested with Glencar having the better of the early exchanges.
Seanie Houston produced a fine turn and shot in the opening minute and then forced a super one-handed save from Tommy McLaughlin in the 55th minute when his flying header from Rory Gallagher’s excellent cross looked certain to restore Glencar’s lead.
It was another 20 minutes before the game’s next clear-cut scoring chance arrived. Paddy O’Kane who had come forward for a Glencar corner chased a ball out close to the sideline and laid it back for Graham Cullen who’s cross found sub Micky Molloy completely unmarked but he headed wide from 10 yards.
Orchard finally came alive in the latter stages and after Michael Doherty’s shot had been blocked the ball broke to Niall Bonner who’s goal- bound shot was cleared off the line by O’Kane in the 78th minute.
Three minutes later Bonner had a great chance to clinch in when he beat the offside trap but dragged his shot from 16 yards.
Minutes later Glencar could have grabbed all three points when a corner was only half-cleared by the Orchard defence and Graham Cullen’s well struck shot was blocked close to the goal-line.
Overall a draw was probably the fairest result in this derby clash which produced five yellow cards from referee Joe McHugh, who handled a keenly contest very well.
Orchard United’s players observe a minute’s silence for the late Joshua Patrick Higgins
There was a minute’s silence before game for former Glencar Celtic player Marty Higgins and his family on their bereavement earlier this week.
Orchard United: Thomas McLaughlin; John Doran, Gio Peoples, Gerard Roulstone, Barry McMenamin; Vinny McLaughlin (Ciaran Gibson 65), Joe McCarron, Michéal Doherty, Raymond Doherty; Niall Bonner, John Sweeney.
Glencar Celtic: Ray McFeely; Chick McLaughlin, Mark Forde, Paddy O’Kane, Rory Gallagher; Garvan Griece, Graham Cullen, Eugene Sullivan (Michael Molloy 18), Eddie McLaughlin; Seanie Houston, Declan Scanlon (Liam Doherty 65).
Referee: Joe McHugh.
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