ST CATHERINE’S REMAIN the frontrunners in the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division but had to be content with a share of the spoils at home to Kildrum Tigers.
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
St. Catherines FC 1 Â Â Â Â Â Kildrum Tigers 1
The reigning Champions entertained the Tigers of Kildrum at Emerald Park on Sunday afternoon.
The first half produced no goals as the sides cancelled each other out.
Ryan Mc Hugh put the hosts ahead early in the second half but the advantage was short lived as Conor Crossan equalised shortly afterwards. It ended in a share of the spoils.
Milford United 1 Â Â Â Â Â Â Glenea United 1
Milford and Glenea played out a draw in perfect conditions.
Milford took lead after 15 minutes when Cathal Mc Gettigan scored. Glenea equalised through Dean Gallagher. Milford pushed hard for a winner but Glenea defended well with Paul Sweeney outstanding. Good team effort from Milford.
Gweedore Celtic 2 Â Â Â Â Â Castlefin Celtic 1
Gweedore recorded their second league victory on the trot after seeing off Castlefin in a very tight contest.
The home team dominated proceedings early on and scored as early as the 17th minute. Eugene Ferry started the move from right back and his ball through to Brendan McGeady caught out the Castlefin defence. From Mc Geady’s cross midfielder Damien O Sullivan applied the finishing touch.
Castlefin’s Emmet White was not to be outdone as he hit a 30-yard equaliser on the stroke of half time.
The winner for Gweedore arrived with ten minutes remaining when Jamie Boyle weaved his way past a static defence to finish to the net. Gweedore had good performances from Paul Mc Bride, Shane Porter and young Padraig Gallagher. For Castlefin Emmet White was best. Referee: Paddy Duffy.
A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off for Anita Maloney, cousin of Gweedore keeper Chris Sweeney who tragically passed away during the week.
Cappry Rovers 0 Â Â Â Â Â Rathmullan Celtic 0
This game was played in good conditions at Cappry Park.
There was very little between these two. Â In the 21st minute Eamon Sheridan went close with a snap shot from inside the box. The home side had a claim for a penalty when Aaron Kelly appeared to be fouled inside the box. The home side again went close when Rory Dunleavy’s cross found Kyle Lafferty but his effort went over the bar. The second half started with the home team pressing trying to get in front.
Kyle Lafferty had another chance in the 53rd minute but saw his effort go wide. Rathmullan defended well and were always dangerous on the break. Cappry went close again in the 78th minute when Darren O’ Leary saw his effort cleared off the line. Rathmullan went close again when Dara Patton hit a fine drive from 25 yards which went just wide.Â
Drumoghill FC 2 Â Â Â Â Â Kilmacrennan Celtic 1
Marcus Oliver picked up from where he left off last week with another double to sink the men from Kilmacrennan Celtic.
Oliver struck twice during the opening 45 minutes to put side into control, but Christy Conaghan’s second half penalty set up a frantic finale before Michael Lynch’s men held on for another vital victory. The first half was an entertaining affair, with both sides looking lively. Oliver opened the scoring on 18 minutes and doubled the lead shortly afterwards after being sent clear by Christopher’s through ball.
The visitors had no option but to throw numbers forward in the second half in their search for the goal that would bring them back into the game. Their bravery was rewarded when referee Marty Quinn adjudged Ethan McCready to have used his hands to block Timmy Burke’s effort inside the penalty area and awarded the penalty on 62 minutes. Conaghan made no mistake and reduced the arrears to the minimum.
Kilmacrennan applied a lot of pressure in the final few minutes but Paul McCauley was equal to anything they could throw at them. He made one brilliant save from Timmy Burke in the 89th minute to ensure his side held on for the three points.
All tables courtesy of Donegal Junior League website.
Watson Hire Division One
Cranford United 0 Â Â Â Â Â Donegal Town 9
Donegal Town started well and took early control of this match.
They had a comfortable 3-0 lead at half time, and went on again in the second half, with David Graham scoring four second half goals. Stephen Graham scored twice while Declan Brown, Stephen Curneen and JP Byrne were also on target.
Keadue Rovers 7       Kerrykeel ‘71 FC 0
Keadue Rovers hit something of a lengthy purple patch when Kerrykeel’71 F.C. visited Central Park on Sunday afternoon.
Donal Rodgers was the main protagonist hitting a first half hat-trick and adding two more in the second half. Shaun Burns and Hugh Boyle added one apiece to give the final scoreline a real gloss, if you support Keadue Rovers that is.
Bonagee United 1 Â Â Â Â Â Â Raphoe Town 1
Raphoe took the lead on seven minutes when a corner from the right fell to Emmett Kelly who shot home from six yards.
Glen Rainey, for the home side, saw his header from 10Â yards on 12Â minutes well saved by Keelan Gillen. Â
Stephen Laird came close for the visitors on 47 minutes but his strike from the edge of the box went just wide of the post. Bonagee levelled the match on the hour when a Sean Crossan cross from the left to the back post was headed home from six yards by Shane Kelly.
Raphoe had chances through Chris Bogle, Stephen Laird, and Jamie Gallagher but all failed to find the target. Bonagee had two great efforts from Eamon Cannon but Stephen Cunningham who replaced Gillen in goal midway through the second half made two brilliant saves.Â
Convoy Arsenal 2 Â Â Â Â Â Â Lagan Harps 2
Lagan took the lead on five minutes when Mark Hunter capitalised on a defensive error.
Convoy had more possession in the first half but their two closest efforts came from headers by Paul O’ Leary and Darren Harvey. Mark Hunter had a few good efforts for Lagan. Convoy turned the game around with two goals in a five minute period. Johnny Robb fired home from 25Â yards when the Lagan defence backed off.
He then capitalised on a defensive error to put Convoy in the lead. Lagan improved after this and equalised on 70Â minutes when Chris Toner fired home the rebound when Mark Hunter hit the post. The game really came to life in the last fifteen minutes with both teams going for it. Paul Rodger headed over a Kevin Kelly cross and Marty Brogan shot wide as Lagan pressed.
James Kee then headed over for Convoy. Convoy almost won it in the final minute when Emmett Patterson almost bundled home a loose ball but Ronan Gibson got it off the line. Emmett suffered a head injury in the clash and hopefully he’s back in action soon. For Lagan Mark Hunter and Paul Rodgers were best. Johnny Robb, Darren Harvey and Paul O’Leary were best for Convoy.
CT Ball Division Two
Deele Harps 1 Â Â Â Â Â Â Letterbarrow Celtic 0
On a summer-like day at The Athletic Grounds Deele entertained a determined Letterbarrow side.
The home side huffed and puffed and created a number of chances but couldn’t apply the finishing touches. On 25 minutes Deele edged ahead when the in-form Kevin Lynch cut in from the right and a fired home from a tight angle. It proved to be only goal of the game with Deele wasteful in front of the nets. Chances for Shane Gallagher, Brian Breslin and Declan Lafferty went astray.
Letterbarrow almost got in on goal in the dying minutes but were thwarted by the Deele defence who were on top form on the day.
Whitestrand United 1 Â Â Â Â Â Â Glenree United 3
Whitestrand were pushed all the way by Glenree United at Mc Garvey Park on Sunday afternoon.
Glenree had a penalty on six minutes but it came off the post. It was the away team who actually had more chances and took the lead through Marty Mc Laughlin after 25 minutes when he rounded the keeper to score.
Within 10 minutes Glenree made it 2-0. Hugh Bradley for Glenree. The third goal soon followed when a big strike from Gallagher came back off the crossbar and bounced out to Kevin Doherty who smashed home his header. Whitestrand had chances with no luck but Glenree defensively stood their ground.
The Whitestrand Team never gave up and kept pressing. They got their reward with a Kevin Loughrey goal five minutes from time.
Copany Rovers 1 Â Â Â Â Â Ballybofey United 2
Copany hosted Ballybofey in Killowen Park on Sunday in what was a keenly contested game from the first whistle.
It was the home side who took the lead after 25 minutes with a neat finish from the hard working Paul Patton. Ballybofey started to put the pressure on but were unable to break the Copany back line and it remained 1-0 at the break.
Ballybofey started strong in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser on 56 minutes when a miss hit Copany clearance ended up in in their own net , and the away side were now smelling blood and they took the lead on 72 minutes when Michael Lynch tapped in from another failed Copany clearance .Â
Erne Wanderers 2 Â Â Â Â Â Â Dunkineely Celtic 1
Erne Wanderers hosted Dunkineely Celtic in glorious conditions at the Lakeside Centre on Sunday and the home team got the points from a scrappy affair.
The home team dominated possession for most of the first half and created a few chances but to no avail. It was Phillip Patton who broke the deadlock three minutes before the break with a subline free-kick from the edge of the box. Patton should have doubled the lead straight away when David Dorrian played him in over the top but he lofted the ball over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
The second half was much the same and Patton got his second on the hour mark when he volleyed between the keepers legs for a fine finish. Wanderers then slackened off and conceded a soft goal with two minutes left when Darragh Murrin tapped in at the back post unmarked. Erne were glad to hear the final whistle at the end. Patton, Dorrian and Slevin were to the fore for the homesters with Celtic battling well to the end.Â
