THERE were goals galore on Saturday in the Voodoo Venue Cup with action across all four groups of the competition.
Area 1
Glencar Celtic 1 Milford United Reserves 0
Glencar Celtic ran out 1-0 winners against Milford in Rathmullan. Glencar got off to a great start after ten minutes when Pajo Rafferty found the back of the net but Glencar failed to build on that with good chances going abegging throughout the game.
Milford had a few half-chances to get back into the game but Glencar saw it out to claim all three points.
Ramelton Mariners 3 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 2
Group leaders Kilmacrennan travelled to Kerrykeel with the Mariners knowing only a win would keep them in the hunt for qualification.
The Mariners took control early on and were rewarded for their good start when Corey Mc Cahill volleyed home from 12yards from a long throw-in taken by Alan Blaney. The Mariners continued to pile on the pressure and should have doubled their advantage with David Fisher firing over from close range.
The Mariners eventually got their second when Barry Mooney played a defence splitting pass to Mc Cahill who got his second of the day, chipping the keeper. Kilmacrennan started better in the second half and on 52 minutes pulled a goal back through Raymond Browne after great work down the left-hand side.
Mariners could have restored their two-goal lead but for a fantastic point blank save from Kilmacrennan goalkeeper Kieran Mallon. Kilmacrennan levelled on 72 minutes when Rab Sandilands converted from the penalty spot.
Mariners took the lead again with Corey Mc Cahill completing his hat-trick by rounding the keeper after a great team move.
Swilly Rovers Reserves 6 Cranford United Reserves 1
(No Report Submitted)
Area 2
Donegal Town Reserves 3 Copany Rovers 1
(No Report Submitted)
Fintown Harps AFC 6 St. Catherines Reserves 1
In a pulsating game at Pairc Achla Fintown took all three points on a 6-1 score-line which was a bit harsh on the visitors at Catherine’s.
Fintown took the lead on 10 minutes with great work from man of the match Keelan Mc Monagle to find his namesake Keelan (Sean) McMonagle in the box who with a great first touch found the back of the net to put Fintown one up.
Fintown pressed again and got the second on 15 minutes through Keelan McMonagle with a brilliant individual run from midfield.
St. Catherines had a chance three minutes later but were denied by Adam Molloy. The third Fintown goal came from Micheal Doherty who found the range and chipped the keeper. Keelan Mc onagle got his second and Fintown’s fourth five minutes later.
St. Catherine’s hit back with a goal from a set-piece with a great header from Josh Cunningham in the 38th minute.
Fintown went 5 -1 up on 60 minutes when they were awarded a penalty and McMonagle netted to complete his hat-trick.
Fintown got their sixth with some hard work on the wing from Peadar Toner setting up John Gerard McGlynn to finish.
Area 3
Dunlewey Celtic 4 Strand Rovers 3
A goalfest in Glentornan Park in what was a crucial final game for both sides in the group stages of the Voodoo Venue Cup.
Dunlewey needed the win to have any chance of finishing second and other results to go in their favour to advance to the quarter finals, whereas Strand would secure top spot with a win. The game started at a frantic pace which set the tone for the afternoon and it was the visitors who took the lead through Dylan Boyle with a fine strike from distance finding the top corner.
Both sides pushed for the next goal and the hosts who got back on level terms when Ryan Coll got on the end of a cross from the right to slot the ball home.
The sides went in level pegging at half time. The second half saw Strand introduce a couple of substitutes and one of those substitutions ended up putting them back ahead with a fantastic free kick straight into the top corner.
Strand didn’t rest on their laurels and went 3-1 up after Dylan Boyle scored his second of the afternoon with a shot from distance. Conor McMahon came off the bench for Dunlewey and caused the Strand backline a lot of problems with his pace. He pulled one back for Dunlewey when the ball was spilled at his feet.
Dunlewey pressed hard again and Conor Mc Mahon ran through and rounded the keeper only to be brought down and the referee had no option but to point to the penalty spot. Brendan McGeady stepped up to cooly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to level the game.
The home side didn’t stop there, they kept their momentum going and got their third goal in a cracking ten-minute spell when Keith Sweeney blasted the ball home to put Dunlewey 4-3 up heading into the final ten minutes of the game.
Both sides had a couple of chances near the end, however the game finished 4-3 to Dunlewey who finished the group strongly with nine points and narrowly missed out on second spot in the group with Keadue and Strand securing the top two spots.
Glenea United Reserves 2 Keadue Rovers Reserves 6
Glenea reserves completed their Voodoo Cup campaign with a defeat to Keadue. After a slow start to the first-half the visitors started to take control of the game but were held scoreless through a combination of good goalkeeping and not taking their chances.
The home side were struggling to create any clear-cut chances themselves. Keadue took the lead on 35 minutes when an effort from Shane Byrne was deflected into the net.
In the second-half Keadue continued to look for a second goal and were rewarded on 51 minutes Shane Byrne’s header found Eoin Boyle and he slotted past the Glenea keeper. Like the first-half the Glenea attack were finding it difficult to get shots on goal and Keadue extended their lead on 60 minutes when Luke Neely cut in from the left wing and his shot found the corner of the net.
Glenea pulled a goal back on 65 minutes through a well struck effort from Ciaran Coll.
Any hope of a comeback was dashed two minutes later when the home defence failed to clear a corner and Eoin Boyle scored from close range.
Glenea got their second goal on 73 minutes when Ciaran Coll scored from long range. As Glenea pushed, looking for more goals, they were caught by Keadue who added further goals through Eoin Fallon and Jack Gillespie.
Gweedore Celtic Reserves 0 Arranmore United 4
Arranmore overcame a young Gweedore Celtic team in the last round of the Voodoo Venue Cup, Group stage.
The home team started well but were undone by two goals in the tenth and twelfth minutes. Paul Early began the scoring and Gary Heaney followed up with a great strike from 20 yards. The rest of the half was dominated by Arranmore but Gweedore came more into the game in the second half.
Neil Doran and Conor Boyle were linking well up front whilst Dean O’ Donnell was always busy in the middle of the field. Arranmore were in no mood to concede and two late goals from Conor Lenty and Gary Heaney confirmed the result.
Area 4
Cappry Rovers Reserves 3 Ballybofey United Reserves 1
Cappry started on the front foot in this game and had a couple of chances through Sean Breen but the Ballybofey keeper was equal to them.
Ballybofey almost took the lead when they had a shoot cleared off the line. Cappry did take the lead in the 20th minute when Kieran Melaugh finished well from a Ryan McGee free kick. Ballybofey kept coming at Cappry, trying to get level and should have drawn level when they missed a great opportunity at the back post.
Cappry started well in the second half and scored when John Callan headed home a Ryan McGee corner. Cappry got their third goal in the 70th minute when Kieran Melaugh’s shot from 25 yards found the bottom corner. Ballybofey kept going and got their reward when Conor McGlynn scored late on for them.
