DONEGAL Town cemented their place at the top of the Glencar Inn Saturday Division One – here’s a full roundup of this week’s Saturday League action.
Arranmore United 0 Strand Rovers 3
(No Report Submitted)
Milford United Reserves 3 Oldtown Celtic 1
Three first half goals for Milford from Jason McConigley, Lee Burke and Kieran Blaney.
Oldtown got one back in second half. Great team effort from Milford.
Donegal Town Reserves 2 Glencar Celtic 1
Donegal Town Reserves continued their hunt for league glory and came out on the right side of a battle in wet and windy conditions at the Hospital Field. They started the game brightly with the wind behind them in the first half.
There were few chances of note in the first 30 minutes with both teams negating each other. The home team took the lead on 35 minutes when Ted latched on to a pinpoint delivery from a Joe Campbell free kick to neatly tuck the ball away in the far bottom corner giving the keeper no chance.
Town’s tails were up at this stage and the lead was doubled almost instantly when Ted popped the ball over the Glencar defence and the very lively James Kerrigan showed no fear to throw his left boot in front of the oncoming keeper to finish neatly.
Glencar almost pulled one back on the stoke of half-time when Kenny was called into action with a sharp save down to his right, then there was a double block on the line with Slevin and Gavigan denying Glencar. Donegal knew it would be backs to the wall in the 2nd half against a quality team and would have to dig deep to get a result. Glencar started to throw caution to the wind, pressing high up, but Donegal stood firm.
Likewise, Kenny (in the Town goal) was on a mission to keep a clean sheet. However, he was finally beaten with 12 minutes to go as Glencar pulled one back from a free kick.
A nervy ending followed. Tired legs and tired minds, against a strong wind and rain, and a Glencar side searching for the equaliser. Donegal held on to claim three valuable points.
An exceptional Town performance all over the field. Kenny shaded it for Man of the Match for his heroics in the last 20 minutes.
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 4 Fintown Harps AFC 0
Kildrum got the opening goal when James McNulty taped home an Ayton cross after 15 minutes.
Paddy Gallagher finished well to make it two on the half hour. Fintown pressed hard to get back into the game in the second half. Paddy Gallagher got his second goal to make it three and they added a fourth to cement a comprehensive result.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Drumbar F.C. 2 Drumkeen United Reserves 2
Drumbar welcomed league leaders Drumkeen on Saturday. In what were very testing conditions for both sides it was Drumkeen who started the brighter, not allowing Drumbar out of their half.
After ten minutes of the first half Drumkeen took the lead when a Drumkeen defensive clearance, helped by the wind, found the head of Shane Laverty on the edge of the box to tuck it away.
Drumbar slowly came to terms with the game and the conditions, finding holes in the Drumkeen backline and asking some big questions of them. Midway through the first half a Caolan Loughney effort struck the arm of a Drumkeen defender in the penalty area and a penalty was awarded to Drumbar. Daniel Bennett stepped up to covert to make it 1-1.
Drumkeen regained the lead a short time later with a penalty of their own after a Drumkeen player had been taken down in the area, Micheal Guthrie converted coolly to make it 2-1.
The second half started with Drumbar the brighter of the two and pegging Drumkeen back into their own half with the wind this time on the Drumbar backs.
Drumbar created some great chances. Their good play was rewarded when Daniel Bennett again tied the game with 15 minutes left on the clock. 2-2 was how it ended with both sides having great opportunities to snatch the victory towards the end, but both sides would be happy to come away from this game with a point each.
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 4 Copany Rovers 1
Castlefin came out on top against Copany on Saturday. Copany took the lead in the 8th minute when Stephen Doherty scored from the edge of the box. Castlefin pressed hard for an equaliser and were rewarded in the 20th minute when a Stephen Roulston through ball found Reece Gallagher who shot past the keeper to score.
The home side then had long range efforts from Conor Dalton and Jordan McKinney but the Copany keeper dealt with them. Castlefin took the lead in the 50th minute when Reece Gallagher pounced on a poor clearance to score.
It was 3-1 on 60 minutes when a Jordan Reid shot from 25 yards flew into the top corner of the net.
Castlefin completed the scoring with 5 minutes remaining when they were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box which Lee Mc Laughlin converted. Best for Castlefinn: Reece Gallagher and Lee Kennedy. Best for Copany: Stephen Doherty.
Referee: Brian O`Kane
Cappry Rovers Reserves 4 Ballybofey United Reserves 0
In a game played in poor conditions in Cappry a youthful home side got off to the perfect start when Jack Bradley scored inside two minutes. Ballybofey, playing with the wind in first half, pressed to get level but the Cappry defence held strong in the first half.
Cappry again got a dream start to the second half when Karl McGlynn scored Cappry their second in the 46th minute.
Cappry kept the pressure on and got a third goal when James Speight scored two minutes later. Cappry made it 4-0 when Karl Mc Glynn added his second. Referee: Tony McNamee
