There will be a new name on the Ulster Junior Cup this season as Aileach lost out to Convoy, while there were a number of high-scoring games in the competition this weekend.
Here’s a full round-up…
Rathmullan Celtic 7 Drumoghill F.C. 2
Dixie Deeney’s Rathmullan Celtic booked their passage through to the next round of the Ulster Cup with a comfortable win over Drumoghill at The Moss with a second half hat-trick from Hoops’ skipper Eoin Sheridan.
The Hoops controlled proceedings from the start with Sheridan and Dara Patton dictating the game from their partnership in midfield.
The Hoops took the lead on 13 minutes when star man Reggie Miller sent a ball through for striker Mark Wilson who made no mistake from inside the area for the first of his brace.
Drumoghill responded however, on 19 minutes, when their sharp shooter Liam O’ Donnell took advantage of a loose ball inside the area and placed it beyond the out-stretched Shaun Gallagher in goals.
Wilson though duly dug deep on 22 minutes with a daisy cutter from 20 yards sneaking into the left corner of John Walsh’s goal to restore the Hoops’ advantage.
This was cancelled out yet again by O’ Donnell as Drumoghill attacked through Michael Toner and amid a goal-mouth scramble O’Donnell calmly slotted home for the home side.
The Hoops upped the tempo and once again took the lead on 35 minutes when Patton sent a perfect lob over the defence to set Raymond Boyce free and the striker made no mistake with a calm finish to give the Hoops the half time lead.
Drumoghill lost Kieran Daffan to a Red Card on 50 minutes and Rathmullan used the extra man to their advantage.
They extended their lead on 55 minutes when striker Wilson was brought down inside the area by Walsh and Sheridan stepped up to score from the penalty spot in what would be his first of three from the white mark.
On the hour mark Reggie Miller put Connolly through on goals but the winger was fouled and Rathmullan were awarded a spot kick.
This time Travis Crawford saw Red leaving the hosts with nine players. Sheridan duly executed the penalty to effectively kill the match.
Sheridan completed his hat-trick of spot kicks on 85 minutes. Alawiye delivered the finishing touch with a well taken goal on 88 minutes.
Cavan Town 4 Glenea United 3
(No Report Available)
Convoy Arsenal 3 Aileach FC 2
Click here to read a report on this game
Bonagee United 0 Carn FC 4
Click here to read Chris McNulty’s report from Dry Arch Park
Kilmacrennan C 4 Illies Celtic 3
Played in Ballyare Kilmacrennan started well on top and took the lead when Seamus Friel fed Daire McDaid who finished superbly from the edge of the area.
Minutes later roles were reversed when Friel ran onto McDaid’s pass and was upended by Johnathan Noone with Enda Conway converting.
McDaid was then denied by a good save from Noone before Friel fired into the side netting. Illies hit back and Paul Doherty and Adrian Donaghey-Doherty both failed to hit the target with efforts from the edge of the area.
They got a goal back when Paul Doherty’s free fell to Ryan McElhinney to poke home from close range.
Illies got back on terms then on 52 minutes after Paul Doherty headed home brother Liam’s cross. But the home side regained the lead after McDaid despatched a stunning free kick from the edge of the area to the top corner.
Illies rallied again and made it three all when Dominic Owen Coyle slotted home after Liam Doherty’s effort had been parried by Jason Quinn.
Kilmacrennan struck for the winner on 85 minutes when a McDaid free fell to Evan McDaid to neatly tuck the ball home from 12 yards.
Lifford Celtic 2 Clonmany Shamrocks 9
Clonmany had this game well sewn up at half time as they raced into a four goal lead.
It was a personal triumph for Jason Doherty who scored his side’s first four goals. Gary Doherty added a fifth on the stroke of half time.
The pick of Doherty’s goal s came when he ran on to Jake Harkins through ball to race clear and finish superbly.
Anything Doherty could do in the first half Harkin matched in the second half with the young midfielder grabbing four second half goals.
The pick of his goals was a brilliant full on volley from Doherty s cross to the roof of the net. They even had the luxury of seeing
Niall McLaughlin’s penalty crash off the bar. Lifford got two consolation goals when Jack Mahon and Corey Lindsay netted.
Cappry Rovers 1 Glengad United 6
Click here to read Charlie Collins’ report from Cappry Park
Buncrana Hearts 2 Culdaff FC 1
In good conditions at Castle Park Buncrana started well with Kieran McDaid causing all sorts of problems on the right.
He crossed on five minutes but Mark McFadden side-footed over from six yards. Culdaff replied and when a corner broke in the area to Bryan McCandless he fired straight at Caolan McGonagle from 12 yards.
Midway through the half the home side were unlucky after Stephen McHugh and McDaid combined on the left to set up Aaron McDaid and his effort from the edge of the area cannoned back off the bar.
Buncrana missed a great chance after McHugh released McFadden who rounded Darragh McLaughlin but somehow fired wide.
Culdaff then spurned a great chance also when McCandless squared the ball inside to Aiden Cunningham but he fired at McGonagle from 12 yards.
On the stroke of half time Buncrana went close again when McDaid beat a defender but saw his effort clip the outside of the post.
Culdaff got off to a great start on the resumption when a brilliant run and cross on the right by Thomas O’Brien found Cunningham to score with a superb header over McGonagle.
Buncrana had a chance to hit back immediately after McDaid was adjudged to have been upended but Kevin O’Loughlin’s sot kick was brilliantly saved by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin then made another stunning save from a McDaid effort before Michael Coyle headed over when well placed from a corner as the hearts poured on the pressure.
They equalised on 74 minutes after a sublime cross from McDaid found Coyle to slot home from close range. Buncrana kept pushing forward and went ahead on 81 minutes after McDaid ‘s free kick was superbly headed home by Michael Coyle to send the Hearts through.
Keadue Rovers 0 Milford United 0Â
(No Report Submitted)
Redcastle United 3 Cranford United 2 (after extra time)
The game started well with both sides having spells of possession.
The first half chance came on 6 minutes when Alan Clarke turned the defender well but mis-hit his shot and it went just wide of the near post.
Five minutes later Cranford had their first half chance when a loose ball was hit well by Enda McLaughlin and just started dipping too late and landed on the roof of the net.
With 20 minutes played a great ball from Aiden McLaughlin found Alan Clarke whose effort was well saved by the foot of Jason Hegarty but Clarke made no mistake with the rebound and made it one nil to Redcastle.
On 35 minutes good play from Cranford around the Redcastle box found Daragh Morrission but his effort was just over the bar.
With 15 minutes of the second half played Cranford had their first real chance of the second half but a brilliant save from Michael McCole tipped the ball onto the crossbar.
Minutes later a long ball from the Cranford defence put Kevin McGroddy through and he slotted just out of the reach of the Redcastle keeper to make it one all.
With minutes left Alan Clarke found himself one on one with the Cranford keeper but this time the keeper prevailed.
Four minutes into extra time a cross from Aiden McLaughlin found Eunan Mullan and his flick at the near post put Redcastle back in front.
With a minute to half time a counter attack by Redcastle was well finished by Aiden McLaughlin.
Three minutes after half time another long ball from the Cranford defence put Kevin Doherty in who chipped over the on rushing keeper.
From the resulting kick off hesitation from the Cranford defence let Aiden McLaughlin in but this time he fired just wide. Cranford pushed hard but the home side held firm.
F.C. Lighthouse 1 Donegal Town 1
(2-2 a.e.t., Donegal Town won on penalties)
Lagan Harps 2 Kildrum Tigers 10
A strong second half from Kildrum saw them run away with this tie. Kildrum took the lead on 20 minutes when Matt Crossan fired home from the edge of the area.
This quickly became 2-0 when William Lynch headed home. Lagan pulled a goal back when Ryan Diver flicked in a corner.
Kildrum added goals through Oran Higgins and Willam Lynch before Alberto Rovelli pulled another back for Lagan.
Kildrum ran riot in the second half with further goals from Conor Matthewson (2), Brett Mc Ginty (2), Kevin McHugh and Daniel Clarke.
An impressive performance from Kildrum but disappointingly for Lagan they fell away in the second half.
Referee: Joe McHugh.
