There was a programme of games in the Ulster Junior Shield this weekend with teams from Donegal, Inishowen and the Monaghan-Cavan Leagues in action – here’s how the games went.
Aileach Res 4 Culdaff Res 1
Aileach started strongly and a dangerous Eamon Brown cross was scrambled clear by the visitors defence in the opening minutes.
They did break the deadlock on 11 minutes when a Ruairi Bradley corner was not cleared allowing Stephen Doherty to fire home from close range.
Culdaff replied midway through the half when Jack O’Brien played a one two before seeing his effort well turned round the post by Kieran Bradley at full stretch. Before the break Bradley disposed a defender and raced clear before drilling low to the corner and giving the home side a two nil interval lead.
On 55 minutes Daniel Mullarkey turned an Eamon Brown twenty yards effort round the post at full stretch.
On the hour mark a superb run by substitute Stephen O’Donnell ended with Mullarkey saving well again.
Minutes later O’Donnell beat two defenders and slotted low under Mullarkey to make it three nil.
A long ball over the top released another substitute Joe Johnstone but his effort was well smothered by Mullarkey before Ciaran McGrory had an effort flash just wide. McGrory then slotted home from six yards after a superb cross by O’Donnell had picked him out.
Culdaff replied and got a consolation when Jack O’Brien beat a defender and fired to the roof of the net from the edge of the area.
Glengad Res 3 Buncrana Res 3 (aet, Glengad win 3-2 on pens)
The home side had the first chance on 5 minutes when PJ McDaid fed Mark McKinney who drilled narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
Buncrana responded and went close when a snapshot from James Adair was cleared off the line by John G McDermott.
Buncrana then took the lead when they were awarded a penalty for handball which Brendan Murphy calmly converted.
The home side had another clear sight of goal when McDaid broke free but Cathal McNutt advanced well to smother.
The visitors had the final chance of the half and should have increased their lead when a Christy McKinley cross found Adam Doherty but unmarked he headed over from six yards.
From the restart Buncrana broke upfield and Adam Doherty fired a superb twenty yards effort high past Ronan Lafferty to double their lead.
The home side rallied and got a goal back on 58 minutes when Cathal Doherty scored with a superb lob over McNutt from thirty yards.
Three minutes later they were level when a Christopher McLaughlin cross came off the post for McDermott to slot home.
John Timlin almost won it for the visitors but his free kick was brilliantly saved by Ronan Lafferty to send the game into extra time.
Glengad took the lead midway through the half after a deep cross from Mclaughlin found Gary Kelly to fire to the top corner.
But Buncrana hit back and equalised when Timlin crossed for Oisin O’Flaherty to head to the roof of the net. There were no other chances in extra time and in the shootout Glengad emerged victorious by three kicks to two.
Monaghan Town Res 2 Redcastle United 5
Redcastle got off to a great start when Aaron Nash pounced on a loose ball inside the area to hammer low to the net from twelve yards.
It got better minutes later when Nash crossed for Cahir McLaughlin to head home. But the home side then got a goal back after a long kick out released Michael McColgan and he rounded Michael McCole to slot home.
Redcastle upped the tempo and Jack McConalogue rounded two men before drilling low to the corner.
On 33 minutes the home side failed to clear a corner and McLaughlin was on had to tap home.
Redcastle were dealt a blow then when Nash was shown a straight red card after an innocuous challenge on the home keeper.
Redcastle kept things tight after this and increased their lead when James Curran headed home a corner on 75 minutes.
A minute later Shaun Curran was red carded after dissent when he had been fouled from behind. Monaghan got a late consolation when McColgan converted a penalty after he had been fouled.
Milford United Res 2 Rasheney FC 6
The home side took the lead on 5 minutes when the Rasheney defence looked for offside but Milford played on and Doherty smashed the ball home. This spurred Rasheney into action and Charlie Doherty beat three players to tap the ball past the keeper.
Rashenney upped their game and some fine work from Brendan Doherty fed the ball to Damien Friel to shoot from twenty five yards into top corner to make it two nil.
Some ten minutes later Matthew McLaughlin cut in from the left hand side and fired an unstoppable drive past the Milford keeper to make it three one Rashenney,
and only two minutes later a goal of the season contender sealed the game.
Anthony Doherty won the ball at the half way line released the ball to John Grant and some nice one touch play involving four Rasheney players the ball was fed to Brendan Doherty who’s first touch was to chip the advancing full back and his second was to fire a cross towards the penalty spot where Charlie Doherty was flying through the air to bullet a header into the top corner.
The second half had just started when Rashenney went five one up, a goal mouth scramble and the ball was cleared by Milford but hit against John Grant to trickle into the net.
Just minutes later Charlie Doherty completed his hat trick and Rashenneys sixth to seal the tie.
With 15 minutes remaining Milford gained what turned out to be a mere consolation.
Glenea United Reserves 3 Illies Celtic 0
(No Report Submitted)
Cappry Rovers Reserves 3 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 1
Cappry were home to Kerrykeel in the Cup and it turned out a very entertaining game.
In an even enough first half it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 23 minutes.
A free kick by Michael McDevitt from his own half deceived the stand in keeper Gabriel Doherty and bounced over his head and into the net.
In the second half Cappry introduced some fresh legs and with his first touch Joel Bradley Walsh slotted home in 60th minute.
Five minutes later Kyle O’ Meara hit a screamer to the top corner of the net and with 10 minutes remaining Paul Duncan scored to seal a 3 -1 victory for Cappry.
Strand Rovers 10 Killylough F.C. 1
Click here to read a match report from this game
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