Swilly Rovers 2 Cockhill Celtic 5
Cockhill Celtic, the holders, eases past Swilly Rovers to make it into the second round of the 2017 Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup.
Garbhan Friel netted a hat-trick as the Inishowen men recorded a fine win at Swilly Park.
Friel scored his first with only 8 minutes played after ball fell to him from a goalkeeper clearance that hit a Swilly defender and the Cockhill forward chipped Caolan Bolton from 20 yards.
Bolton made an outstanding save from a Jimmy Bradley header on 12 minutes, but three minutes later Damien Friel was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Friel got his second with a neat finish from the spot.
The heavy pitch was making passing difficult and on 18 minutes Ryan Varna made it 3-0 with a clinical finish from outside the box.
The second half started well for Swilly and they started to gain a foothold in the game with opening 10-15 minutes all going one direction – towards the Cockhill goal.
But up popped again Friel with a superb shot from 12 yards to make it 4-0 and complete his hat-trick.
On 65 minutes Bradley made it 5-0 after a counter attack left him with a handy side foot finish.
Swilly rallied well and got goals from Jordan Toland after a sublime chip and the hard-working Brandon Toye.
Cockhill Celtic: Gavin Cullen, Derek Doherty, Chris Duffy, Fran Devenney, Oisin McColgan, Gerard McLaughlin, Gerry Gill, Ryan Varma, Garbhan Friel, Jimmy Bradley, Ronan Doherty.
Swilly Rovers: Caolan Bolton, Dylan Hegarty, Paul Bradley, Damien Friel, Brandon Toye, Shay Durning, Ryan Toland, Jordan Toland, Barry Mooney, Laurence Toland, Tony McNamee.
Drumoghill FC 2 Bonagee United 1 (after extra time)
For the second year in a row, Drumoghill FC claimed an Ulster Senior League scalp after a dramatic extra-time win over nine-man Bonagee at The Moss.
CLICK HERE TO READ CHRIS MCNULTY’S MATCH REPORT FROM THE MOSS
QPS 0 Derry City Reserves 1
Sean McBride popped up with a last-gasp winner for Derry City Reserves in a tight struggle with QPS at Muff on Sunday. McBride netted the only goal of the game just as extra-time was looming.
The Ballybofey man steered home to send the Candystripes into the next round with a tidy finish to break the hearts of the Inishowen League side.
RESULTS
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup, First Round
Drumoghill FC 2-1 Bonagee United (after extra time)
Swilly Rovers 2-5 Cockhill Celtic
QPS 0-1 Derry City Reserves
Greencastle FC 5-0 Monaghan Town
Glengad United v Clones Town (Glengad get walkover as Clones didn’t field)
* The Fanad United-Letterkenny Rovers Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup tie will be played on Wednesday, February 22nd
FIXTURES
Donegal News USL Cup, Group B
Thursday, February 16, 7.30pm
Fanad United v Derry City Reserves
*The semi-finals of the Donegal News USL Cup will take place next Sunday with the pairings to be confirmed following the Fanad-Derry game on Thursday night
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