THERE was no shortage of action across the four areas of the Voodoo Venue Cup on Saturday – here’s how the games panned out.
Voodoo Venue Cup Area 1
Glencar Celtic 2 Swilly Rovers Reserves 0
Glencar started brightest and knocked the ball around well for the first twenty minutes but failed to create any clear-cut chances.
Swilly were dangerous on the counter attack and nearly broke the deadlock when Cameron Gormley broke free and shot past the outrushing goalkeeper Peter Doherty who’s touch took the sting out of the shot and Mick Martin cleaned up in defence for Glencar, directing the ball around the post for a corner to Swilly.
Glencar had numerous corners through the first-half and but they came to nothing. In the 39th minute a corner from the right-hand side, swung in by Joe Friel, was met by Mick Martin at the back post to head home and put the home side one up.
Ciaran Maloney then went close with a free-kick form distance but the Jamie Lee Blaney got down superbly low to his left-hand side to push it around the post.
Swilly came close during a scramble on the edge of the Glencar box but a mix-up on who should have hit the shot led to a Glencar man getting a toe to it and clearing the danger. Swilly started the second-half on the front foot and enjoyed more possession, pushing Glencar a bit deeper, but they couldn’t find the killer ball to open-up the Glencar defence.
Glencar grew into the half and had several corners, again they couldn’t punish the visitors. The second goal came through quick thinking from Shane Hilley & Ciaran Maloney. Hilley who was fouled on the edge of the centre circle spotted the early run of Maloney and the quick free-kick worked a treat as Maloney slotted it past Jamie Lee to give Glencar a two goal cushion..
Milford United Reserves 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 3
Kilmacrennan created several chances in the opening period but couldn’t find a way past young Eoin Mc Gettigan in Milford’s goal who pulled off a number of fine saves. Kilmacrennan did take the lead on the half hour mark with Owen Browne scoring.
Milford started the second-half strong and got a deserved equaliser on 70 minutes. A Ciaran Blaney shot was saved but Jamie Whelan was on hand to tap home. Kilmacrennan regained the lead shortly afterwards through a Luke Downey goal. Kilmacrennan added a late third from a corner with Gary Gorman rising highest to head home. Best for Milford was Eoin Mc Gettigan and best for Kilmacrennan was Eddie Doherty.
Ramelton Mariners 3 Cranford United Reserves 3
The Mariners first home game on their return to the Donegal League was played in perfect conditions for football in Kerrykeel.
Cranford started the quicker and were unlucky not to take the lead after 14 minutes when a Dillion McBride strike from distance thundered off the post. The Mariners grew more into the game and took the lead on 31 minutes when Dessie Murray finished from close range from a Corey McCahill cross.
The lead was short lived though as Cranford struck back with a goal from Conor Shields on 33 minutes. Another quick goal saw the Mariners take the lead going into the break when great work from Brandon Wilkie down the left found Corey Mc Cahill and he rifled a volley to the roof of the net.
Two quick Cranford goals after the restart saw them take the lead.
The equaliser came through Shields from the penalty spot while Paddy McGeever reacted quickest to a mistake from goalkeeper Eddie Boyce to put Cranford ahead. The Mariners threw everything at Cranford in the closing stages and were rewarded for their persistence when Barry Mooney connected with a Shane Fisher corner to halve the spoils.
Area 2
Copany Rovers 4 St. Catherines Reserves 1
(No Report Submitted)
Donegal Town Reserves 3 Drumbar FC 0
(No Report Submitted)
Area 3
Dunlewey Celtic 2 Arranmore United 1
Dunlewey Celtic hosted Arranmore in their third game of the Voodoo Venue Cup, Group-Stage. The game had a frantic start, with end to end football for the first 30 minutes, but neither side could capitalise on the chances created.
Both defences were well organised and both goalkeepers reacted well to any shots that came their way. Arranmore also had an effort that crashed back off the crossbar. They went in at the break on level terms 0-0.
The second-half began with the breeze behind Dunlewey, Conor Mc Mahon and Joseph Devenney were making dangerous runs in behind the Arranmore defence. Dunlewey were awarded a penalty when Conor Mc Mahon was brought down in the area following a mazy run. Patrick Mc Geady stepped up to take it but the Arranmore keeper saved well to his right-hand side to keep the scores level.
The deadlock was broken when the ball broke to the edge of the box from a Dunlewey corner and was met by Daniel Coll who struck the ball sweetly to fire it past the Arranmore keeper.
Arranmore did not let this affect their game and pressed hard for an equaliser which they got two minutes after Dunlewey took the lead. A free-kick delivered to the back post was headed across goal and met by Tommy McIndewar who ghosted in to finish and bring the game back all square.
Both sides were pushing to get ahead and it was Dunlewey who once again took the lead following a fine long range effort from Brendan McGeady.
Arranmore pushed for an equaliser but the Dunlewey defence held firm with Patrick Mc Geady and Sean O’ Donnell thwarting most of the attacks that were coming their way. Daniel and Paul Coll also put in a great shift in the middle of the field.
Dunlewey were unfortunate not to increase their lead with a couple of chances on the break but in the end held out for another victory and another great team performance.
Glenea United Reserves 1 Gweedore Celtic Reserves 1
In great conditions for football this closely fought Gaeltacht derby finished in a draw. The visitors had the first opportunity to score when the home defence failed to deal with a corner, Ciaran Coll saving well. As the half progressed Glenea came more into the game and on 20 minutes Luke McCarry was put through by Calvin Murray but he saw his effort well saved by Joseph McGee.
A couple minutes later Mc Carry was played in, again by Calvin Murray, and once more the visiting keeper denied him. As half-time approached it was Gweedore Celtic who took the lead when a cross from the left was headed home by Cathal Boyle. In the second-half the home side pushed hard for an equaliser but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.
The away attack were also finding it difficult to create an opening. Glenea came close to equalising on 60 minutes when a Luke Mc Carry corner was headed just over the bar by Kyle Mc Mullan.
Glenea equalised on 65 minutes when Remmy Moran headed home a corner form Luke Mc Carry. Both sides pushed for a winning goal with Glenea’s best efforts coming from Cathal McGeever and Luke McCarry. Ciaran Coll had to be alert to turn a Ryan Doherty cross over the bar as Gweedore Celtic threatened.
Keadue Rovers Reserves 1 Strand Rovers 1
On a fine day for a local derby this tightly contested match saw chances for both teams in the first half. Keadue built momentum and in the 37th minute the deadlock was broken with a fine goal. Strand started to build their own momentum but Keadue handled the pressure while making a few chances of their own.
Into the second-half, again both teams had chances, it was Strand who capitalise and equalised through a fine goal.
Both teams worked hard but nothing could separate them and the match finished 1-1.
Area 4
Ballybofey United Reserves 3 Castlefin Celtic Reserves 4
These were two very evenly matched sides for the majority of this match. It wasn’t until Castlefin introduced a few more experienced players in the second-half that they got the upper-hand and eventually won the three points. Ballybofey United took the lead when Kelan Browne scored from the penalty spot.
Castlefin Celtic equalised but Ballybofey regained the lead when Kelan Browne fired his left-footed shot beyond the reach of the Castlefin goalkeeper. The second-half began with Castlefin again drawing level.
Another Browne penalty put Ballybofey ahead for the third time in the game.
Once again Castlefin found an equaliser. The visitors, buoyed by their third goal, and bolstered by those experienced campaigners, found a late winner to secure the spoils. It was great to see the young players who started for both sides produce an end to end encounter.
Cappry Rovers Reserves 5 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 1
In a game played in perfect conditions in Cappry Park the home team started brightly and took the lead through Ronan Carlin after five minutes. Cappry kept pressing and where well on top. In the 11th minute Ronan Carlin raced through again to make it 2-0. Cappry were dominating the game and should have added to their lead but a combination of good goal-keeping and poor finishing kept the score at 2-0.
Cappry did make it 3-0 in the 35th minute when Kyle O’Meara scored.
Cappry started the second-half strong but again the Drumoghill defence held out. Cappry did get their 4th goal when Kyle O’Meara crossed for Ronan Carlin to score with a fine header. Cappry added a fifth in the 70th minute when Jamie O’Donnell finished well.
Drumoghill didn’t given-in and got a late consolation goal in the 80th minute when Aaron Clarke finished well.
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 3 Oldtown Celtic 4
(No Report Submitted)
