Charlie O’ Donnell Trophy Match Reports
Charlie O Donnell Cup
Friday 23rd August
Rasheney FC 2
Dunree United 0
Both teams fielded understrength with the home team claiming victory. However Dunree were out of luck as regards scoring mainly down to Rasheney keeper Tiernan Devine who put in a ‘Man of the Match’ performance.
The visitors dominated during the first quarter with Peter O’ Neill having two excellent opportunities to put his side ahead. After being set up by Tommy Doherty he dragged his shot just wide of a post and shortly afterwards when Michael Grant had a shot blocked O’Neill, unmarked, had a clear sight of goal but Devine advanced to make an outstanding save with his feet. When a high ball was launched forward into the home defence William Doherty had a shot on the run which flashed over. Mid way through the half Rasheney’s first effort of note came when Adam Kirkland controlled a forward pass from Charlie Doherty and curled an effort just wide of the right hand post. Minutes later the deadlock was broken when Doherty’s long range free dipped in under the crossbar and found the net. Just before the interval Jack Mc Laughlin, for Rasheney, headed into the side net at the back post following a Kevin Noone corner. And it was a Noone pass in the opening minutes of the second half that allowed Mark Diver to send a crisp shot to the corner of the net to double the home side’s lead. On 52 minutes a ball broke from Kirkland to Aiden Bambrick inside the box but he was unable to capitalise. At the other end a William Doherty cross resulted in a glancing header from sub Matthew Doherty but Devine made a low save and he was again in action to superbly deny Grant and Ryan Bradley both of whom had close range attempts saved. Matthew Doherty had a shot from outside the area claimed by Devine and when the same player managed to get around the keeper he pulled his shot wide. Rasheney’s best chances of the second half saw sub Paddy Mc Gilloway get in behind the Dunree defence but his rasping drive flew wide of a post and a back heeled ball from another sub Shaun Porter rolled goalwards but was hooked clear from close in. In the final action of the game Shaun Mulhern fired over for Dunree.
Aileach Res 8
Greencastle Res 1
Played in perfect conditions, Greencastle started the brighter and took the lead in the first five minutes when David Walker headed home at the back post after a Joe Doherty cross. Aileach replied immediately when Paddy Curran raced down the left wing and crossed for Marc Wallace to slot into the net. Aileach took the lead on 15 minutes when Killian O’Rourke sent Paddy Curran through the centre and his placed the ball past Seamus Bouvaird in the Greencastle goal from 20 yards. Aileach went 3-1 up when Marc Wallace slid Stephen Doherty through on goal and his shot found the bottom corner. Five minutes before half time O’Rourke sprayed a ball wide to Shane McMonagle who fired an early cross into the path of Stephen Doherty who steered the ball into the corner for 4-1. Doherty completed his hat trick on the stroke of half time when he placed a header into the top corner following a Curran cross. Aileach added another ten minutes into the second half when Chris O’Donnell weaved his way into the box and fired past Bouvaird. Paddy Curran scored number seven when he pounced on a defensive mix up to find the net. Curran completed the scoring with 10 minutes remaining when he raced on to a Benny Hegarty pass and slotted into the bottom corner to complete his hat trick.
Clonmany Shamrocks 8
Gleneely Colts 3
In a high scoring it was Gleneely who took the lead in the 10th minute when Nathan McLaughlin broke away on the left wing before cutting into the box to shoot low past Clonmany goalkeeper Patrick Harkin. Clonmany were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute for a hand ball but Gleneely keeper Sean McGuinness dived to his right to keep out Pearce McCarron’s low kick and the danger was cleared. Clonmany equalised in the 34th minute when Michael Devlin took possession on the edge of the Gleneely box and angled a pass behind the Gleneely defence for Clonmany left-back Matthew Brennan to run onto and he cut the ball back across the Gleneely goals for Jake Harkin to slip the ball home.Clonmany were awarded a second penalty in the 40th minute after a challenge in the box.This time Michael Devlin stepped up and he sent Sean McGuinness the wrong way to make it 2-1 to Clonmany at the break. Clonmany scored four quick goals in a fifteen minute spell at the start of the second half to take control of the match. First in the 53rd minute Pearce McCarron cut out a clearance kick from Sean McGuinness to bear down on goals and despite the attention of two defenders and Sean McGuinness he was able to finish to the net.In the 59th minute Pearce grabbed a second goal after he headed home at the back post from Michael Devlin’s cross.Three minutes later Clonmany were awarded their third penalty of the night and Michael Devlin stepped up to fire low to the opposite corner from his previous spot-kick with Sean McGuinness diving to his left this time.Jason Devlin then hit a quick ten minute hat-trick.His first came in the 64th minute when he collected Michael Devlin’s through ball in his stride and broke through the centre of the Gleneely defence to rifle a shot past McGuinness to the top left hand corner of the net.Two minutes later Jason collected a pass from Jake Harkin in the box and slipped a low shot past Sean McGuinness to the bottom corner of the net.He completed his hat-trick in the 74th minute ,collecting the ball about 30 yards from the Gleneely goals before unleashing a shot from the edge of the area to the net. Gleneely capitalised on some slack defending in the final five minutes to pull two goals back.In the 87th minute Nathan McLaughlin cut in from the left wing on his right foot and shot low to the right hand corner of Patrick Harkin’s net.In the final minute Gleneely were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box and Nathan McLaughlin stepped up to send Patrick Harkin the wrong way and also complete his hat-trick .
Sunday 25th August
Dunree United 1
Redcastle United 3
After an even opening period the visitors opened the scoring on 21 minutes when Ronan Hoy broke clear onto a ball over the top to fire low past Ryan Fitzpatrick from twenty yards. They doubled their lead ten minutes later in controversial fashion when an Evan Craig effort was deemed to have crossed the line despite the best efforts of Fitzpatrick in the home goal. Dunree rallied and got a goal back before half time when Jamie Brosnan fired high to the net from the penalty spot after Ryan Bradley had been upended.Dunree had a lot of the ball in the second period but failed to create clear openings with the Redcastle defence dominant. Redcastle then struck on 79 minutes to seal the tie when Hoy crossed from the right for Brendan Murphy to volley home at the back post.
Greencastle Res 4
QPS 4
In an entertaining clash played in Muff QPS took a 7th minute lead after Caolan McColgan advanced on the left and cut in to fire an unstoppable effort to the top corner from twenty five yards. But Greencastle levelled on 12minutes when player manager David Walker played a one two with Adam Harkin and came through a tackle with the ball to fire in off the bar from the edge of the area. Joe Doherty then clipped the outside of the post before at the other end John McCloskey and Lee Barr both were off target. Greencastle regained the lead on 37minutes after Puaric Gilled fed Andrew Peoples and his ball over the top sent Joe Doherty clear to fire low past Aiden Lynch. But the Point equalised within minutes when John McCloskey drilled home at the second attempt from inside the area. In first half injury time Greencastle made it three two when Adam Harkin slotted home after Joe Doherty’s effort was well parried by Lynch. In the early exchanges of the second half Peoples and Walker both fired over while Ross Nicholas fired wide twice for QPS. The point levelled matters midway through the half with Darragh McIntyre crossing for Caolan McColgan to control and fire low to the corner from eighteen yards. The Point then took the lead on 85 minutes when McColgans effort was parried by Seamus Bovaird but Sean McColgan was first to react to slot home. Greencastle earned a point after substitute Ben Doherty crossed for Peoples to head the ball back into the path of Jude Harkin to fire home. Late on Walker fired over while the point had the final chance when Josh Boyle had an effort well saved by Bovaird.
Gleneely Colts 3
Glengad Res 1
Gleneely first threatened and took the lead on 10 minutes when Corey O’Brien robbed a defender on the edge of the box and curled a beauty into the top right hand corner that gave Michael Mclaughlin no chance in the away goal. Within minutes Glengad got back level when a longball by Jason Doherty set Gary Kelly free and he held of the close attentions of John Doherty to slot under Sean McGuiness from 10 yards.Gleneely replied and JJ Doherty had a rasping shot from 25yards that just flew over while at the other end another long ball by Jason Doherty set Gary Kelly free again but his attempted lob, just tailed wide of the right upright. The last action of the half fell to Nathan McLaughlin when he shot over from 10yards when well placed after good work by Kevin Doherty and Corey O’Brien.
Gleneely went ahead five minutes after the restart when a long free by John Doherty, was flicked on by JJ Doherty and Nathan McLaughlin ghosted into the box to fire low and hard into the bottom right from an acute angle. Glengad responded when JG McDermot had a shot from 15yards that forced a fine save from McGuiness who push the ball around the post for a corner. Gleneely upped the tempo and scored their third on 55minutes after good work from JJ Doherty on the right forced the ball across the box for Michael McLaughlin to parry the ball on the line and Corey O’Brien to tap into the empty net. Play swung from end to end but Glengad could not force through the well marshaled gleneely defence and final score ended 3-1 to Gleneely.