Inishowen Football League Match Reports Sunday 12th April 2026
Inishowen Football League Reports
Clubman Shirts Semi Final
Carn FC 1
Illies Celtic 1 AET Carn win 5-4 on pens
Played in blustery conditions in St Patrick’s Park. Carn had the first chance on 6 minutes when Jamie Doherty played a great pass from midfield to Tiernan Cantwell on the right who rounded the defender and laid it off for Mark Scott but his low effort was well saved by Conor Doherty in the Illies goal.
Illies then had a chance to take the lead when Paul Duffy crossed from the left for Brendan Grant who shot high to the left and wide from twelve yards. Illies had a great chance midway through the half when Illies Captain Paul Doherty made a great pass from midfield to Jamie McDaid who went past two defenders but failed to hit the target from ten yards.Carn had the final chance of the half after Liam McWeeney broke on the right and cut inside a defender but failed to hit the target from eight yards.
The home side had the first opportunity after the break with Shay McDaid finding Ross Farren but he was off target from twelve yards in a central position. At the other end on the hour mark Shane Doherty picked out Brendan Grant inside the area but his effort was well saved by Daniel McDaid. Play swung back to the other end where Oran Doherty fed Paul Duffy whose well hit effort drew an excellent save from McDaid as extra time ensued. Carn finally broke the deadlock in the first minute of extra time after Ross Farren made a long pass from the halfway line to Callum Kelly , pictured right ,who was unmarked on the left hand side of the area and he drove a powerful shot to the top left corner of the net. But Illies equalized just before half time in extra time as Paul Doherty broke on the left and when his cross was not cleared the ball fell to Jamie McDaid, pictured left, who was able to stick it in the right corner of the net from eight yards. The only chance of the second period fell to the home side when substitute Michael McDermott fed Scott who beat the offside trap before shot over with only the keeper to beat. In the shootout Mark Scott, Callum Kelly, Michael McDermott, Lorcan Bradley and Cade Cooke all converted from the spot to take Carn to the final.
( Illies Capt. Paul Doherty & Carn Capt.Jamie Doherty, pictured with Referee Trevor Moloney,centre and his assistants , John Joe Lafferty ,left & Eamon Doherty ,right.)
Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O’Gara Cup
Greencastle FC 1
Cockhill Youth 2
The visitors began well and opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Devan McCarron collected a headed clearance on the edge of the area and fired a superb left footed effort to the top corner past Sean O Neill. Greencastle responded with Nathan Harkin and Joe Carroll combining to release Seamus McLaughlin on the left but his deep cross was well gathered by Darragh O Donnell. Cockhill kept pressing with P J Doherty and Darragh McDermott playing a one two before Doherty’s effort was cleared off the line by Jamie McCormick. Both McDermott with a snapshot and a Doherty free then went over the bar. Cockhill made it two nil on 35 minutes then with Conor McDaid heading to the roof of the net from a Mason McDaid free kick. The home side tried to rally with Carroll finding McLaughlin on the left and he beat two men but his dangerous cross was well smothered by O’Donnell. On the stroke of half time Gerry Gill had a left footed effort well gathered by O’Donnell. Greencastle began well on the restart with Nathan Harkin firing over before a superb Seamus McLaughlin cross found no takers. At the other end McDermott controlled well on the edge of the area but was off target. Greencastle upped the tempo and peppered the visitors goal with efforts. Gill had one shot deflected wide and another over the bar while Harkin was narrowly wide with another from distance. They got a goal back on 78 minutes after Harkin broke on the right and squared to McLaughlin who cut inside his man and curled a superb effort to the top corner from twenty yards. The home side continued to press with Luke McFadden swivelling inside the area but seeing his effort saved by O’Donnell before Gavin Harkin headed wide from a Gill free kick. In the closing stages Harkin had two efforts , one which found the side netting and another from twenty yards which sailed just over as Cockhill’s hopes of a treble continue.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Buncrana Hearts 0
Clonmany Shamrocks 2
Played on Wednesday night the visitors secured runners up spot in the league with two second half goals. The home side started brightly and went close in the second minute when Hugh Aaron McGonagle was played in by Liam Quigley but shot wide of Kieran Friel’s goal. Clonmany responded with Pearce McCarron seeing his low driven shot touched around the base of his left hand post by Taylor Clarke in the fourth minute. Buncrana’s Caolan Doherty & Jack Bradley combined on the left wing to set up Michael Grant but his shot was saved by Friel. These early stages of the game saw constant pressure from Hearts with Jack Bradley next to test Friel,who was able to dive low to his left to save his shot. Friel was called into action again shortly after when Quigley cut into the box but again Kieran was able to avert the danger. Having withstood all the Hearts pressure Clonmany started to string some passes together in midfield and created a great chance in the 26th minute when Jason Devlin progressed down the left to send a cross into the box which Pearce McCarron headed onto Shane McCaul coming in from the right wing ten yards out from the goal but his header was held by Taylor Clarke. Buncrana were forced into a change a minute later after Eoin Murphy was forced off through injury to be replaced by Kevin Jordan. Clonmany went close again after Shane McCaul broke from midfield to slide a pass through to Terence Doherty on the left of the box who cut inside a Hearts defender before shooting towards goal but his shot was held by Clarke. The closing minutes of the half saw Clonmany go close twice. First in the 38th minute Aaron Porter crossed from the right of the Hearts box to pick out Jamie Coyle who saw his header come back off the post and then be cleared off the line. Then in the 42nd minute Pearce McCarron saw his free-kick from wide on the left touched over his crossbar by Clarke. Jack Doherty’s resulting corner found Jamie Coyle and for a second time he saw a header denied by the frame of the Buncrana goal and go behind for a goal-kick to leave it scoreless at the break.
Buncrana began the second half with Jack Bradley forcing Friel into a save in the 47th minute but then Clonmany took control of the match . Terence Doherty set up Pearce McCarron in the Hearts box in the 51st minute but his shot was blocked down by Kevin Jordan and then again when Jack Doherty’s free from the right of the box was headed narrowly wide by Terence Doherty. All this pressure eventually led to another corner for Clonmany in the 56th minute ,which Jack Doherty took from the left and his curling cross drifted over Taylor Clarke in the centre of a crowded Hearts six yard box and found the inside netting at the back post to put the visitors ahead. Aaron Porter saw a shot from the edge of the box saved by Clarke but it was only a temporary reprieve for Buncrana with Clonmany sealing the victory five minutes later with their best passage of play of the night. Shane McCaul broke down their right wing before sending a pass to Jamie McKinney who controlled at the right edge of the 18 yard line before rolling a pass into the path of Jamie Coyle who struck his shot from just inside the box and blasted it high to find the top right hand corner of Clarke’s goal to put the Shamrocks two nil ahead. The remainder of the match saw both teams give their subs some game time and the Shamrocks held on to win their final league match of the season.
Buncrana Hearts 1
Cockhill Celtic 3
This final league game of the season for both clubs and a dress rehearsal for the Donegal Signs Cup Final saw the home side threaten first with a Jack McGeough shot on the run just clearing the bar. Cockhill got on top after this with Jack Mullan seeing a twenty five yards effort saved by Taylor Clarke. The visitors took the lead when a Stephen Duffy effort was adjudged to have taken a deflection and from the corner the home side failed to clear and Brendan McLaughlin poked home. They added a second before half time after McLaughlin fed Duffy on the left and he cut in to fire past Clarke with the aid of a deflection. The Hearts got back into the contest on 49 minutes after good work by Liam Quigley on the left saw his cross sidefooted low past Stephen McNulty by Hugh Aaron McGonagle. Quigley was unlucky then when his cross come shot crashed of the crossbar. Cockhill replied and Jay Bradley fired over the bar before substitute Conor Graham crossed for Duffy who headed wide from seven yards. Graham then cut in from the left but saw his effort superbly tipped over the bar by Clarke. Buncrana almost snatched an equaliser on 89 minutes when a free kick fell to Ethan Soal inside the area and his initial effort was cleared off the line while his follow up effort came off the post. Cockhill broke from this and McLaughlins cross on the left was slotted home by Tiernan Ruddy to complete a perfect league programme for the champions.
HML Plant Hire Division One 
Glengad United 3
Aileach Res 1
(Glengad Capt. Seamus Doherty & Aileach Capt. Stephen Doherty ,pictured with Referee Terence Moyne)
Played in blustery conditions Glengad started this game well and opened the score after 10 minutes when good midfield play from John McDaid with his pass finding Ultan Doherty on the right who cut inside and fired past Darragh Porter from fifteen yards.Glengad got a second goal two minutes later this time Seamus Doherty finding Oran Doherty who raced clear of the Aileach defence to slot low past Porter from the edge of the area .Aileach got a goal back on 40 minute with Dermot Doherty finding Stephen Doherty ,pictured right, in the six yard box and he fired low under Ronan Lafferty in the home goal. But Glengad restored their two goal advantage in the 55th minute after a long ball from Ultan Doherty caused a mix up in the Aileach defence and the ball fell kindly to Joe Doherty to score from six yards. The remainder of the game saw a lot of the play in the midfield area with both defences on top and neither side created a further goalscoring chance.
(Glengad scorers Oran Doherty & Ultan Doherty)
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A 
Clonmany Res 8
Carrowmena FC 2
The home side dominated the opening half and went ahead in the 14th minute after a Carrowmena corner saw Tyler McEleney break the length of the pitch before being forced wide but he laid the ball across for Mark Doherty to slot low past Ivan Smyth from the edge of the area. They doubled their advantage minutes later after a Raymond McDaid ross was superbly volleyed to the top corner from twelve yards by Mark McLaughlin. McEleney then had two chances in a couple of minutes midway through the half firstly dragging a shot wide before heading an Ethan Devlin cross over the bar when very well placed. They did make it three nil on the half hour after another cross from Devlin was parried by Smyth allowing McLaughlin to drill home his second of the game. They added a fourth goal before half time when McLaughlin went past a couple of defenders into the area before squaring the ball to Doherty who slotted low past Smyth. The visitors got a goal back in the 52nd minute after a low cross from Reece Gillen on the left found Paul Brennan to slot low past Kyrin Doherty. But within two minutes Clonmany added another goal with Mark Doherty laying the ball off to Tiernan McDonald who hot a twenty five yards half volley which dipped over Smyth to the roof of the net. Carrowmena then got a second goal after substitute Andrew McLaughlin found Cathal Crumlish inside the area and he finished low to the corner. Both sides had chances then with McDonald seeing a shot come off the post before at the other end an angled Eamon Doogan effort was well smothered by Doherty. Clonmany then added three goals in the last ten minutes to seal an emphatic victory. Comiskey poked the ball home from close range after a Jayden Gillespie corner fell to him six yards out before Niall McLaughlin converted a penalty after Ben Gill had been upended. They completed the scoring when a speculative effort from McDonald from thirty five yards dipped over Smyth and into the roof of the net.
Moville clinch title in style
QPS Youth 0
Moville Celtic 3
Needing a win to secure the league title and promotion back to division one Moville got the perfect start when Lee McColgan headed home a Joshua Lafferty corner in the seventh minute. The home side responded from a Lee Barr free kick which Kevin Wallace could not direct his header on target. Moville upped the tempo and Laffertys effort from distance drifted just wide before Michael McNaught fired across the face of goal. The visitors doubled their lead when Lafferty drilled home through a crowd of players after the home defence had failed to clear a corner. The final chance of the half fell to the home side from a Charlie Burn knockdown but Odhran McColgan shot narrowly wide. Midway through the second half Moville added a third when McNaught broke at speed in a counter attack and squared the ball across for Marc Bell to slot home at the back post. The home side battled away and Lee Rutherford fired just wide before Sean Og Gallagher headed against the bar from a corner. Moville saw the closing minutes out to secure the three points they needed to clinch the title and promotion.
( I.F.L. Treasurer John McLaughlin presenting the Division 2A Shield to Dermot Harkin, Moville Celtic )
Rashenny FC 1
Illies Res 2
Illies got off to a flying start when hey took the lead in the fourth minute after a Marty Coyle cross from the left was controlled by Paddy Doherty before he slotted low past Sam Coyle from fourteen yards. But the home side took control of the game after this and Oran McDevitt crossed from the right for Cormac Dillon who dragged his effort wide when he should have hit the target at least. Rashenny got back on terms in the 20th minute when a David Mclaughlin cross into a crowded area eventually fell to Nathan Doherty to force the ball home from close range past Christian Jackson. Although on top the home ide were restricted to long range efforts before the break with a Ryan Doherty free and a Nathan Doherty effort both from a long way out were comfortable held by Jackson. Defences were on top after the break until the hour mark when Illies Nathan McLaughlin unleashed an effort from the edge of the area which as well saved by Coyle. Illies then struck for a late winner in the 89th minute after Marty Coyles wind assisted free kick from distance sailed all the way to the top corner . Rashenny tried to respond and after a Shane Cregan cross was beaten away by Jackson the ball fell to David McLaughlin but his effort was also saved.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two B
Dunree Res 0
Glengad Res 0
Glengad started this game well with T J McKinley seeing an effort tipped over the bar by Philip Doherty and Doherty then saving to deny Joshua McDevitt on 17 minutes.On the half hour the home side created the clearest chance of the game after a great through ball from Danny Doherty sent Oran McGll clear but he fired wide from inside the area. On the stroke of half time Dunree spurned another gilt edged chance when the ball fell to Paul Jackson eight yards out but he fired straight at Calvin White in the visitors goal. The home side had the first opportunity on 55 minutes when Callum Curran was unlucky to see two efforts both cleared off the line. There was a lull in goalmouth action then until the 85th minute when Danny Doherty cut in along the byeline but fired into the side netting. The same player then went clear of the visitors defence but was denied by White.The final chance of the game also went the way of Dunree with Jacksons cross somehow seeing McGill fail to score from point blank range.
Redcastle Res 5
Culdaff Res 0
League leaders Culdaff suffered a huge blow in pursuit of league honours when they were soundly beaten.The first chance fell to Redcastle after 10 minutes when Shay Sweeneys free kick was turned round the post by goalkeeper Paul McLaughlin. Culdaff had a chance then when Lorcan McFeeleys cross was headed just wide by Tiernan McGeoghegan. Culdaff came close again on the half hour with a McFeeley free kick from twenty yards which hit the bar and went over. The home side then went ahead in the 35th minute after a corner from Shay Sweeney was put into the net by Mark Farren from ten yards.
Redcastle suffered a blow then when were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time when Robert McLaughlin was shown a second yellow card. But the home side started the second half on the front foot and scored again on the 50th minute when Darragh Leitchs corner was headed powerfully into the net by Aidan Ferns. Culdaff tried to respond and when Cadan Dohertys pass found McFeeley and his shot from fifteen yards was turned round the post by goalkeeper Michael McCole. Redcastle made it three nil then after 70 mins when after a knockdown from Conor Doherty, Shay Sweeney volleyed the ball into the net. It was four after 80 minutes after a through ball from Darragh Leitch sent Shay Sweeney through and he scored low into the corner from ten yards. Culdaff kept trying and came close when a shot from Peter McCallion was tipped over the bar by McCole. Redcastle scored their fifth goal in injury time with a great individual goal from Darren Harkin coming in from the right hand side and finding the top corner from twenty yards.
(Redcastle Capt. Connaire Doherty & Culdaff Capt, Patrick McLaughlin pictured with Referee Patrick McElhinney above.)