Inishowen Football League Match Reports Sunday 19th April 2026
Inishowen Football League Reports
Charlie O’Donnell Cup Final
Carn Youths 2
Cockhill Youths 1 AET
In beautiful conditions at Maginn Park on Saturday afternoon division one league champions Cockhill Youth would have been most observers overwhelming favourites to complete a league and cup double but cup football has a knack of producing upsets.
Cockhill got a dream start when Conor Allen slipped the ball through the middle to the totally unmarked Darragh McDermott and he advanced into the area to slide the ball low under the advancing Kyle Harkin in the third minute. A looping clearance by the Carn defence then fell to Allen inside the area and he tried an early header over Harkin who gathered well. Carns first threat arrived in the 15th minute after a Cian Soherty free from the right came off a defender to Olly Coyle at the back post but hisdiving header from a difficult angle only found the side netting. Play swung back to the other end and Devin McCarrons cross found McDermott but he miscued when well placed. Carn responded and after a good flowing move the ball was worked out to Matthew McGoldrick whose goalbound effort was well blocked by Ryan Downey as the half ended with Cockhill ahead. Carn had the first opportunity of the second half with Daire Tully, who proved a handful for the Cockhill defence all day, found space twenty yards out but he sliced well wide. At the other end substitute Paul Mullan had a snapshot from the edge of the area fly just past Harkins right hand post. Carn then equalised on the hour mark when Tully raced onto a ball over the top on the left hand side of the area headed the ball forward and finished brilliantly across Dean O’Donnell to the top right hand corner for a stunning finish.Cockhill upped the tempo after this with Mullan shooting narrowly wide from the edge of the area . A superb pass on the right from PJ Doherty inside the full back sent another substitute Joe Lavery running into the area and his cross was superbly cleared by Carn captain Dylan Cooke. The final chance of normal time also fell to Cockhill after Mason McDaid sent Conor McDaid away on the left but his effort lacked power to beat Harkin. Defences dominated the first period of extra time and neither keeper were troubled. The defining moment of the final arrived in the 103rd minute after McGoldrick latched onto a ball through the middle and beat a defender in a central position to advance into the area where O’Donnell made a good block on the edge of the area but the loose ball fell to substitute Dion Diver to slot home from outside the area. Cockhill laid siege to the Carn goal in the closing stages but the Carn defence held firm to seal a well deserved success.
(Carn Capt. Dylan Cooke receiving the Charlie O’Donnell Cup from Fiona Gubbins
Man of the Match
For Cockhill Devin McCarron, Ryan Downey and PJ Doherty were all prominent on the day and for Carn Sheagan Doherty, Ollly Coyle and Daire Tully all had excellent games. But on the day the award goes to Carn centre back Donncha O’Callaghan (pictured right) , a player who recovered from a serious knee injury and was superb in the heart of the Carn defence making numerous interventions and reading the game superbly.
Ulster Junior Cup Final
Carn FC 0
Kildrum Tigers 1
In Maginn Park on Sunday afternoon Kildrum Tigers won a hard fought ,well contested final by the narrowest of margins. Carn had the first chance of the game when Shay McDaid fed Kyran Cantwell who advanced into the area on the left hand side but his effort was comfortably gathered by Michael Lynch. Kildrum responded with William Lynch flicking the ball on to Luke Toland whose effort was deflected behind by Callum Kelly. The first clear chance came on 18 minutes after Johnny Robb back heeled the ball on the edge of the area into the path of Ronan McKinley whose cross broke off a defender to Robb but seven yards out and off balance he fired over the bar. Carn had an even better chance on 26 minutes after Mark Scott got clear of the Kildrum defence and advanced into the area but he scuffed his effort and Lynch gathered easily. Within two minutes Kildrum had broken the deadlock after a looping cross from the right from Duncan Patterson broke kindly to Robb ten yards out and he fired left footed past Daniel McDaid to the bottom left hand corner. Carn were well in the game and finished the half pressing Kildrum back but they failed to create any clear opportunities. Carn were first to show on the restart with Liam McWeeney firing over from distance. McDaid then played a one two with substitute Cian Burke inside the area but from a tight angle shot straight at Lynch. An injury to Carn’s Will Quinn forced a re-shuffle with Michael McDermott coming in at right back and Mark McLaughlin moving to the centre. In a rare Kildrum attack on 81 minutes McKinley unleashed an effort which McDaid gathered safely. Carn threw everything at Kildrum in the closing stages. Kelly had a free kick saved before Kyran cant well advanced into the area but Keelan Diver averted the danger with a timely tackle. The game was held up for a period on the stroke of full time after Mark Mclaughlin picked up an ankle injury and we wish him a speedy recovery. In the five minutes of stoppage time Carn launched a number of balls into the Kildrum area but Matthew Crossan and Diver defended all that was thrown at them and Kildrum held on to claim the cup. This very young Carn side did their club proud and will be a force if they stick together in the future.
Ulster Junior Shield Final
Bonagee United 1
Moville Celtic 0
In glorious sunshine at Ballyare on Saturday evening it was the Donegal League side who edged this well contested final but Moville will feel they should have got something from the game. Bonagee started the better with a Thompson cross in the second minute finding Martin who failed to hit the target from six yards. They pressed again and after an effort from Hasson was blocked the ball fell to Thompson but his effort was well saved by Jordan McLaughlin in the Moville goal. Bonagee’s early pressure told when they opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a superb pass in behind the Moville defence by Fletcher found Martin who lifted the ball over the advancing McLaughlin for an excellent finish. Moville responded and Marc Bell knocked down a long ball forward to Michael McNaught but his effort was blocked. Moville then had a let off after Martin robbed a defender and from a tight angle his effort was saved by McLaughlin. A good solo run then by Martin took him past three defenders but his effort was deflected wide. In the period up to the break there were very few chances and the half ended with Bonagee ahead. Moville started the second half well and on 51 minutes an acrobatic hook by McNaught was well saved by Doherty in the Bonagee goal. Then good work by Eoghan McLaughlin down the right created a chance for Joshua Lafferty but he fired wide from six yards. At the other end on the hour mark Hasson, who was a threat all the time, advanced into the area but he failed to hit the target. Moville regained control and when Bell split the Bonagee defence with a superb pass to McNaught he fired wide when well placed. Bell was causing the Bonagee defence plenty of problems and on 72 minutes he collected the ball on the edge of the area, beat a couple of defenders before firing into the side netting from a tight angle. Moville were unlucky then after a long throw fell to Oisin Lynch whose effort was cleared off the line. The Inishowen side then spurned a gilt edged opportunity to force extra time after Lee McColgan’s ball over the top released McNaught who was upended by the advancing Doherty but Lafferty’s spot kick crashed off the crossbar and with it Moville’s last chance.
FAI Junior Cup
Cockhill Celtic 3
Letterkenny Rovers 1
The home side had the first effort on goal on three minutes when Adam Duffy’s free kick was pushed round the post by Mark McGinley. After a period of Rovers’s possession, the home side took the lead in the 12th minute when Odhran O’Brien Daly’s searching pass found James Bradley in the inside right channel. He flicked inside for Conor Graham who advanced through the centre before clipping over McGinley. Rovers were almost level minutes later when Adrian Delap won possession high up the pitch. He squared for Shane McNamee but his goalbound shot was blocked by O’Brien Daly. Cockhill replied and Duffy fizzed a shot over the bar before Simon McGlynn fired over at the other end after a Rovers corner from the right. Graham then had a half chance to double Cockhill’s lead after a clever set from Bradley but his shot was blocked by Caolan Kelly. Tiernan Ruddy doubled Cockhill’s lead in the 38th minute with a brilliant individual goal. He picked up possession wide on the right thirty yards from goal before slaloming between a number of tackles and firing low across McGinley. At the other end Padraic Gilsenan had a snapshot from the edge of the box parried by Harry Doherty as Rovers threatened just before half time. Cockhill fashioned the first opening of the second half when Graham released Garbhan Friel but his shot from wide was over the bar. At the other end Harry Doherty was called into action twice early on in the second half. Firstly he was on his toes too advance and clear after a back pass was a bit short then he produced a great reaction tip-over save from a McGlynn header. Rovers went close on the hour mark when Doherty was dispossessed wide on the left but McGlynn’s shot was headed off the line by Jason Breslin. Rovers pulled a goal back on 63minutes when McGlynn’s cross from the right was sidefooted in by Zach Gorman from around the penalty spot. Cockhill responded and Luke Rudden latched onto a short backpass but McGinley advanced to block his shot with the ball rebounding off Rudden then the outside of the post. In added time McNamee saw his shot from outside the box rebound off the foot of the post to safety. Cockhill countered and when Nathan McDaid pressured the keeper Rudden gained possession and crossed for McDaid to nod in to ensure Cockhill progress to the fourth round.
(Rovers Capt. Adrian Delap & Cockhill Capt. Jay Bradley pictured with W. Harvey , PMcElhinney & E. Doherty)
(Cockhill scorers Conor Graham, Tiernan Ruddy & Nathan McDaid)
Jackie Crossan Premier Division 
Illies Celtic 0
Buncrana Hearts 3
This final league game of the season saw the Hearts record a comfortable win for the visitors with both sides short a few regulars for a number of reasons. Buncrana opened the scoring after a Keelan Doherty cross found the unmarked Liam Jordan to head past Conor Doherty in the Illies goal. They added a second goal midway through the half with Hugh Aaron McGonagle breaking clear of the Illies defence before shooting to the roof of the net past Doherty. Before half time the visitors made it three nil when another excellent cross from Doherty came off an unfortunate Illies defender giving home keeper Doherty no chance. Illies started the second half well and a deep free kick from Adrian Donaghey Doherty found Paul Duffy whose header came back off the post. There was little goal mouth action after this as defences dominated and the play condensed in the midfield area with the visitors seeing the game out to claim the points.
Inish Grass Division Two Shield Semi Finals 
Aileach Youths 1
Culdaff Rovers 5
This semi final began at a frantic pace with the visitors getting off to a dream start in the opening minute after Stephen McLaughlin outpaced the home defence to slot low past Dylan Clarke.But the home side responded and equalised with Gareth McGlynn pouncing to drill home a loose ball after Martin McLaughlin had parried a Conor Tierney effort. Culdaff however took control of the game after this and regained the lead in the 17th minute with McLaughlin advancing into the area and squaring the ball for Michael Coyle to slot home. Two minutes later they added a third goal when a PJ McDaid cross was inadvertently headed to the net by an unfortunate defender. The visitors were rampant at this stage and made it four one when McLaughlin advanced to the edge of the area and fired a superb shot to the top corner. They added a fifth goal on the stroke of half time with John G McLaughlin heading home from ten yards. The goalmouth action petered out in the second half with the visitors to content to sit on their lead. They had another chance midway through the half with Christopher McLaughlin firing over the bar from inside the area. Aileach had the final chance of the game after Leon Doherty raced clear of the visitors defence but failed to hit the target when well placed.
Clonmany Res 3
Rashenny FC 2 AET
This local derby clash saw the home side threaten first but Mark Mclaughlins effort from outside the area sailed over the bar. The visitors then took the lead on 13 minutes after Ryan Doherty fired a free kick from the “D” to the top right hand corner past Kyrin Doherty in the home goal. Clonmany responded midway through the half with Tyler McEleney breaking on the right and his low cross found McLaughlin at the front post but he was denied by a combination of keeper Sam Coyle and Shane Gordon.
The home side got back on terms just after the half hour in fortuitous circumstances when Coyle’s clearance rebounded off the back of one of his own defenders and fell to Mark McLaughlin (pictured right with fellow goalscorer George Clafferty) who calmly drew the keeper before curling the ball into the bottom left hand corner. Rashenny ended the half strongly with a Shane Cregan free well parried away by Doherty before following a Ryan Doherty corner Gordon glanced a header wide at the back post. First chance in the second half fell to Rashenny in the 57th minute when Shea Grant ,who had been playing on Rashenny’s left wing ,popped up on the right wing and crossed from the side of the Clonmany box to an unmarked David McLaughlin who saw his free header slip wide of the Clonmany goal. Rashenny went close again midway through the half with Ryan Doherty delivering another excellent cross from the left but Jake O’Donnell could not direct his header on target.Clonmany then took the lead in the 75th minute after Mark Doherty showed some neat footwork to dribble into the Rashenny box along the dead-ball line and then tested Sam Coyle at his near post but Coyle was able to parry the shot away but it was snapped up by Mark McLaughlin inside the six yard line and he blasted the ball to the roof of the net to make to make it 2-1. But Rashenny forced extra time with an equaliser in the 84th minute when Sam Coyle’s free from half-way was not held by Kyrin Doherty and Cormac Dillon was on hand to tuck the ball away coolly to leave it two all at the end of normal time. Seven minutes into the first period of extra time Clonmany scored the winning goal when Niall McLaughlin’s free kick from half-way found his brother Mark on the left of the Rashenny box and he managed to create enough space in a crowded box to get to the endline and pull a low cross along the six yard line for substitute George Clafferty to send a low shot to the back of the net . Clonmany managed to hold out for the remainder of added time despite constant Rashenny pressure and sealed an appearance in next week’s final versus Culdaff Rovers.
(Clonmany Capt. DJ McGeoghegan & Rashenny Capt. Shane Cregan with match officials G O’Kane , L. Porter and Ref S. McCay)
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A
QPS Youth 0
Illies Res 1
QPS had a bright start and Michael McCarron hit the inside of the post from an early free kick after he had been brought down at the edge of the box. Then Owen Lynch’s long range shot was saved at full stretch by Illies keeper Christian Jackson. Illies first chance came from a corner but Jack McDaid’s glancing header was off target. The home side had another effort before the break but Michael MCarron’s cross struck the cross bar just before half time. Illies had the ball in the net early in the second half but Jack McDaid’s header was ruled out for offside. At the other end Josh Boyle fired just over from the edge of the box, and Jackson made another good save to deny McCarron again. Kevin Wallace headed wide at the back post as QPS continued to push for a goal. Illies then grabbed a late win as Dominic Coyle headed home from a long free kick into the box in the last minute.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two B
Culdaff Res clinch league title
Culdaff Res 4
Greencastle Youth 1
Needing a win to secure the league title the home side made a tentative start but took the lead after a moment of brilliance from Noel McLaughlin whose powerful strike form thirty yards sailed over Greencastle keeper Lucas Frizzell to the roof of the net on 10 minutes . The home sides Stephen Farren looked certain to add a second goal but a last ditch Ruairi McCourt tackle deflected the ball behind for a corner. Culdaff continued to press and a McLaughlin free from the edge of the area is deflected off the defensive wall and over the bar on 37 minutes . The visitors finished the half strongly and both Ronan Doherty and Nathan Harkin unleashed efforts which home keeper Patrick McLaughlin saved well.
Culdaff created the first opportunity after the break with Thomas O’Brien advancing and crossing to Farren whose effort rom six yards goes agonisingly wide. Greencastle responded and a dangerous Ryan Sharkey cross is well gathered by McLaughlin in the home goal. The visitors kept pressing and McLaughlin then makes a superb save to deny Nathan Harkin. Midway through the half against the run of play the home side doubled their lead when substitute Billy Hume outpaced the visitors defence to score with a superb lob from a tight angle over Frizell. But the visitors got a goal ack then after a Ronan Doherty effort came off the post and then hit an unfortunate defender and into the net. But when McLaughlin was upended inside the area at the other end he picked himself up and sent Frizell the wrong way from the spot to restore their two goal advantage. The home side completed the victory they needed when Jack Mills broke on the right and superbly lobbed the advancing Frizzell to clinch the points and the league title.
(Culdaff’s Patrick McLaughlin & Cathal McGrenaghan receiving the Inishowen Engineering Division Two B Shield from League Secretary Diarmuid O’Brien.)
Redcastle Res 1
Carn Res 0
Redcastle had the first chance after 20 minutes when Conor Doherty put Shay Sweeney through on goals but he shot wide from the edge of the penalty area. Carn then had a chance on the half hour when a cross from Kyrin Burke was headed just wide by Matthew Lafferty. Carn were reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes when Conor Doherty handled the ball on the line. From the resulting penalty Gary Kelly put the ball wide of the post. Carn had the last chance of the half on the 45th minute when a free kick from Ethan Doherty was tipped over the bar by Oisin Quigley. Redcastle had the first chance of the second half after 50 minutes when a shot from Shay Sweeney was turned round the post by Davin McLaughlin. McLaughlin came to Carns rescue again with a great double save from Shay Sweeney. At the other end Carn s Burke’s pass sent McLaughlin through and his shot from ten yards was brilliantly saved by Oisin Quigley. Redcastle struck for a late winner in the 85th minute with a free kick from Shay Sweeney found the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Dunree Res 4
Rashenny Res 2
It was the visitor s who took an early lead in the 12th minute when Gareth McKeever ran onto a ball over the top before slotting past james Doherty. But the home side got back on terms within four minutes with John Moran crossing for Arlen Morley to slot home giving Ciaran Sharkey no chance . Before the interval Rashenny went close and were unlucky after a Ronan McConalogue effort crashed back off the post.After an even start to the second period the home side went ahead midway through the half with Callum Curran scoring with a back heel from close range after the visitors defence failed to clear a corner.Danny Doherty then converted from the penalty spot to put Dunree three one up. Both sides were reduced to ten men with James McCloskey and Morley red carded after an altercation. Dunree added a fourth goal in the 83rd minute with Patrick Doherty slotting home a Danny Doherty cross from close range. The visitors got a late consolation on the stroke of full time with Gareth McKeever converting a penalty.