Inishowen Football League Match Reports Sunday 1st February
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Buncrana Hearts 6
QPS 2
The Hearts were first to threaten on 4 minutes when Caolan Doherty’s shot was saved by Michael McCole. On 9 minutes they got in on the left but McCole was quick off his line to save but Liam Jordan was quickest to react and fired home from 7 yards to give the Hearts a deserved lead. On 18 minutes Hugh Aaron McGonagle turned his man but saw his shot just go the wrong side of the post.
Two minutes later and Doherty crossed for Jordan but he headed wide when he should have done better. On 22 minutes the visitors equalised Shaun Curran heading past Taylor Clarke. On the half hour Jordan seen his header from Doherty’s corner cleared off the line. On 42 minutes Thomas Adair found Shane Monaghan who got past two defenders but McCole was again quick off his line to save. One minute later and Monaghan seen his shot from 20 yards strike the post with Michael McCole beaten.
The second half was only a minute old when the Hearts regained the lead, Caolan Doherty’s corner was headed against the post by Jordan but Hugh Aaron McGonagle was quickest to react and stab home from 5yds. On 54 minutes the Hearts scored a superb team goal. Adair, Jordan and Doherty were all involved in the build up with Monaghan laying the ball back for Doherty to cooly siot past McCole. The Hearts were rampant now and Quigley found Jordan and he fired home for his second and a 4-1 lead. Three minutes later Jordan found Jack Bradley on the left and he cut inside and from the tightest of angles he slotted past McCole. The visitors reduced the deficit on 75 minutes Shaun Curran ,pictured left , fired a sweet free-kick from 20 yds beyond the despairing dive of Clarke for his second of the game. Two minutes later and Jordan was brought down in the box and referee Warren Harvey pointed to the spot. Caolan Doherty stepped up and fired past McCole. The final chance of the game saw Quigley cross for McGonagle but he headed just wide.
(Buncrana Capt. James Adair & Redcastle Capt. Shaun Curran pictured below with Ref Warren Harvey.)
(Buncrana scorers Caolan Doherty [2],Liam Jordan [2] ,Hugh Aaron McGonagle & Jack Bradley)
Cockhill Celtic 7
QPS 0
Cockhill created the first chance on 2 mins when the ball was worked out to Brendan McLaughlin. His cross was headed goalwards by Jay Bradley but he was denied by a great reaction save from Oisin Burke. Minutes later Bradley found space inside the QPS box but his shot was wide of the far post. On 12 mins Lee McLaughlin’s cross was controlled by Garbhan Friel and laid off for McLaughlin but his right foot shot flew over the angle. A Conor Graham cross soon after found Friel in the box but he was crowded out. Cockhill opened the scoring on 15 mins when Bradley controlled a crossfield pass before delivering a low cross which was finished by Graham from close range. On 29 mins Cockhill won possession on the edge of their own box. An Adam Duffy pass released Bradley. His cross found Graham arriving from midfield but his shot was blocked. Cockhill recycled and worked the ball to Bradley. He cut inside a defender but his shot was brilliantly saved by Burke. Cockhill doubled their lead on 41mins. Duffy’s incisive pass found the overlapping McLaughlin. His cross was cleared as far as Tiernan Ruddy and his pinpoint pass found Friel who sidefooted low to the corner. The second half started with a raft of substitutions from the home side but the game followed a similar pattern. On 59 mins Luke Rudden cut inside a defender on the left but his near post effort was parried away by Burke. The resulting Adam Duffy corner found Friel at the back post but his volley was cleared off the line. It was 3-0 on 72 mins when a long pass was expertly flicked into the path of Daniel Doherty who advanced from midfield to slot low past Burke. Minutes later it was 4-0 when great pressing from Nathan McDaid allowed Friel to win possession and feed Rudden who fired in from 15yds. Cockhill made it 5-0 on 76 mins when good interplay from Doherty and Liam Grant released Rudden who fired low across Burke. They made it 6-0 on 80 mins when a right wing Damian Duffy corner was headed in from close range by Lee McColgan. Rudden completed his hat-trick in the last minute when McColgan won a header at the edge of his own box. Adam Duffy picked up possession and released Rudden who slipped the ball under the advancing keeper.
Carn FC 5
Aileach FC 0
Played in good conditions in St Patrick’s Park, Aileach had the first chance on 5 mins when Shane McDermott made a great pass from midfield to find Gavin Bradley who went on a great run, passing a defender but shooting low to the right and wide from 10 yards. Carn broke the deadlock on 16 mins when Callum Kelly broke on the right wing, rounded the defender and squared it for Kyran Cantwell who slotted it to the bottom left corner of the net from 10 yards. Carn doubled their lead on 24 mins when Ciaran O’Kane mad a great pass from midfield to find Mark Scott who beat the offside trap and shot to the top right corner of the net from 15 yards. Carn made it 3-0 on 35 mins when O’Kane broke on the right wing and crossed it for Cantwell to shoot low to the right corner of the net from 15 yards. Carn made it 4-0 on 40 mins when Mark Scott made a short high kick over the defender and it fell to Michael McDermott who drove a powerful low shot to the bottom right corner of the net from 15 yards.
Carn continued their pressure of the Aileach defence after the resumption and on 50 mins Ross Farren made a great pass from midfield to Liam McWeeney on the left wing, he rounded the defender and shot low to the right and wide from 13 yards. Carn made it 5-0 on 61 mins when Cantwell made a great pass to Scott from midfield and he went on a great run and shot past Darren Gallagher to the top right corner of the net from 15 yards. Aileach almost pulled on back on 71 mins when Caoimhghin McFeely broke on the left wing, crossed the ball which came off the defender and fell to sub Darragh Kerrigan who shot high to the left and wide from 16 yards.
Clonmany Shamrocks 1
Culdaff FC 0
Clonmany started brightly with Jack Doherty hitting the crossbar direct from a corner in the opening minutes. Culdaff keeper Odhran Douglas made a sharp save to thwart Terence Doherty in the 8th minute when Terence was bearing down on goal. Culdaff’s Tiernan Cantwell saw a shot come back off the Clonmany post in the 18th minute with Jonathan Noone gratefully clutching the rebound. In the 34th minute an Aaron Porter free-kick from the half-way line saw Terence Doherty send a glancing header goalwards but straight to Culdaff keeper Odhran Douglas. The half closed with Shane McCaul going close for Clonmany but his curling shot from the left of the Culdaff box went narrowly wide. The second half continued in the same vein with Culdaff lying deep and breaking up Clonmany attacks on the edge of the box with Clonmany always having to be wary of pressing too many forward as Culdaff could pose a danger on the counter attack. Clonmany sub Jamie McKinney brought out a good save from Odhran Douglas in the 65th minute when his cross from the right was clawed away by Douglas from under his own crossbar and cleared to safety. Clonmany finally made the break-through in the 80th minute when some tricky wing play on the left by Aaron Porter saw him reach the byline before pulling a low cross into the six yard line where Terence Doherty side footed home past Douglas to make it 1-0. Culdaff threatened to equalise straight from the re-start with Taylor Bonner seeing a shot drift narrowly past the Clonmany post but Clonmany held on to record a narrow 1-0 victory.
HML Division One
Cockhill Res 3
Buncrana Res 5
Buncrana started the stronger and raced into an early 2 goal lead. Jack Soal opened the scoring on 10 minutes and minutes later Ethan Soal made it 2 after Cockhill failed to clear their lines. Cockhill grew into the match and pulled one back on the half hour – Cahir McDaid first to react scoring from 6 yards out after a Christy Doyle effort came back off the bar. Just before half time Buncrana restored their 2 goal lead with a long range effort from Ethan Soal. Cockhill reacted early in the second half, Caoimhin Hone scoring with a 25 yard effort to bring Cockhill right back into it. With Cockhill pushing for an equaliser Buncrana scored again when Killian Hegarty scrambled the ball home from close range after Soal hit the bar. Christy Doyle gave Cockhill hope late on scoring to make it 4-3 but a late third goal for Ethan Soal goal ended the game deep into injury time as Buncrana ran out deserved winners.
Sea Rovers 0
Carn Youths 1
It was on the half hour mark when a fine ball from Oisin Hasson to Keelin Doherty whose effort went just wide. A Rovers corner was well headed by Ciaran Doherty who saw it cleared of the line. Both defences were in top form throughout the first half. Carn took an early lead after the break when Daire Tully found space in midfield and used it well to advance and open the scoring. Minutes later a fine strike by Cade Cooke was denied by the crossbar. Another good effort from Carn’s Tiarnan Diver was well saved by Rovers keeper Marc Mc Laughlin. Rovers Ciaran Doherty had the last good effort of the game when his shot went narrowly wide but Carn saw out the game and claimed the 3 points.
Greencastle FC 1
Cockhill Youths 3
Cockhill took an early lead in the 10th minute when Paul Mullan cut in from the left and his cross was tucked away by Darragh McDermott past Greencastle keeper Sean McNeill to make it 0-1 to the Youths.
Greencastle struck back in the 14th minute when Gerry Gill’s ball over the top sent Brendan McClenaghan clear and bearing down on goal before being hauled down by a Cockhill defender to see a penalty awarded to Greencastle. Michael Barr strode up to take the kick and confidently struck it to the net to give O’Donnell in the Cockhill goals no chance. Greencastle went close again in the 30th minute when McFadden sent Seamy McLaughlin through on goals but he shot narrowly wide. Cockhill regained the lead in the 48th minute when PJ Doherty threaded through for Mullan to strike past McNeill to make it 1-2 to the Youths. Cockhill sealed the victory in the 85th minute when substitute Liam Bradley struck home from just inside the box.
(Cockhill Capt. Darragh McDermott & Greencastle Capt Gavin Harkin with Referee Terence Moyne ,above)
Dunree Utd 0
Glengad Utd 2
In sunny conditions at St Egney’s Park, Glengad created the first chance after 13 minutes when a mix up in the Dunree defence fell to Oran Doherty Owen who put the ball wide of the post one on one with Daly in the Dunree goal. On 18 minutes Dunree had a shot at the edge of the box by Gerry Farrell but was straight at the keeper. On 25 minutes Dunree had a great chance when Farrell put in a free kick to John Moran who took it down and struck it just wide of the top right hand corner. Glengad opened the scoring on 30 minutes when Joe Doherty broke on the right wing and fired a low shot past Sean Daly in the home goal. On 41 minutes Glengad had a great left foot shot by Ryan Mc Laughlin but was tipped around the post by Daly. Both defences were tight at the start of the 2nd half and Dunree pressed for the equaliser but couldn’t break down the Glengad defence. Joe Doherty then had a guilt edge chance to make it 2-0 on 75 minutes when a scramble in the box fell openly to him and he sliced the ball well wide of the post in a good position. On 87 minutes Glengad got a penalty when Caolan McColgan when down in the box from a Dunree defensive tackle.Up stepped Oran Doherty Owen to put the ball low past Daly to the right to make it 2-0 and finish out the game.
Inishowen Engineering Division 2
Carn Res 4
Aileach Youths 2
This game was reversed and played at Lakeside Park on a cold Saturday night. Aileach started strong and had the first chance when Carn keeper Jack O’Brien pulled off a great save. Carn then took the lead when Ryan Crumlish was fouled and Kyrin Doherty scored with the resulting free kick. Davin McLaughlin hit post 3 mins later. Aileach equalised in the 15th min when a mix up in defence let James McKinney through to score. Crumlish then scored from a Davin McLaughlin assist to give Carn the lead once more. Matthew Doherty scored in the 37th min when yet another great assist from McLaughlin. Aileach came out strongly in the second half and had a lot of chances with Carn keeper O’Brien being called into action on a number of occasions. A through ball from Doherty for Aileach resulted in Brendan Hegarty rounding the keeper to score to make it a nervy finish. Aileach threw a lot at Carn but in the 93rd min Scott McElhinney’s free kick saw the quick thinking of Morgan McDaid result in his nipping in and poking the ball home to seal the victory.
Cockhill Colts 2
Culdaff Res 0
Cockhill Colts started brightly with Liam McCarron shooting from the edge of the box in the 8th minute but just over the bar. On 15 minutes a cross from Gavin Doherty was palmed out by Culdaff keeper Patrick McLaughlin to Kevin McDaid and he shot low to the net to make it 1-0. In the 21st minute a cross from Culdaff’s Jack O’Brien was cleared off the Cockhill goal-line by Eddie McKinney. Cockhill made it 2-0 in the 25th minute when a cross from Gavin Doherty from the left found Ciaran McGrory who scored with an excellent header. Culdaff’s Jack O’Brien went close again in the 40th minute when he got his head to a corner but it was cleared at the back post. 
The best chance of the second half fell to Cockhill on 75 minutes when Liam McCarron shot over the bar when well placed .With no further goals Cockhill saw out to record a 2-0 victory.
(Pictured left are Cockhill Capt. Liam O’Donnell & Culdaff Capt Jack O’Brien with Referee George McLaughlin.)
Moville Celtic 0
Clonmany Res 1
This was an entertaining game at Glencrow with Clonmany picking up a huge win and going top of Division 2. Clonmany were first to threaten through Tiernan McDonald. He was sent through on goal but he poked it just wide of the goal with Jordan McLaughlin rushing out. Lee McColgan went close for Moville but headed just over from 7 yards after a Norbert Indyka corner. From another Indyka corner, Pauric Peto was unlucky to see his glancing header come back off the post. Clonmany took the lead with their next attack. A ball into the box was allowed to bounce at the back post. It fell for Mark McLaughlin to smash home into the roof of the net past McLaughlin in the Moville net. Ben Gill tried his luck from 20yards but his shot was well held by McLaughlin. Before half time Moville could have equalised through Michael McNaught. He sprinted clear of the Clonmany defence and his powerful effort clipped the post with Kyrin Doherty beaten. Moville started the second half well. McNaught went close again after Lee McColgan set him up. Peto again went close with a header from Joshua Lafferty’s free kick, but his effort went agonisingly wide. McNaught attempted an overhead kick soon after but couldn’t get it on target. Tyler McEleney tested the reflexes of McLaughlin but he saved well. Moville to their credit kept pushing on for the equaliser but Clonmany’s defence held firm and saw their team over the line for an important away win.
Greencastle Youths 0
Rashenny FC 3
First half started brightly with both teams not giving much away. The deadlock was broke in the first half when Jake O’Donnell assisted by Conor McDaid picked the ball up in the centre of the box to slip it past Paul Doherty to make it 1 – 0 Rashenny. On the 49th minute Patrick Doherty received a short pass from John Grant into the Greencastle box who sent it into the top corner of the net to double the lead. In the 56th minute substitute Cormac Dillon picked up a wayward pass and slipped it under the outcoming Paul Doherty to make it 3-0 for Rashenny. Greencastle continued to press hard and create chances but without success and Rashenny held on to claim the three points.
Rashenny Res 0
QPS Youth 5
Th visitors held the upper hand throughout and deservedly claimed the three points. They hit the front after 11 mins when a Hugo Curran left wing corner was touched home in a crowded 6 yard box by Sean McIvor. Minutes later the score was doubled when Michael McCarron drilled low to the net from the edge of the area. Mid way throught the half they went further ahead when McCarron’s corner was headed high into the net by McIvor and by the half hour mark the score had moved on to 4 – 0 when Curran, close to the byeline laid off across the front of goal for John McCloskey to turn home. Rashenny were finding it hard to carve out any openings until Gareth McKeever got into a promising position but Lee McColgan advanced and although both players slipped, the keeper was able to deal with the situation at the second attempt. Just after the interval Ciaran Sharkey in the home goal saved low from a close range Curran drive and he was called into action again when saving from a McIvor header following a free kick. At the other end McColgan tipped over a looping effort from Abdul Al Rasheed. But QPS continued to dominate and sub Tiernan Doherty had an attempt deflected narrowly wide of an upright before the same player latched onto a poor clearance, before advancing and firing under Sharkey to the net for his side’s fifth goal. The final chance of the game fell to the home team’s George McGuinness, but after controlling an Arron Harkin pass, his parting shot was saved by McColgan.
Glengad Res 2
Carrowmena FC 4
Glengad started strongly with an early penalty putting them in front after Jayden McDaid played a lovely through ball to Thomas McKinley who drew the foul from a Carrowmena defender who took him down from behind in the box. Lee Kelly struck a lovely shot to make it 1-0 from the spot kick. Glengad made a strong attempt again with Jayden McDaid coming on ball, working it well forward to beat the defender and letting fly and forcing a good save from Joseph McCauley with 10 mins gone. The away side started to come into the game with Paul Brennan creating a lovely chance and letting fly with shot just narrowly wide with 20 mins gone. Brennan then had another teriffic attempt from long distance on 27 minutes but Micheal McLaughlin made a comfortable save. Glengad made it 2-0 with a beautiful free kick thrown in on top of the keeper by Patrick McLaughlin and Calvin White making excellent contact on the ball to shoot low to the net with 34 mins gone. Carrowmena pulled a goal back in the 43rd minute with Mark McGonigle collecting a loose ball out side of the box before striking a long distance shot placed perfectly in the top left hand corner to make it 2-1 at half time.
Carrowmena equalised in the 57th minute with Ronan Doherty striking home from out side the six yard box . The ball was delivered into box and Glengad struggled to clear their lines and left the Carrowmena man able to slot home to make it 2-2. In the 70th minute Carrowmena were awarded a penalty for a hand ball. Ronan Doherty stepped up and slotted home with a good hard strike low into the net to make it 3-2. Carrowmena wrapped up the result in the 83rd minute with a dangerous ball played into the Glengad box was not dealt with leaving McLaughlin to make a good save but Cathal Crumlish collected the ball in the box and struck home making it 4-2 to Carrowmena. Glengad had another good chance when Reece Diver collected the ball twenty yard out before taking a shot forcing a save from Joseph McCauley in the 85th minute. Carrowmena held out to win 4-2 in an entertaining match.