Inishowen Football League Match Reports Sunday 22nd March 2026
Inishowen Football League Reports
Ulster Junior Shield Semi Finals
Moville Celtic 2
Greencastle FC 1
This all Inishowen local derby saw division two leaders Moville entertain first division Greencastle at Glencrow. In a first half of few clear cut chances it was the home side who went close first after a Conor Lafferty close range header sailed over the bar.
Before the break the visitors best chance came after Nigel McMonagle found Joe Curran but he also shot over from the edge of the area.
The second half followed a similar pattern until the home side opened the scoring on 71 minutes with Marc Bell finding himself in space to unleash a twenty five yards effort low to the bottom corner past Sean O’Neill. Greencastle upped the tempo after this with Jamie McCormick shooting over the bar from twelve yards. They were unlucky then twice in the space of a couple of minutes when McMonagle saw a shot cannon off the post before the same player had a header come back of the other post minutes later. Greencastle equalised then on 89 minutes after the ball broke inside the area for Joe Curran, pictured left, to apply an excellent finish to the bottom corner. But in injury time a Joshua Lafferty free kick fell to Michael McNaught who composed himself before firing to the top corner from the edge of the area and send Moville to the final.
(Moville scorers Marc Bell and Michael McNaught pictured below)
Rashenny FC 1
Bonagee United 3
Rashenny hosted a Bonagee side who are mid table in the division two of the Saturday league and who only conceded eighteen goals in their fourteen league games. Rashenny made an early break through with Jake O’Donnell laying the ball off to David McLaughlin who fired a stunning effort to the top corner from twenty two yards. The visitors responded well with Kian Fletcher seeing one shot blocked and another free well held by Sam Coyle. Coyle then done well to parry a Fintan Hasson free kick before Bonagee had their best chance on 33 minutes. Lyle Martin broke on the right hand side beat a defender and rounded Coyle but from a tight angle he fired into the side netting. Rashenny replied and created two good openings of their own. Firstly Shea Grant and Patrick Doherty combined for the latters cross to reach McLaughlin but his effort was blocked on the line when he should have scored. The same players combined then before half time but Doherty’s superb cross evaded all attackers and was cleared. A ten minute spell after the interval turned this game on its head. Firstly following a Shai Thompson cross Hasson nipped in to volley home from close range. Minutes later the same player collected the ball and cut inside from the left before shooting across Coyle to the far corner. Rashenny responded and on the hour a Shane Cregan volley was brilliantly saved by Luke Doherty in the Bonagee goal. This proved crucial as ten minutes later a free kick into the home area found Martin Kyle to drill low past Coyle from fifteen yards to make it three one to the visitors. Rashenny rallied and following a corner Shane Gordon hooked the ball inches over the bar. The home side continued to press but the visitors defence stood firm to advance to the final.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division 
Illies Celtic 1
QPS 3
In perfect conditions the home side had the first sight of goal after 11 minutes when Jamie McDaid, pictured right,
broke into the area but fired over the bar. The visitors replied with DJ Canavan feeding Odhran Hillen but his effort cleared the bar also. Minutes later Canavan unleashed a shot which bounced wickedly in front of keeper Conor Doherty who reacted well to turn the ball away. The home side had a good spell before the break with Adrian Donaghey Doherty firing a shot across the face of goal which eluded all before Paul Doherty s free just went past the angle of the post and bar as the half ended scoreless. The visitors got a dream start on the resumption after good work on the left from Cillian McElhinney saw him pull the ball back to Jack McConalogue on the edge of the area and he drilled low into the bottom corner. Illies pressed and levelled matters on 77 minutes with Adrian Donaghey Doherty laying the ball inside for McDaid to finish low from twelve yards. But the visitors regained the lead on 83 minutes after Oisin McIntyre beat the offside trap to race clear and slot home. They sealed the points then four minutes later with Darragh McIntyre heading home from a corner.
Illies Capt. Paul Doherty & QPS Capt. D J Canavan pictured below with Referee Danny McLaughlin)
( QPS scorers Oisin McIntyre , Jack McConalogue & Darragh McIntyre pictured above.)
HML Plant Hire Division One 
Dunree United 2
Aileach Res 2
An entertaining encounter in sunny conditions at St Egne’ys Park saw the home side start well with Cian Moran feeding Odhran McGill who was clear but denied by a fine save from Dillon Porter. They made the break through on 8 minutes after a brilliant pass from Moran found Danny Doherty to slot low past Porter. But the visitors hit back within minutes with a Gavin Bradley corner deceiving home keeper Adam Harrigan. The home side were then unlucky not to regain the lead after a Patrick Doherty effort hit the inside of the post and ran across the line before being cleared. Just before the half hour mark the visitors then did take the lead with the ball breaking to Conor McCahill twenty five yards out who unleashed a sweetly struck effort low into the bottom corner. Before half time the home sides Doherty saw a curling effort brilliantly tipped around the post by Porter. Dunree made the perfect start to the second half when they got back on terms in the opening minute after Doherty laid the ball off for Barrett who hit a superb shot on the half volley from twenty yards to the top corner.Midway through the half Aileachs Gavin Bradley had an effort superbly tipped over by Harrigan at full stretch. Dunree had the final chance of the game and were unlucky when a free kick from thirty yards by Barrett crashed off the crossbar and away.
Cockhill Youths 4
Glengad United 1
The league champions made a great start in completing their league programme when Darragh McDermott fired a penalty past Ronan Lafferty in the 12th minute after he had been upended in the area. Things were tight after this until the 41st minute when Lafferty superbly tipped over a McDermott volley from the edge of the area. But the home side made a good start on the resumption and scored a second goal in the 56th minute after a Liam Bradley effort was well saved by Lafferty but Conor Allen pounced to slot home the loose ball. Just after the hour mark Bradley collected a loose ball twenty five yards out and unleashed an effort which went in off the post. Cockhill then made it four nil after a Joe Lavery cross found McDermott whose header was superbly parried by Lafferty but Allen was on hand to sidefoot home the loose ball. Glengad kept going and got a consolation goal when Oran Doherty advanced into the area before shooting low to the bottom corner past Darragh O Donnell.
Inish Grass Division Two Shield 
Clonmany Res 3
Illies Res 1
In glorious conditions at Shamrock Park the home side threated first on 11 minutes when a Mark 
McLaughlin cross was headed back by Mark Doherty to Niall McLaughlin who blasted over the bar from the edge of the area. Illies responded with a deep cross by Nathan Mclaughlin volleyed over by Martin Coyle. Just before the half hour the home side had another sight of goal with Mark McLaughlin’s low free half cleared by the Illies defence to Niall McLaughlin who was just off target from the edge of the area. Illies ended the half strongly and from a Martin Coyle cross Dominic Coyle headed over from six yards. On the stroke of half time good trickery from Neil Moran took him into the area where he fed Dominic Coyle who back heeled the ball to Martin Coyle but Clonmany defender Jack Doherty intercepted and cleared the danger as the half ended scoreless. After a quiet start to the second period the home side opened the scoring on 61 minutes after Darragh Porter cut inside from the right and found Mark McLaughlin, pictured right , inside the area who shot through a crowd of players and in off the post. Illies responded and equalised on 70 minutes when William McLaughlin headed a Martin Coyle cross past Kyrin Doherty in the home goal. Clonmany then went close after a Niall McLaughlin free from half was saw substitute George Clafferty volley over the crossbar. The home side regained the lead on 86 minutes when Porters crossfield ball from the left found Ben Gill whose low cross was side-footed home by Mark McLaughlin. Illies were unlucky then at the other end when a William McLaughlin header crashed back off the post. But the home side sealed the tie and advanced to the quarter finals with Niall Mclaughlin’s cross controlled by brother Mark before he turned and slotted low past Christian Jackson to complete his hattrick. Illies had another glorious chance in the final minute but Shay McCarron blazed wide when well placed following a corner.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A
Carrowmena FC 0
QPS Youths 0
The visitors started the better with Michael McCarron’s dangerous cross eluding all attackers before the same player shot over the bar from the edge of the area. The home side replied with Eamon Doogan and Reece Gillen combining to find Cathal Crumlish but Cain Breslin advanced well to smother. The final chance of the half fell to the visitors after a goal mouth scramble but McCarron fired over. QPS started the second half on the front foot with Sean Og Gallagher dragging an effort wide after being played through by Hugo Curran. Then after good work by John McCloskey on two different occasions both Curran and Thomas McConalogue failed to hit the target from promising positions. Carromena then created a good chance after Paul Brennan saw a deflected effort fall to Gillen who was denied by an excellent save from Breslin before Adam Harkin fed Crumlish whose effort was deflected wide. The visitors ended the game strongly pushing for a winner but McCarron shot wide when well placed before Josh Boyle fired over from the edge of the area. They had the final chance of the game in injury time but Tiernan Doherty headed over following a corner.
Cockhill Colts 2
Culdaff Rovers 4
The two most experienced teams in the division served up an entertaining game in excellent conditions. Rovers took an early lead in the 6th minute when Michael Coyle reacted quickest to a loose ball to slot past Graham Doherty from twelve yards. Minutes later Doherty made an excellent save to deny PJ McDaid at the near post. Culdaff doubled their lead then when John G Mclaughlin rose highest to head home a Dermot Diver free kick. And midway through the half it got better for the visitors when they made it three nil with PJ McDaid rifling an effort from a tight angle to the top corner. Cockhill rallied and got a goal back just after the half hour mark when Gavin Doherty fired a free kick past Martin McLaughlin from the edge of the area. The visitors had the final opportunity of the first half with McLaughlin breaking through the home defence but Doherty saved well.Cockhill started well after the break with both Liam O’ Donnell and Kevin McDaid seeing shots saved by McLaughlin. From the latters effort the ball fell to Gavin Doherty but he fired the rebound wide. They continued to press and O’Donnell shot just over from the edge of the area. But the Rovers lifted the pressure and added a fourth goal to all but seal the points with J G McLaughlin adding his second of the game with a composed finish. The home side got a late consolation when Peter Bradley crossed for Cian Murphy to slot home from six yards.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two B
Redcastle Res 1
Moville Res 2
Redcastle started brightly and went close on 10 minutes when a shot from Barry McLaughlin from twenty yards skimmed the bar and went over. Redcastle took the lead midway through the half following a cross from Darragh Leitch which was hammered low into the net by Robert McLaughlin from twelve yards. Moville had their first chance on the half hour mark when Ehor Hreshylovs free kick from twenty yardsyards was well saved by Oisin Quigley. On the stroke of half-time Redcastle went close again after Darragh Leitchs pass put Shay Sweeney through but goalkeeper Vernon Kelly was quickly off his line to smother the ball at his feet.Moville started the second half on top and were level after 55 minutes when Joshua McKee was brought down in the penalty area with Daniel McFadden scoring the resulting penalty. Moville went ahead then after 65 minutes when a through ball from McKee sent Hreshylov and he made no mistake scoring low into the corner from twelve yards. Redcastle went close when a pass from Darren Harkin put Gary Kelly through but his shot from twenty yards was brilliantly turned round the post by Kelly. The home side tried hard after this to get back into the game but the Moville defence well marshalled by goalkeeper Kelly was giving nothing away.
Glengad Res 2
Culdaff Res 1
Played under the lights in the Crua on Friday night this local derby saw the top two clash and Glengad keep their own title aspirations alive after defeating the league leaders. Glengad began well with Christopher McKinley linking well with Reece Diver who squared the ball to Caolan McColgan but he fired just wide from the edge of the area. The had another effort with McColgan laying the ball off to Ultan Doherty whose twenty yards effort was well saved by Patrick McLaughlin. A long clearance from McLaughlin then released Jack O’Brien who advanced into the area but Lee Kelly averted the danger as the half ended scoreless. The home side opened the scoring on 53 minutes when Diver was upended inside the area and Lee Kelly fired the penalty low to the bottom left hand corner. Culdaff rallied and they got back on terms midway through the half after Billy Hume outpaced the home defence to latch onto a long clearance and fire low past Michael McLaughlin. The visitors had another good chance when O’Brien fed a ball into the path of Hume but this time he drilled narrowly wide. Glengad struck for a late winner after a Patrick McLaughlin free kick from distance evaded everyone and nestled in the corner of the net. Culdaff tried to get a share of the spoils but Hume shot just over the bar in the final chance of an entertaining encounter.
Carn Res 6
Aileach Youths 4
In this goal fest at St Patrick’s Park it was Carn started strongest but Aileach got a penalty on 21 minutes which Darragh Kerrigan converted past Jack O’Brien in the home goal. Carn got back into it with a lot of pressure applied and equalised from a Kyrin Doherty corner which was headed home by Aaron McCarron minutes later. The home side then took the lead on the half hour when Daire Tully played a through ball for Caelim Cavanagh who scored past Aileach keeper Dylan Clarke with a great strike. Carn increased their lead when Mc Carron got his second when he scored with a twenty five yard free kick. Aileach responded and got a goal back with Shay Doherty latching on to a loose ball to bring the deficit back to one goal again. But in first first half stoppage time both teams scored with Doherty for the home side and Darren Bradley for the visitors to leave Carn four three ahead at the break. Two minutes into the second half the home sides Daire Tully toe poked past keeper Clarke and when the ball came off post but Shane McGuinness followed in to score. Aileach hit back once again with a free kick from Bradley beating O’Brien. The home side suffered a big blow then after McCarron collected a second yellow and was sent off midway through the half . Carn were put under pressure but Conor Burke popped up to restore their two goal lead once again and see the home side run out six four winners.
Dunree Res 2
Greencastle Yths 1
Dunree started the better in excellent conditions at St Egney’s Park with John Moran unlucky to see an effort crash off the bar. But it was the visitors who opened the scoring mid way through the half after Cian Sharkey fired low past Philip Doherty from a very tight angle. But the home side got back on terms from the penalty spot after Callum Curran was upended with Paul Jackson shooting low past Joel Messenger in the Greencastle goal. The home side then took the lead on the stroke of half time after a great cross from Jackson was well finished by Curran. The second period saw both sides create some half chances but fail to create a clear cut opening and defences were on top for the most part as the home side saw out the game to claim the points.
( Dunree Capt. John Moran & Greencastle Capt. Eugene O’Donnell pictured with Referee JJ Lafferty)