Match Reports 26th March
Inishowen Football League 26th March
Donegal Signs Reserve League Shield Final
Greencastle Res 1
Moville Res 2
The first chance fell to Moville when Graeme Doherty crossed to the back post where Kevin McDermott controlled and fired wide before minutes later Kyle Harkin advanced and unleashed a twenty five yards effort which Puaric Carey Doherty held well. But Greencastle took the lead in their first attack on 13 minutes when a Long throw found Shaun Downey who hooked across goal for John McDermott to slot home. Greencastle had another chance on 19 minutes after a long kick out was seized on by Eunan McDaid whose attempted lob was well saved by Ryan Coyle at full stretch.Moville replied and James Gillen had a twenty five yards effort just past the post while at the other end a dangerous David Henry cross just eluded Pauric Gillen at full stretch. Moville came more into the game before the break and after a good move Ryan McColgan headed narrowly over. Moville dominated the second period and Norbert Indyka won possession before firing just over from twenty five yards. Minutes later Kyle Harkin lashed a free kick inches past Carey-Doherty’s right hand post. They did get back on terms on 75 minutes when a ball over the top was well controlled by Kevin McDermott who slotted low past the keeper from sixteen yards. On 81 minutes Indyka headed a Nathan Harkin free over before Greencastle’s first threat of the half came when Tom Heuston saw his free kick sail just over the angle. With extra time looming a long kick out was flicked on by Indyka for McDermott to race clear and fire high past Carey- Doherty and clinch the shield for Darren Bredin’s side.
Peter Mc Laughlin of Donegal Signs Presenting the Reserve League Shield to Moville captain Kevin Mc Dermott
Man of the Match
Brendan McDermott and Shaun Downey batted well for the runners up while Declan Diver and Norbert Indyka were impressive for Moville. But goals win games and the award goes to the ever alert and clinical finishing of Moville’s Kevin McDermott.
SUNDAY –
Ulster Cup Semi Finals 
Aileach FC 1
Glengad United 3
On 15 minutes Terence Doherty broke clear but fired over from twelve yards. The same player then sprung the offside trap five minutes later when he raced clear and rounded John Roulstone and slotted home. But Aileach got back on terms when the unmarked Gavin Doherty headed past Seamus Houghton in the Glengad goal.
Glengad got back in front on 33 minutes after poor defending allowed Doherty to fire home from a corner. They stretched their lead before the break when Nigel McMonagle ghosted in at the back post to convert a James McKinney cross. Glengad were unlucky not to increase their lead on 52 minutes after Doherty crossed for McMonagle whose first time effort crashed off the bar. Aileach huffed and puffed but failed to really trouble Glengad with Darren McMonagle weaving into the area and pulling the ball back but there was no one there to avail of the chance. Their best chance came late on after the visitors defence failed to clear Paddy Slevin fired over from six yards when he should have done better.
Culdaff FC 2
Cootehill Harps 1 ( AET)
This game could have gone either way and the home side got the rub of the green on a couple of occasions. Culdaff settled the better and Brendan McLaughlin had a right footed effort saved by James Smith before Michael Coyle headed wide from a corner. The home side then took the lead on the half hour when after a Eugene McLaughlin cross was blocked the winger fired across for Brendan McLaughlin to volley home from close range. Eugene McLaughlin had another snapshot parried by Smith who recovered to smother at Paul McLaughlin’s feet. Cootehill ‘s first effort was a twenty five yards shot from Keith Fannin which Darragh McLaughlin gathered easily. The final chance fell to Coyle who latched onto a quick throw in but volleyed over. There was an explosive start to the second period and Cootehill had a clear chance when Fannin ran clear but fired weakly at McLaughlin. Culdaff replied and had two chances inside a minute. Firstly Brendan Mclaughlin poked past the advancing Smith but just wide before Smith advanced to block another effort as McLaughlin bore down on goal. Cootehill’s Enda Hessin then advanced from the back and unleashed a powerful thirty yards effort which crashed off the angle of the post and bar. Gary McCrudden then headed a Paddy Smith cross wide before Culdaff had an effort from Ryan Greene saved and a long range Darren Mullarkey effort drop just over. Cootehill got back on terms and forced extra time when they equalized on 81 minutes after the home defence failed to clear a free kick and the ball broke for McCrudden to slot low to the corner.
Culdaff regained the lead early in the first half of extra time after Brendan McLaughlin rounded a defender and from a tight angle fired low past Smith. Cootehill responded and before the break Caolan Reilly headed wide at the back post when he should have done better. Cootehill pushed hard in the second period but the home side defended deep and well to see out a hard fought win and set up a repeat of the 2016 Ulster Cup final against Glengad.
Buncrana Credit Union Cup 
Greencastle FC 3
Carn FC 0
Greencastle qualified for the semi-final’s’ of the Credit Union cup with a comprehensive victory against Carndonagh today at Chapel Lane. Greencastle started the match in a high tempo not giving their opponents time to settle. They took the lead mid-way through the half when a free kick from Man of the Match Shaun Doherty from the half way line picked out the in rushing Michael Barr to head home from fourteen yards. It wasn’t long before the home side doubled their lead, with the same duo combining again, Doherty’s free kick from the right was whipped to the far post for Barr to volley home from close range. Barr nearly increased the home team’s advantage when his audacious effort from inside his own half was turned around the post for a corner. The second half was much as the same as the first, with Greencastle controlling matters, limiting Carn to long range efforts that never troubled the home goal. The home side settled the match as a contest in the 70th minute when Shaun Cavanagh ran onto a through ball from Matthew Henry, rounded the advancing keeper and slide the ball into the empty net.
Greencastle saw out the rest of the game to ensure safe passage to the semi final’s and away game to Aileach.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Clonmany Shamrocks 3
Dunree United 0
Clonmany kept the pressure on at the top of the table with this comfortable win over relegated Dunree. They opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Jamie Coyle broke clear of the visitors defence to fire low past Philip Doherty. Midway through the half a Mark McLaughlin pass released Coyle whose attempted lob was just over.
Dunree spurned a great chance after Jerry Farrell was upended in the area but Kevin McColgan blazed the penalty well wide. Clonmany then spurned an equally good chance when McLaughlin crossed deep for Dessie Doherty who somehow headed wide with the goal at his mercy. On 54minutes Coyle got his second of the game when he pounced on a loose ball to fire low to the corner. They sealed the game on 72 minutes when Coyle released Paddy Doherty and he tucked the ball low into the corner.
Buncrana Hearts 3
QPS 0
The hearts started this game well and took the lead on 15minutes after Kevin O Loughlin got on the end of a Declan Fullerton corner to power a header home. Midway through the half Michael Nicholas fired over from distance before Larry McColgan saw a header well saved by Eoghan O Doherty. On the stroke of half time the home side almost doubled their lead but an Adam Duffy volley was well saved by Oisin Burke. Hearts started the second period well and O’Loughlin fired wide from a close range volley and Duffy was denied twice by Oisin Burke. Good work by Oisin O Flaherty and Ben Bradley then set up Duffy to hammer low to the corner on 75 minutes. Substitute Bradley then got his name on the score sheet to end the game as a contest.
Strand Hotel First Division
Cockhill Youths 0
Illies Celtic 2
Illies despite being short a few regulars and Stephen Grant suffering an injury after ten minutes. Illies dominated the opening half and John Campbell was denied by a stunning one handed save from Declan Caldwell before John Pio Donaghey fired wide when he should have done better. On the half hour William McLaughlin played a ball over the top for Campbell to race clear and fired low past Caldwell. Cockhill came more into the game on the restart with Darragh McDermott, Michael Owen Doherty and Tommy Doherty all going close with good efforts. But illies got their crucial second goal after a corner was played to Campbell who fed Michael Coyle and he burst through to squeeze the ball past Caldwell on 77 minutes. Cockhill then had a great chance when McDermott broke into the area but tried to chip Johnathan Noone who gathered well. Campbell was unlucky not to add a third when his late effort crashed back off the bar.
Redcastle United 2
Aileach Res 2
The home side went ahead on 11 minutes when Brendan Murphy chipped Alleach keeper Ciaran Bradley after a square ball from John Lynch. They could have increased their lead minutes later when Sean Curran’s deep delivery found Kevin Toner but Bradley turned his effort round the post . Redcastle did eventually increase their lead on the half hour when Murphy collected another Curran delivery and placed the ball home past the keeper. Aileach
had the first opportunity of the second half but were thwarted by Michael Mc Cole who came out smartly to deny Ruiari Bradley from close range. Mc Cole denied Aileach again soon after, bravely blocking a Michael Doherty shot . Aileach got a goal back when James Gillespie connected with a Bradley free to loop a header over mc Cole to the net. They then got back on terms on 80 minutes when a Bradley corner found Gillespie at the back post and he headed home unchallenged to earn a point.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two B
Cockhill Res 2
Culdaff Res 0
In bright sunshine both teams started brightly knowing that a win for
Cockhill would mean they clinch the Group B shield and a win for Culdaff would keep their hopes alive. It was Culdaff who first threatened to score with a when Martin Keddy hit a well
struck free kick which was well saved by Gary Robinson. However, Cockhill responded well and on 15 minutes they took the lead when
a great through ball found Ryan Mallett in the far side of the box who squared it for Gary Brelsin to slot home from 10 yards past Callum Doherty to give Cockhill the lead. Cockhill almost made it 2 on 20 minutes when a Gary Breslin header beat Doherty in the Culdaff goal but it was cleared off the line by Cathal McGrenaghan. There were little chances for either team in the next 15 minutes or so
until Tristan Donaghy latched on to a flick on from Gary Breslin who was unlucky not to score with his lob which landed just over the bar.
Culdaff had the last chance of the half with McGrenaghan but his shot failed to hit the target. Cockhill started the second half on the front foot almost making it two within a minute of the restart. Keegan Hegarty played a great ball forward and under pressure Gary Breslin fired over the bar from just inside the box. Culdaff responded well and put Cockhill under some pressure with Gary Robinson having to come off his line quickly to make a good save at the
foot of Keddy. On 65 minutes Cockhill were reduced to 10 men when Ryan Mallett was given a straight red card. Cockhill regrouped and made a few changes shortly after bringing on Eddie Cuffe and Jude Mullan to tighten things up and give Cockhill some fresh legs now down to 10 men. Despite being down to 10 men the Cockhill players rose to the challenge and shortly after coming on Eddie Cuffe crossed the ball which found Andy McElhinney at the back post who fired home to give Cockhill a two nil lead and a bit of breathing space being a man short. Culdaff with the man advantage and having to win to keep their hopes of winning the group alive pushed forward bringing on a number of subs and pushing more men forward and put Cockhill under some pressure towards the end. One of the subs Niall McLaughlin was very unlucky not to score with a great effort on
goal but Cockhill’s keeper pulled off a great finger tip save to maintain Cockhill’s two goal cushion. Culdaff again pressed and this Cockhill’s Barney Gubbins was in the right place at the right time to clear off the line from a shot by McGrenaghan. Despire tiring and being a man short Cockhill were still creating chances and almost put the game to bed on 88 minutes when Paddy McLaughlin teed up
Ryan Duffy who lobbed the on rushing Doherty but say his effort bounce off the bar. However, that was enough for Cockhill to see the game out and clinch the Reserve Division Group B title with another fine and very hard fought win to end the season on a high.
Cockhill Reserves winners of Division ” B
Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O Gara Cup
Aileach Youths 0
Clonmany Res 2
In fine conditions for football, Aileach started the game brightly and
almost took the lead in the first minute when Keith McColgan played Patrick Curran through but Curran lobbed McGonagle in the Clonmany goal but the ball dropped just over the bar. Clonmany were next to come close on 20 minutes when Oisin Hession got on the end of a Jake Harkin cross and the ball smashed off the bar. Clonmany pressed a lot more at this stage but found the Aileach defence a tough nut to crack with Declan O’Donnell and Ryan Doherty defending well. The Clonmany centre midfield was dominant at this stage with Michael Doherty pulling the strings but Aileach restricted them to long range efforts that didn’t trouble Clarke in the home goal. Clonmany flew out of the traps at the start of the second half and took the lead within minutes when Jake Harkin overlapped on the left hand side and delivered a cross to the back post where an unfortunate defender slipped at the vital moment and the ball broke to Conor Doherty who fired home from ten yards. Aileach were always dangerous on the break and on the hour Daibidh Grant sent Curran away but his initial shot was parried by McGonigle back into Curran’s path but his second shot was cleared off the line. Aileach pushed hard in the last ten minutes to try and generate an opening but a few goalmouth scrambles was the result of their efforts with the ball not breaking in their favour in the box. Clonmany wrapped the game up in injury time when a weary Aileach clearance was pounced on by John Porter who fired inside the near post past Clarke from ten yards to ensure Clonmany’s progress to the semi-final. Overall although Clonmany deserved
to win the game, Aileach Youths can be proud of pushing a team, that may be three divisions ahead of them by the start of next season, to the limit.