Match Reports Sunday 12th March

Inishowen Football League Fixtures  2022-23

Wednesday 8th March Maginn Park

Ulster Senior Cup   Quarter Final

Buncrana Hearts                  4       

Aileach FC                              2

In bitterly cold condition at Maginn Park this was a lively encounter before a decent crowd.  Buncrana were first to threaten when a Matthew Brown snapshot from the edge of the area flew just past the angle of the post and bar.

They opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Kieran McDaid despatched a penalty low to Matthew Gallaghers left hand side after Jamie McDaid had  been barged over in the area. Aileach had a good spell then when a Caoimhin McFeely cross jus eluded Aaron Nash in a central position before a Nash cross was volleyed wide by Dermot Doherty. Their best chance came after a superb through ball from Gavin Doherty split the Hearts defence to Nash whose effort was blocked by the legs of the advancing Rory Kelly. On the half hour at the other end Jamie McDaid  broke on the left and his cross sliced off a defender and wide. Aileach broke from the resulting corner and a superb move ended with McFeely’s cross  finding the unmarked Gavin Doherty who headed over from ten yards. Buncrana spurned a good chance on the stroke of half time when a John Timlin cross found  Christy McKinley who miscued when well placed. Aileach got back on level terms  on 53 minutes when the referee adjudged that Kelly had fouled Nash. Darren McMonagle`s spot kick was saved by Kelly but Dermot Doherty was quickest to react and slot home the rebound from five yards. Buncrana upped the tempo then and just after the hour  Kieran McDaid well struck free from twenty yards was pushed behind for a corner by Gallagher.  Minutes later McDaid  beat two defenders before cooly rolling the ball acroos the for McKinley to tap into empty net from four yards. They then made it three one immediately after  Brown picked out Jamie McDaid with a crossfield ball which he controlled before firing superbly past Gallagher from the corner of the box. But  Aileach got back into  the game when McMonagle picked out Nash who headed past Kelly from six yards.  Buncrana then sealed victory when the superb McDaid  played a lovely through ball to Bart Wesolowski who cooly slotted past the advancing Gallagher to seal a semi-final spot against local USL rivals Cockhill Celtic .

 

Sunday 12th March     

Ulster Senior Cup   Semi Final

Greencastle FC                               2

Bonagee United (USL)                  1                      AET

In an entertaining encounter the visitors had a chance in the opening minute after Gareth Harkin unleashed a left footed effort from the edge of the area which flew just wide. Greencastle replied with Brenan Moore off target with two efforts while DJ Canavan headed over following a Michael Henry  corner. In the 20th minute Bonagee went close again  with a Tony McNamee free kick just past the post before at the other end Moores free kick was well saved by Oisin Cannon. Greencastle ended the half well with Moore controlling a long kick out from Browne but Cannon advanced swiftly to clear. The final chance also fell to the home side when Moore laid the ball off to Odhran Kennedy  whose effort was deflected wide.  Greencastle opened the scoring in the 50th minute after Nigel McMonagle  released Michael Henry whose whipped cross was sliced by a defender and looped over the stranded Cannon. Brennan Moore then had two efforts in quick succession off target before Bonagee responded. Gareth Harkin raced clear of the home  defence but his  effort was turned behind by Browne and from the corner Darragh Ellison volleyed wide. Harkin then was denied again by another superb save from Browne and when  the loose ball fell to Jamie Lynagh his first time effort crashed off the bar. Play swung back to the other end with McMonagle bearing down on goal but as he attempted to round Cannon the keeper got a hand to flip the ball away before Cannon again advanced to block a Shea McLaughlin strike. Bonagee equalised in the 84th minute  when Tony McNamee sent Conor Black away on the left and he superbly lobbed the advancing Browne to force extra time.BOnagee had the best chance of the first period of extra time when Dean Harkin went through one on one but was denied by a brilliant recovery tackle from Seamus McLaughlin. Three minutes into the second period the home side sealed victory when Seamus Mclaughlin fed Moore who crossed for McMonagle to shoot powerfully to the bottom corner. Bonagee threw  everything at the home side then but the home defence well marshalled by DJ Canavan and Josh McConalogue stood firm.

Greencastle who defeated USL side Bonagee United

Bonagee United

Donegal Signs Cup  Quarter Final

Culdaff FC                2                     

Illies Celtic               3

There was little by way of goalmouth action at either end until the 17th minute when a sliced clearance by a home defender drew a brilliant reaction save from Zach Conlon in the Culdaff goal. Illies broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute after Frankie O Connor broke on the left wing and his cross eluded everyone before creeping inside the back post.  Illies doubled their lead four minutes after the break when  Dominic Doherty collected a short corner and crossed for the unmarked Brendan Doherty to head home at the back post. The home side rallied and Jack Mclaughlin headed over  before lifting the ball over the Illies defence for Bryan McCandless but he headed wide. On 63 minutes they got back into the game when Aidan Cunningham  released Mclaughlin who finished superbly past Johnathan Noone. But Illies regained the lead when with the home side appealing for offside Liam Grant advanced and squared the ball for substitute Ethan Doherty to slot home. But again the home side rallied and reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute after Darragh McCormicks lofted pass over the Illies defence found McCandless to slot past Noone.  Ryan Green then had a chance for the home side but shot narrowly past the post. Illies had the final chance but Conlon made an excellent save to deny Ethan Doherty .

Jackie Crossan Premier Division     

Aileach FC                              2      

Moville Celtic                        2

Moville took the lead in the 14th  minutes when a cross from the right was headed home at the back post by Aaron McGuirk. After half an hour Aileach created a good opening when Aaron Nash flicked a header on to Dermot Doherty whose cross was partially cleared to Nash but his half volley flew just wide of Taylor Clarkes right hand post.  Aileach got a deserved equaliser in the 37th minute when Aaron Nash got clear down the right and Clarke did well to turn his effort wide but from the resulting corner Thomas McMonagle headed powerfully goal-wards and Clarke again somehow kept it out but the parry fell to Darren McMonagle who drove to the roof of the net from eight yards.

The second half opened fairly evenly. Midway through the half  the home side grabbed the lead when Jack Doherty fed Gavin Doherty in midfield then overlapped and gathered the return before finishing superbly to the top corner from the angle of the box. But within three  minutes Moville were  level when a free kick from the right wasn’t cleared and the ball fell to Pauric Skelly who slid the ball past Matthew Gallagher from  ten yrds . Moville pushed hard for a winner but Aileach defended stoutly and were dangerous on the break with a draw a fair result.

 

Buncrana Hearts                  5

Clonmany Shamrocks         0

In an all action first half the home side began well with Sean Mullan seeing a header from a Ryan Doherty cross come off the bar before the same player fired over from ten yards. Clonmany replied and when Pearse McCarron crossed from the left to Aaron Porter whose shot was well saved by Rory Kelly. Buncrana took control after this with McDaid denied by the legs of Dylan Porter before Eoin Murphy blazed over from seven yards after McDaid had pulled the ball back to him . They broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when a McDaid cross found Mullan who superbly guided a header inside the far post.  They increased their lead on the half hour when a John Timlin cross broke off a defender for Bart Wesolowski t slot home from close range. McEleney in the clonmany goal then produced a superb finger tip save to deny McDaid  but on the stroke of half time he was  powerless to stop a McDaid free flying to the roof of the net for a three nil interval lead.  Buncrana had the opening  chance of the second half when Wesolowski  broke and released Matthew Browne  but his effort was well saved by McEleney. At the other end McCarron  got on the end of Coye s free kick  but failed to hit the target. The home side resumed control and added a fourth when McDaid crossed from the left for Wesolowski to slide the ball home. Substitute Adam Curran then controlled well but fired over before Wesolowski rounded McEleney but from a tight angle he hit the side netting. They  added their fifth after John Timlin released Browne who crossed for Wesolowski to slot home and complete his hat trick.

Strand Hotel  Division One 

Dunree United                      3       

QPS                                          4

Dunree opened the scoring in the 9th minute after Mark Moran dispossessed a defender turned and drilled  a left footed effort into the bottom corner. The point replied and were only denied an equaliser with a Dermot Graham last ditch tackle. Dunree then increased their advantage after a Bernie Doherty cross deflected off a defender and into the net. But the visitors got back into the game when after Conor Barrow advanced on the right and crossed for Jack McClean to turn and slot home  from ten yards. Dunree began the second period well and Ryan Bradley was denied by a point blank save from Oisin Burke at the back post.  They made it three one on 63 minutes when Morans free kick was headed home by Dermot Graham.  The point responded well and a Ross Nicholas free clipped the bar before  after the home defence failed to clear a corner Jamie Mclaughlin hammered to the roof of the net. Both keepers then made superb saves with Burke denying Moran and Adam Harrigan tipping a  Nicholas free round the post.  The visitors then got back on terms with Lee Rutherford converting from close range to make it three all. The Point had the momentum  now and on the stroke of full time John McCloskey raced clear but Harrigan turned his effort around the post. Then in injury time  McClean beat the offside trap  and slid the ball past the advancing keeper to clinch what had looked like an unlikely victory.

Buncrana Res                        3       

Redcastle United                3

Buncrana started this game well and when Michael Doherty was upended in the area Eoin McNamee saw his spot kick saved by Michael McCole. They did take the lead then when Doherty split the visitors defence for Mullan to race onto the ball and superbly lift it over the advancing keeper. Buncrana increased their lead  from another penalty this time Doherty taking the responsibility to fire to the top corner.But on the stroke of half time Redcastle got back into the game with Cathal Crumlish heading home from a  corner. Redcastle got back on level terms after the restart when Mark Farren  raced onto a through ball and finished well past   Eoghan O Doherty. Midway through the half the visitors went ahead after Jack McConalogue converted a penalty to make it three two. But the homeside rallied and earned a share of the spoils after Cian Downey broke forward  from midfield  and when his effort came back off the post Liam Duncan was on hand to slot the loose ball home.

Greencastle Youth               0       

Carn FC                                   5

Greencastle hosted newly crowned league Champions  Carn FC at the Warren and it was Carn who had the first good chance when a cross from the right was met at the back post by Cade Cooke who volleyed with from five yards. Carn then took the lead in the 15th minute when a good ball from a Cade Cooke free kick fell to Cian Burke at the back post who drilled it into the net. Greencastle nearly equalized  minutes later when a free kick delivered by Josh Lafferty was partially clear but  Tony McClenaghan dragged his shot wide.In the 25th minute Carn doubled their lead after  a cross from the right was gathered at the back post by Cade Cooke who showed good composure to finish to the bottom corner. Carn hit the crossbar in the 37th minute when a teasing ball from the left was nearly finished by Cian Burke.  Carn scored twice  in a matter of moments early in the second half to put the game to bed. The first one coming when a through ball found the runner Chris Diver who ran on and slotted it past Christy Hegerty. Then  minutes later a through ball from midfield found Cian Burke making the run in behind who slid it under the advancing Christy Hegerty .In the 75th minute after several attempts by Greencastle to clear the ball  Nathan McConnalogue found space out on the right wing. His deep cross to the back post caught the wind and fooled everyone sneaking in at the far corner of the net.

 

Aileach Res                            1                   

Clonmany Res                       0

In the opening exchanges Keith McColgan for the home side  fired just over the bar from twenty yards while at the other end a Steve Harkin effort went narrowly over Dylan Porter s crossbar. The deadlock was broken by the home side in the 35th minute when they were awarded a penalty  for handball which Anthony Doherty fired high to Tiernan Devine s left . On the  resumption Clonmany had the first chance when Ben Gill shot just over before the home side went close with Anthony Doherty just off target before Dillon McGrory fired straight at Devine when well placed. Clonmany finished the game strongly with Raymond McDaid seeing a cross cum shot tipped onto the post by Porter and Jake O Donnell firing wide.

 

Inish  Engineering  Division Two    A   

Moville Res              7        

Culdaff Res              1

Twins Andrew and Michael Mc Carron who both scored two goals each for Moville Today

Moville got off to a dream  start on 5 minutes after Pearse Doherty cut into the area from the right  and fired low past Dermot Callaghan from fourteen yards. Five minutes later Rowan Doherty split the visitors defence for Michael McCarron to race clear and fire low past Callaghan. The home side were well on top and made it three nil then when Mateus Indyka crossed for Michael McCarron to slot home from close range. Culdaff replied and when a Conor Doherty effort was deflected for a corner Niall McLaughlin headed over the bar. Darragh McCormick then ran onto Dohertys pass but fired straight at Stephen Teles in the home goal. But the home side added a fourth before the break when Oisin Lynch found Andrew McCarron on the left and his low cross was deflected past Callaghan. Rowan Doherty then added a fifth  on the hour mark when he pounced on a loose ball to slot home from the edge of the area.  Culdaff tried to rally and  McCormick had one effort rebound off the bar before seeing another saved by Teles.  Moville added their sixth with Danny Murphy sidefooting  home from  six yards after Andrew Burke crossed before Andrew McCarron ran onto Lynchs through ball to score the seventh. Culdaff got a late consolation when McCormick cut into the area on the left hand side and drilled low past Teles.

Cockhill Res             4                     

Sea Rovers               2

Cockhill made the early running but were finding it difficult to break down a well organised visiting team. The deadlock was eventually broken as Cockhill made their early pressure count when Connor McDaid headed home a corner from PJ Doherty after 15 minutes. Shane McLaughlin and Marc Doherty both went close midway through the first half but Sea Rovers keeper Marc McLaughlin produced a few fine saves tipping both efforts on to the post.

Sea Rovers almost equalised on the stroke of half time when Oisin Hasson broke down the right and his cross was headed narrowly over Darragh O’Donnell’s crossbar by Andrew Gallagher. Cockhill started the second half on the front foot and Shane McLaughlin put Cockhill two up ten minutes in to the half, coming in at the back post to get on the end of a Liam Bradley cross to sneak the ball under Marc McLaughlin from close range. Sea Rovers kept coming back and were well in this game when Andrew Gallagher finished off a fine move with a clever back heel to bring Sea Rovers right back in to the match with just under thirty minutes to go.Liam Bradley then looked to have sealed the points with a quick fire double on 71 and 75 minutes.  He was first to react when a Caolan Moore shot was well saved by Marc McLaghlin, slotting the breaking ball in from a tight angle. His  second came a few minutes later thanks to great work down the left from Dylan McDaid and his cutback found Liam Bradley free on the six yard line who made no mistake with a cool finish into the far corner.Sea Rovers to their credit never gave up and kept the match tight when John Doherty found space down the right, he picked his spot and fired a great shot in off the far post past the outstretched Darragh O’Donnell to set up a tight final 10 minutes. Cockhill had the best chance in the final few minutes when Connor Allen thundered a header off the underside of the bar and as the ball rebounded back to him he blazed his first time effort over the bar as Cockhill held on for a hard fought win.

 

 

Carn Res                   2         

Illies  Res                  0

Carn started this game quickly and almost took an early lead when some excellent link up play down the Carn right finished with Mark Scott just missing the target. This set the tone for the first with Carn creating several good chances but unable to find the net. They did take the lead when Kyron Cantwell cleverly curled a free kick around the wall and into the bottom corner. The second half followed a similar pattern and Carn continued to create chances but the front three of Cantwell, Dion Diver and Conor McLaughlin were all denied by some good Illies  defending and goal-keeping.

Illies never gave up and as the second half continued they began to create chance of their own. But Carn finished strongly and a calm finish from Daire Tully ensured they took all three points.

 

Inish  Engineering  Division Two    B    

Rasheney Res         2        

QPS Youths              0

The visitors will wonder how they trailed at half time  given the number of clear opportunities they squandered. They had the first chance when Aaron Scott and Josh McLaughlin combined to release Cillian McEleney  but he was denied by a superb last ditch Liam Grant tackle. They were unlucky then on 15 minutes after a Brian McColgan powerful effort crashed off the bar after a finger tip save from  Fergal Diver. In a rare foray forward the home sides Abdul Al Rasheed headed over from a corner when well placed.The point upped the tempo then and after Scott raced clear from halfway a brilliant Kyle Doherty tackle averted the danger as he bore down on goal.  McLaughlin , Scott and Eunan Mullan all had efforts off target then before McEleney was denied by a good save from Fergal Diver. Both Scott and Mclaughlin then hesitated when well placed and Diver gathered . Before the break Rashenny responded with a low Damien Friel cross well gathered by Stephen Slattery under pressure. The home side took the lead on 42 minutes after a corner was collected by Shane Ward who found Rasheed to outpace a defender and drill the ball low past the advancing Slattery. There was less action in the second half  but the visitors had the first sight of goal after a corner was flicked on for McEleney whose header was saved by Diver. Rashenny replied with a Ryan O Donnell effort saved by Slattery. The home side then increased their lead when a long range free from Friel dipped over Slattery and under the bar. The point spurned a great opportunity to get back into the game when Scott was upended in the area but McLaughlin saw his spot kick saved by Diver. The home side had the last chance of the game after Rasheed  raced into the area but Slattery advanced to smother.

Glengad Res                        6         

Carrowmena FC                 1

Glengad began dominating possession but the visitors defended deep and frustrated the home side until the 25th minute. A deep cross from Matthew Mooney found Caolan McColgan at the back post to shoot past Maurice McGeady. They made it two then when Calvin White intercepeted a back pass and shot low to the corner. By the half hour mark it became three nil after McColgans cross from the left was volleyed to the roof of the net by Mooney from eight yards. Carrowmnea rallied and were unlucky after good work by Sean Duffy saw him turn smartly inside the area but saw his effort crash off the post. On the stroke of half time Glengad made it four nil after Ryan McLaughlin  won possession and lobbed the retreating McGeady from twenty yards. Glengad kept the pressure on after the break and increased their lead on the hour mark when Ryan McLaughlin beat a defender and from fifteen yards shot low to the corner. A McLaughlin free kick was then flicked home at the near post by Patrick McLaughlin to leave  it six nil for the home side Carrowmena battled to the end and gained a consolation when  Sean Diver intercepted a defensive pass and ran through to shoot low past Danny McGonagle  in the home goal.