Match Reports Sunday 16th September
FAI Junior Cup
Glenree United 0
Illies Celtic 4
Illies started well and on 11 minutes Liam Grant played a short corner before receiving the ball back to fire a superb low effort to the corner.
Grant, Paul Doherty and Odhran McColgan all spurned good chances to extend their lead . They almost paid the price when they conceded a penalty on 36 minutes but Johnathan Noone made an excellent save. Illies increased their lead on 55 minutes when Adrian Donaghey Doherty finished superbly after a superb Paul Doherty pass. Doherty then headed over from a Grant corner before on 68 minutes Donaghey-Doherty ‘s cross was superbly headed home by Paddy Doherty at the back post. Within minutes Illies made it four nil when an excellent cross from Paddy Doherty found Donaghey –Doherty who finished superbly to the corner.
Raphoe Town 1
Carn FC 0
Failure to convert good chances at crucial moments in the game cost the visitors and they paid the price in the end. Raphoe had the first chance on 4 minutes when David Craig fed DJ Kelly but he failed to hit the target. Carn replied and a Cade Cooke corner found Matthew McLaughlin but his effort was tipped over by Roy Duffy. Both Darragh Deery and McLaughlin fired wide from good positions with the latters chance an especially good one. On 35 minutes Raphoe’s Stephen Craig had a header from a corner parried away by keeper Conor Doherty. Before the break Carn’s Gert Dzerins beat a defender to advance towards goal but failed to hit the target from ten yards. The crucial score arrived on 52 minutes after Paddy Kelly released DJ Kelly and his cross was headed home by Ryan McCullough to the roof of the net. Carn tried to reply and when Aaron McCarron flicked on Shane Doherty’s cross Conor O’Donnell fired high and wide. With Carn pushing the home side had the final two chances with Dylan Brophy firing wide and Reece Laird heading over.
Glengad United 8
Redcastle United 0
Glengad inflicted a second heavy defeat on the visitors in the opening month of the season. Matthew Byrne advanced on the left on 10minutes and his powerful driven cross deflected off an unfortunate defender past Michael McCole. On 21 minutes John G McLaughlin fed Doherty and he fired a low effort from the edge of the area past McCole. Redcastle had a half chance midway through the half when Brendan Murphy’s snapshot flew just past the post. But the home side resumed on the front foot and Doherty cut in from the left and scored with a delightful chip over the stranded McCole. Conor Barrow made it four when he turned well on the edge of the area and fired to the top corner before Adam Byrne fired in another goal from the edge of the area on 41minutes. Before the interval Barrow’s free found McLaughlin and he headed home from close range. Glengad then increased their lead two minutes into the second period when Adam Byrne got his second with a tap in from a fine cross by Barrow. The introduction of Seamus Doherty into the Redcastle defence certainly stemmed the flow and the home side had to wait until the 88th minute to add to their tally. Good combination between Doherty and John G McLaughlin saw the former race through and slot low past McCole to complete his hat trick.
Culdaff FC 1
Ballybofey United 3
In an entertaining game Culdaff had an early chance when Aiden Cunningham fired just over from an acute angle. Ballybofey replied and Jude Patton fired into the side netting before Darragh McLaughlin saved twice to deny Patton and Damien Glackin as they bore down on goal.Good defending by Matthew Mullarkey cleared a dangerous attack . At the other end Noel McLaughlin ran onto a Niall Gordon pass but from a tight angle his effort was blocked by the legs of Ciaran Foy. In the opening minute of the second half the visitors had a great chance after Glackin released Patton on the right and when he cut inside a superb last ditch Eugene McLaughlin tackle averted the danger. Cunningham’s free then looked destined for the top left hand corner but Foy made a stunning save and then Jack O Brien fired narrowly over. Culdaff broke the deadlock on 71 minutes when Eugene McLaughlin crossed for Michael Coyle to head home. But on 81 minutes Ballybofey equalised after Mark Griffin swept into the box past a defender on the left and fired a brilliant effort high past McLaughlin.On 88 minutes Griffin had another piledriver parried brilliantly by McLaughlin. A minute later the home side lost possession in midfield allowing Glackin to thread a ball through the middle for Glackin to hold off a defender and slot low past McLaughlin from the edge of the area. A minute later a sliced clearance in the home area fell to substitute Paul Duncan who volleyed superbly across McLaughlin. The home side had a great chance then when Gary Collins split the visitors defence with a pass to substitute Jack Mclaughlin on the left but he fired narrowly wide.
Cockhill Youths 1
Rathmullan Celtic 2
Cockhill Celtic Youth bow out of the FAI Junior Cup after a narrow defeat to visitors Rathmullan Celtic FC from the Donegal League. Cockhills Adam McLaughlin (Wanish) had the first real chance but he lashed his shot wide from the edge of the visitors ‘D’ when he should have worked the keeper. Rathmullan kept the ball well in the opening period and often looked to get Jay Dee Alawiye on the ball from his wide left position. The visitors keeper Shay McFadden was called into action twice in a short period of time, on 25 minutes he saved with his legs from a Adam McLaughlin effort after McLaughlin and Jack McDaid played a neat one-two on the edge of the box. The ball was recycled but Keegan Hegartys effort was finger tipped over the bar by McFadden to keep the score at nil nil. Cockhill opened the scoring on 30 minutes when Jack McDaid finished off a great individual goal with a neat right foot finish from the left twelve yards from goal. Rathmullan levelled on 36 minutes when Mark Wilson found space on the left channel to advance into the area and shot low past keeper Lee McCarron at his near post. The visitors went ahead on the stroke of half time when the lively Kevin Doran found space inside the area and his deflected effort found its way past McCarron
Cockhill bossed the play in the second period without really creating too many goal-scoring chances and when they did the impressive John Doran put his body on the line with some important blocks. On a few occasions McLaughlin & Hegarty found some space in the midfield but the final ball was letting them down. The home side almost forced extra time in the last play of the game but after McLaughlin sent Hegarty in on the right his ball into the area was cleared by Shaun Patton with no green shirts taking a chance to get in the box
Jackie Crossan Premier Division 
Buncrana Hearts 2
Aileach FC 2
The home side will be the happier of the two sides in the end as they trailed by two goals to nil after thirty six minutes of an action packed first half. An error in the home defence on 10 minutes allowed Anthony Doherty to cross to the back post for Dermot Doherty to slot past Eoghan O’Doherty. The Hearts replied and after a some good short passing Aaron McDaid fired narrowly wide from sixteen yards. But Aileach went close again with their next attack with Dermot Doherty’s cross glancing off the face of the crossbar. Buncrana upped the tempo and Kieran McDaid had a free deflected wide , Eoin McNamee turned sharply but failed to hit the target before Shane Dillon had an effort saved. Then on 36 minutes Aileach’s Gavin Doherty curled a twenty yards free to the top corner to double the visitors advantage. Buncrana rallied and got a goal back four minutes after this when a diagonal Gary Duffy pass picked out McNamee and his low cross was slotted home at the back post by Kieran McDaid. On the stroke of half time McDaid brilliantly controlled a Kevin O Loughlin pass before finishing superbly to make it two all at the break. As expected the second half did not contain as much action. Kieran McDaid had a header saved by Peter Devlin while O’Doherty denied Darren McMonagle at the other end. Gavin Doherty then fired over from distance before Kieran McDaid done likewise. In the final minute Anthony Doherty was denied by O’Doherty and when the home side broke to the other end Stephen McHugh saw his effort saved as well.
Strand Hotel First Division
Moville Celtic 5
Buncrana Res 0
Moville continued their good early season form but had a let off on 11 minutes after Michael Doherty intercepted a defensive pass but saw his effort deflected wide. From the corner Dale Kerr failed to hit the target when well placed at the back post. Moville responded and Caolan Doherty saw one effort tipped onto the bar by Ryan O’Sullivan before seeing another shot crash off the post.On 25 minutes Conor Lafferty raced onto an angled Shane Canning pass but O’Sullivan beat his effort away. Moville took the lead on 27 minutes after Lafferty’s back heel inside the area found Ryan McColgan and when his effort came off the post Caolan Doherty was on hand to drill the ball home. Seven minutes after this they doubled their lead when a Michael McNaught driven effort saw Nathan Harkin slide in to force the ball home. Just before the interval O Sullivan saved well to deny McNaught ahile after the break he reacted well to block McColgan’s effort.Moville kept pressing and Charlie Gill had a shot and a header both cleared off the line by the stretched visitors defence. Two goals in as many minutes sealed the points with Lafferty firing low to the corner before McNaught’s cross cum shot sailed over O’Sullivan to the roof of the net. They completed the scoring on 76 minutes after substitute Conor Doherty advanced into the area and laid the ball off to Lafferty who fired the rebound high to the net after his initial effort was blocked.
Glengad Res 5
Aileach Res 1
The visitors had the first chance on 5minutes when Stephen Doherty found space outside the area and unleashed a powerful effort which Michael McLaughlin turned round the post low to his left. Glengad broke from the corner with Gary Kelly releasing Christy McLaughlin and his effort crashed off the post. Aileach had a good spell then with Ruairi Bradley’s thirty yards effort tipped over by McLaughlin before they took the lead on 25 minutes after hesitancy in the home defence allowed Doherty to slot home from eight yards. But Glengad levelled within minutes after Gary Kelly converted a penalty low to the left when PJ McDaid was upended in the area. Glengad took the lead just before the break after McLaughlin released McDaid on the right and his low cross was sidefooted home by Kelly from six yards. Glengad dominated the second period and increased their lead on 51 minutes when a Joe Doherty corner found Brian Doherty and from the angle of the six yards area he fired across goal to the far corner. On the hour mark a Joe Doherty cross found McLaughlin who slid in to force the ball home from six yards. They completed the scoring late on when McDaid fed Joe Doherty who finished well from fourteen yards.
Sea Rovers 2
Gleneely Colts 0
In breezy conditions Rovers had the better start to the game with Evan McLaughlin denied by a fine save from Ben Miller and Keelan Doherty crossing to Shay Rodgers but he fired just wide. The colts responded with Adrian Duffy seeing a free tipped over by Glen Watson before Cory O’Brien released Christy Smith but he fired wide from inside the area.Smith went close again when he got on the end of a Billy McCann cross but fired over from fifteen yards. Rovers replied on the half hour when Conor Gallagher broke on the left and his cross fell to McLaughlin but Miller again saved well. The closest either side came to a break through was on 35 minutes when John Doherty’s header from a corner came off the home side’s crossbar to Paul Gamble who headed the rebound over. On the stroke of half time the home side drew another good save from Miller after Keelan Doherty had set up Gary Doherty on the edge of the area as the half ended scoreless. Rovers began the second half in the ascendancy with a William Logan free crashing off the bar before Shay Rodgers ran onto a Damien Ward pass to chip the ball over the advancing Miller but just wide. Midway through the half the visitors had a gilt edged chance to break the deadlock when O’Brien was upended in the area but McCann’s effort was brilliantly saved low to his right by Watson. Rovers took advantage of this let off and opened the scoring on 73 minutes when Ward’s corner found Darrach O’Connor and he headed to the roof of the net. They continued to press and sealed the points after Conor Mc Geoghaghan was fouled just outside the area and Ward fired a superb free to the bottom corner.
Rasheney FC 2
Dunree United 0
Rasheney recorded their second league victory in a row when goals in each half from John McLaughlin sealed the points. Dunree started the better with Liam Baldrick flashing a shot just wide before a Philip McGuinness free shaved the outside of the post. Darryl Moran then had a free well claimed by Tiernan Devine in the home goal. But Rasheney gradually came into the game and when John McLaughlin released John Grant he was forced wide and his effort from a tight angle was saved by Philip Doherty. Doherty then blocked a Damien Friel effort from close range with his legs after Eoin McLaughlin had flicked on. An error in the home defence allowed Thomas Mulhern a sight of goal but he failed to take advantage. Before the break the home side opened the scoring when Grant split the visitors defence to send McLaughlin clear and he kept his composure to drill low past Doherty. Dunree spurned a great chance on 49 minutes to get back on terms when Baldrick beat the advancing Devine to the ball but was forced very wide and when he laid the ball back to Bernie Doherty he only managed to fire into the side netting with the goal gaping. Rasheney made them pay on 56 minutes in a replica of the opening goal with Grant again releasing McLaughlin who advanced to drill low past Doherty. Friel then got on the end of a corner was saw his effort scrambled off the line and from the second corner his shot came off the post. Dunree ended the game strongly with substitute Neil Moran firing in a vicious effort which was held by Devine. Their final chance to set up a grandstand finish came on 85 minutes but Sean Mulhern had a close range effort blocked and McGuinness’s follow up was hacked off the line.
Greencastle Res 3
Clonmany Res 3
In an entertaining game the home side raced into a two nil lead before Clonmany hit back to lead three two at one stage. From the kick off Daniel Rowan fired a tremendous effort which caught Liam McGonigle off his line to open the scoring. It got better for the home side on the half hour when Joe Doherty advanced and when his dangerous cross was well parried Adam Harkin was on hand to slot home. Clonmany got back into the game three minutes later when a Nathan McKinney cross found Michael Devlin and he headed past Ciaran Bonner. They equalised on the stroke of half time when Jason Devlin burst into the area to fire a superb effort to the top corner. Minutes after the restart the visitors took the lead after Philip Devlin advanced from the back and fed Jason Devlin to fire low past Bonner from the edge of the area. But Greencastle rallied and drew level before the hour when a Joe Doherty cross was controlled on his chest by Harkin and he calmly slotted past McGonigle. Both sides had good chances to clinch the points in the closing stages. Substitute for the home side Shaun Cavanagh was unlucky to see an effort cleared off the line while at the other end Bonner made two fine saves to deny Jason Devlin.
QPS Res 3
Illies Res 3
The home side spurned a great opportunity in the 3rd minute when Graham Dohertyin the visitors goal saved Paul Grant’s penalty low to the right. But the home side took the lead on 5 minutes after Conor Dunne’s through ball split the defence on the left and found Jack McConalogue who finished low into the right corner. Illies equalised on 12minutes when a well worked short free kick is parried by David Bell but Seamy O’ Donnell inside the box to tap home from a couple of yards. The home side regained the lead midway through the half after Kevin Wallace finished high into the net when the ball breaks
at the back post from a corner. QPS increased their lead before the break after Josh Mclaughlin collected a headed clearance before drilling low into the bottom corner from twenty yards. Illies then reduced the deficit on 51 minutes
with Martin Donaghey tapping home from a couple of yards after the
point keeper failed to collect a cross. Shane Devlin then saw a speculative forty yards effort crash off the bar with bell stranded. But Illies secured a share of the spoils on 81 minutes when Devlin placed a penalty low into the bottom right hand corner.
Carn Res 3
Culdaff Res 6
It is difficult to understand how the opening forty minutes was scoreless with Cathal Doyle sidefooting wide when well placed and Tiernan Coyne denied by two fine saves from John Collins. On the stroke of half time Ryan Greene released Joe O’Connor and he executed a superb chip over Dean McColgan to give the visitors the lead. Culdaff went on the rampage on the restart with a Matthew Crampsey cross cum shot finding the top corner before the same player finshed to the roof of the net from the edge of the area to make it three nil. Crampsey then turned provider with a superb cross which Ben Curley sidefooted home before Jack McLaughlin made it five nil on the hour mark with a neat finish. O’Connor beat a defender and finished superbly at the near post to make it six nil on 67 minutes. Credit to the home side they battled well and got a goal back when Niall McGuinness fired a superb twenty five yards free to the top corner. On 80 minutes the same player scored direct from a corner. In the closing minutes Carn added a third when Christy Mcdaid beat two men and drilled low past Collins.
Moville Res 2
Dunree Res 1
Moville got off to a great start on 6 minutes when Kevin McDermott converted a penalty low to Ryan Fitzpatricks right hand side after Danny Murphy had been upended. Moville continued on top with McDermott seeing an effort saved before Murphy fired over when well placed. Before the break Dunree created a good chance after Eoin Tourish jinked past two defenders and but Maurice McGeady smothered well at his feet. Dunree started the second half well and got back on terms when good work by Bryce Fullerton saw him cross for Tourish to sidefoot home from six yards. Defences were on top for a spell then before Murphy beat two defenders but Fitzpatrick made a fine save. The home side struck on 84 minutes when Murphy beat two defenders on his way into the area when Fitzpatrick blocked at his feet but the loose ball fell kindly to PJ Barr to slot home. Dunree pushed hard in the closing stages but the home defence stood firm.