Match Reports Sunday 1st May
Inishowen Football League Fixtures 2021-22
Tuesday 26th April
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A
Buncrana Res 0
Rasheney FC 3
Needing a win to clinch the league title the home will be disappointed at their performance in front of a large crowd at Castle Park.
Rasheney started well with Damien Friel breaking clear of the home defence but he failed to hit the target. Buncrana responded midway though the half when Christopher Mckinley raced clear of the Rasheney defence but he fired wide with only Roger McGilloway to beat. The best chance of the half fell to the visitors on 39 minutes when after Oran McBride had made a good save to deny Friel the ball fell to Declan McLaughlin but he missed the target from close range. The visitors opened the scoring on 54 minutes when an Anthony Doherty header from fifteen yards flew past McBride and into the top corner.They increased their lead then after good build up on the left saw the ball fall to substitute Cormac Dillon on the right hand side and he fired past McBride from eight yards. Buncrana tried to respond and both Michael Doherty and Stephen McHugh had efforts on target which McGilloway dealt with comfortably. Rasheney sealed the points after good play on the right ended with Dillons cross slotted home at the back post by McLaughlin.
Saturday 30th April
Credit Union Cup Final
Glengad United 2
Greencastle FC 2 AET Greencastle win 4-2 on pens
At a rain soaked Maginn Park on Saturday evening this was an excellent cup final which neither team really deserved to lose. Glengad had the first chance in the 12th minute after Stephen McLaughlin’s cross from the left found Stephen Harley who sidestepped a defender but fired straight at Jason McCallion in the Greencastle goal. Three minutes later they took the lead after James Mc Kinney split the Greencastle defence , who appealed for offside, for Terence Doherty to race clear and brilliantly chip the advancing McCallion. But Greencastle equalised within minutes in fortuitous fashion after a Jamie McCormick powerful shot from thirty yards came off the post but rebounded off keeper Daniel Mullarkey and into the net. Glengad responded midway through the half when Seamus Doherty released Terence Doherty on the left and after his initial effort was saved by McCallion the keeper recovered to palm the ball away from Dohertys feet inside the area. Minutes later a good move on the right saw Conor Barrows cross find Harley whose header was superbly parried away by McCallion. Within a minute Greencastle had taken the lead after a sweeping move ended with Jack Coyle converting a penalty after he had been fouled in the area. Then a brilliant turn by Coyle in midfield in the 39th minute saw him find McMonagle who sprinted clear but slipped the ball past Mullarkey and just past the post. They went close again then when McCormick raced onto a ball over the top but Mullarkey came sliding out at the edge of the area to deny him. On 42 minutes Glengad equalised with a quite brilliant goal when Michael Byrne fed Harley and from twenty five yards he fired an unstoppable effort to the top left hand corner. On the stroke of half time Greencastle had the final chance of an action packed half when McCormick intercepted a defensive pass but saw his effort beaten away by Mullarkey. While the play flowed from end to end in the second half there were no chances until the 66th minute when John G McLaughlins glancing header from a corner deflected off a defender and wide. Glengad were doing most of the pressing at this stage and Harley flashed a twenty five yards effort just wide before substitute John McDaid saw a deflected shot gathered by McCallion. On the stroke of full time Greencastle had the final chance after a free kick broke to Michael Barr on the edge of the area and his powerfully driven effort was beaten away by Mullarkey. The only shot on target in extra time came from Glengad with James McKinneys well struck effort parried by McCallion. In the shootout McCallion emerged the hero when he saved two spot kicks while McCormick, Christy Hegarty, Nigel McMonagle and Michael Barr all converted to complete a league and cup double for Pat McLaughlins side.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Both goalkeepers Mullarkey and McCallion played very well in difficult conditions while Terence Doherty for Glengad and Jamie McCormick for Greencastle were always a threat. But on the night the award went to Greencastle centre half Michael Barr who made some crucial interceptions and blocks and kept his nerve to fire home the winning penalty.
Sunday 1st May
Ulster Junior Shield Final
Carrowmena FC 2
Glencar Celtic 1
Carrowmena FC created their own little bit of history by clinching their first Ulster Junior Shield and in the process becoming the first Inishowen team to do so. Raymond Dougals team did it the hard way overcoming a one nil half time deficit to turn things around at the Diamond Park Ballyare and defeat the defending champions Glencar Celtic . Carrowmmena started the game well and in the 16th minute Michael Henry fired over the bar before on the half hour Ryan McDermott also fired over. Glencar responded with Paddy Collins denied by a good save from Kyle Dogal after good approach play from Graham Cullen and Padjo Rafferty. The game sparked into life in the 41st minute when rafferty broke through the Carrowmnena defence and rounded Dougal before slotting home. In first half injury time Carrowmena almost got back on terms when Tony McClenaghan fed Ronan Doherty on the right hand side of the area but he fired just over the bar. Carrowmena levelled in the 57th minute after Ruairi Dougal rose highest in a crowded area to head past Paul McCauley in the Glencar goal. There were few clear chances until the 86th minute when after a Gerard Mclaughlin free was half cleared Puaric Gillen collected possession and fired a superb twenty yards strike to the top corner.Ruairi Dougal then got his head on another free kick delivery but failed to direct his header on target. Glencar tried to hit back and in injury time a Joe Friel free kick found Rafferty but his rising effort cleared the bar and with it the last chance to force extra time.The final whistle sparked wild celebrations from the Carrowmena support and it was an added bonus that Carrowmmena clubman John Mclaughlin is also the Ulster Chairman.
Ulster Junior Shield Winners
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A
Sea Rovers 6
Illies Res 3
This was a fast paced game from the kick off and it was Rovers that got the first break when Andrew Gallagher put Mathew Harley through and he made no mistake finishing well past Graham Doherty. After 15 minutes another fine pass from Mathew Harley put Andrew Gallagher through forcing the Illies keeper Graham Doherty into making a fine save and Doherty recovered to save the follow up effort. Rovers increased their lead after a fine run by Daniel Gallagher down the left wing saw him square it across the Illies box for Connor Mc Geoghaghan who fired to the roof of the net . A long kick out from Rovers keeper Ben Collins then released Mc Geoghaghan who in turn fed Andrew Gallagher who finished nicely to put the home side three up. A long ball from Illies Dominic Doherty fell to Joe Mc Laughlin who beat the defence to get one back for the Illies on the half hour mark. But Rovers were awarded a free kick just inside the Illies box a long ball in was met by Rovers Declan Mc Gonagle who tapped it in to leave the home side ahead four one at the break. Illies reduced the deficit on 55 minutes after the ball broke for Oran Doherty insode the area and he fired low past Collins. But Rovers regained their cushion when Damien Ward found Andrew Gallagher whose effort was well saved by Doherty but Daniel Gallagher followed up to slot home. Rovers had another chance when Andrew Gallagher was upended inside the area but Doherty made an excellent save from the spot kick. But from the resulting corner McGeoghaghan s inswinger eluded all and landed in the net. Illies scored a late consolation after Joe Mclaughlins cross was controlled well by Alan Fletcher who finished with aplomb from ten yards.
Rasheney FC 5
Carn Res 3
This game started in explosive fashion when Carn attacked from the kick off through Liam McWeeney who fed the ball inside for Kyran Cantwell to drill low to the corner past Roger McGilloway from the edge of the area. But within a minute the home side equalised after David Mclaughlin caught a defender in possession and ran clear to slot low past Daniel McDaid. Rasheney’s David Mclaughlin then spurned three god chances in a fifteen minute spell. Firstly he blazed over the bar from ten yards before seeing a glancing header well saved by McDaid. His best chance saw him break clear of the visitors defence but in a one on one was denied again by McDaid. Carn responded with Cantwell firing over following a corner before the same player bore down on goal, was forced wide by McGilloway but fired a diagonal shot past the far post. Rasheney replied with Declan Mclaughlin cutting in from the left but seeing his shit saved by McDaid before a brilliant crossfield pass from the same player found the unmarked David McLaughlin to head home and put the home side ahead. However on the stroke of half time Carn levelled matters when Conor McLaughlin robbed keeper McGilloway on the edge of the area and advanced to slot to the empty net.As in the first half two goals came within ninety second of each other after the break. On 54 minutes the home side took the lead when Damien Friel blocked a clearance and it fell into the path of David Mclaughlin to advance and finish well.But Carn levelled after good play by Cantwell on the right saw his cross slotted home from close range by Conor McLaughlin. Rasheney the retook the lead again on 67 minutes after a corner fell to Ronan Shovlin whose powerful effort was well parried by McDaid but Friel was on hand to sweep the loose ball home. Friel then gave the home side some daylight when he raced onto Mclaughlins through ball to finish low to the corner and make it five three on 81 minutes. Rasheney had the final chance as well but Shovlins effort drew a superb save from McDaid.