Match Reports Sunday 20th February
Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O’ Gara Cup
Sea Rovers 2
Dunree United 1
Division Two outfit Sea Rovers caused a minor upset when they defeated first division Dunree at Gortnamullin on Sunday.The first chance of the game fell to Dunrees Ryan Bradley who fired just over the bar in the 10th minute.
Sea Rovers first efforts came after a low struck shot from Daniel Gallagher went just wide of the post. Then a good cross from Oisin Mc Gonagle fell to Gallagher but he failed to keep his effort on target . Rovers opened the scoring on the half hour mark when Andrew Gallagher evaded two challenges and and fired low past the keeper. But before the break the home side failed to clear Dunree’s Ryan Bradley took full advantage to slot the loose ball into the net. There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the second half with defences well on top. On 63 minutes Oisin McGonagle for the home side fired an effort from the edge of the area just over the bar. The defining moment of the tie arrived five minutes later when Declan McGonagle was adjudged to have been upended inside the area and the experienced Damien Ward cooly converted past Adam Harrigan. Dunree tried hard in the closing stages but the rovers defence stood firm to advance.
Illies Res 2
Cockhill Res 0
In wintry conditions the first chance fell to the home side on 11 minutes after a Stephen McGonagle cross found Gavin Doherty who was unlucky to see his header crash off the bar. Cockhill had a good spell and were on top for the next half an hour. They created their best chance on 19 minutes after Luke Bradley put Lee mcColgan in the clear but he fired wide with just Graham Doherty to beat. Mark Gillespie then fired over Dohertys crossbar before Bradley fired straight at Doherty when well placed. Illies responded and broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when Gavin Doherty advanced on the left and saw his low shot saved by the legs of Donal O Brien but Ethan Mclaughlin followed up to slam the ball home. Cockhill exerted a lot of pressure on the home side at the start of the second half but both Kevin McDaid and McColgan failed to hit the target when well placed. Their best chance fell to Bradley in the 69th minute when he broke clear but saw his low effort blocked by the legs of Doherty. Illies then broke in the 77th minute when substitute Joe Mclaughlin evade two tackles and after Alan Fletcher brilliantly dummied his low cross Ethan McLaughlin was on hand to hammer the ball home and send Illies into the next round.
Gleneely Colts 0
QPS 3
Played in driving wind and rain which made underfoot conditions very tricky QPS were first to show on 10 minutes when Darragh McDermott had a shot from the edge of the box well saved by Oran Raymond. Gleneely responded and Darragh O’Connor should of done better when he shot weakly at Oisin Burke after a long diagonal ball from Matthew McGoldrick. On 20 minutes QPS took the lead when a through ball on the left from Ross Nicholas found Aaron Scott who ghosted in the back post to slot home from 10 yards. They went close again on 33 minutes when Oran Raymond pulled of a fine double save. Firstly from David Healy who found space in the box and he was able to push clear only for Darragh McDermott to shoot the rebound goalwards but the keeper was alert to gather. On the hour the visitors Josh Boyle scooped the ball over from five yards following a corner. Minutes later Gleneely had a chance to equalise after Christy Smith’s run down the right beating two players before finding Darragh O Connor 15 yards out but his shot went wide. The point doubled their lead on 71minutes when they were caught on the break from their own corner with Eoghan Rafferty slotting low past Raymond from twelve yards. They sealed the game when Rafferty scored his second of the game after he pounced on a mistake from a Gleneely defender and slotted low to the net from ten yards.
Rasheney Res 2
Carn Res 3
Carn had the first chance in the tenth minute when Dermot Doherty broke on left wing and crossed it for Conan Gibbons who drove a powerful shot to the top right corner of the net from ten yards but it was ruled offside. Carn had another chance midway through the half after Ryan O’Donnell passed it on to Gibbons from midfield who went on a great run beating the defender but he shot over the bar from twenty five yards. They finally broke the deadlock on 34 minute when Gibbons broke on the left wing and crossed for Conor McCloskey to drove a low powerful shot to the bottom left hand corner . They made it two nil before the interval after a Tiernan Kelly corner on the right found Conor Burke who tapped the ball past Roger McGilloway . The home side made it three nil on 58 minutes after Conan Gibbons broke on the right wing and rounded the defender and laid it off for Ryan O’Donnell to slot home from close range. Rasheney pulled one back minutes later when a Ryan Doherty corner on the left swerved into the net with help from the wind. The visitors reduced the deficit further in the 84th minute after a Ryan Doherty corner bounced off an unfortunate defender into the bottom corner of the net. They nearly got an equalizer in the final minute after Jake O’Donnell broke on the right and set up Trevor Doherty who failed to hit the target when well paced fifteen yards out.
Redcastle United 2
Carrowmena FC 0
First division Redcastle proved too strong for division two league leaders Carrowmena at a wet and wintry Foyle Park. They home side got a dream start in the opening minute after Darragh McConway advanced on the right and his cross was met by Ronan Hoy to shoot low past Kyle Dougal from six yards. In difficult conditions they continued to press and when Sean Curran fed Cathal Crumlish in space he fired just wide. Before the break Redcastle had another sight of goal but Brendan Murphy fires straight at Dougal after another McConway cross and the loose ball was cleared off the line by his defence. The home side continued on top on the restart and Curran unleashed a good effort which just cleared the bar. Carrowmena responded and had a good spell going close on a couple of occasions. Firstly midway through the half Ronan Doherty headed narrowly wide from a Michael Henry free. Then John Gillen unleashed an effort which Michael McCole saved but Henry fired the rebound over the bar. Redcastle upped the tempo again and Crumlish headed Currans cross just past the post. They sealed the tie on 81 minutes after Gavin Grants effort was well parried by Dougal but Brian McColgan reacted first to force the ball home.