Match Reports Sunday 24th March
Knockalla Caravans Cup
Glengad 2-1 Letterkenny Rovers
Played in very wind conditions making hard for good football to be played, Letterkenny took lead on 16 min from a Kieron Mc Grath cross oh right BJ Banda controlled and his shot to a deflection to evade Daniel Mullarkey
Glengad created a few chances with out troubling Rory Kelly in Rovers goal. Glengad playing into wind took more control of game in second half Stepehn Fildara was causing Rover defence problems with his pace and cross from right but Terance shot over from 12 yrds. Rover had chance to double the lead on 75min after Johnny Bonnar pick up loose ball in midfield run clear but Daniel Mullarkey was out quick to block effort away for corner. On 84 min a short corner from Stephen Fildara to Christy Fildara who cut inside defender his shot took deflection to evade Rory Kelly. On 91st minuet Good play between Stephen Fildara and James Mc Kinney down right wing James played in a deep cross to back post and Michael Byrne headed home from 6 yrds to send Glengad into semi final
Buncrana Credit Union Cup
Carn FC 2
QPS 1
Carn had an early opportunity when a Girts Dzerins pass from midfield found Lorcan Bradley who laid the ball off to Brandon Browne and he shot low to the left and wide from 10 yards. At the other end Swifts got their first chance on 11 minutes when a Ryan mc Garvey pass down the right wing found Shaun Downey and he in turn rounded a defender with his shot seeming destined for the top corner but the ball was well saved by Fergal Doherty in the home goal. Carn nearly broke the deadlock on 24 minutes. Good approach play involving Michael McDermott and Shane Doherty on the right created a chance for Dzerins who shot low to the right and wide from outside the 18 yard box. Carn got another great chance on 31 minutes when a McDermott pass found Brandon Browne free and he laid the ball off to Dermot Doherty who was unmarked in the box but he shot over the bar from outside the 6 yard box. QPS got a chance on 39 minutes when a pass from Ryan Mc Garvey found Stephen Mc Kendry who crossed for Aaron Mc Colgan to shot low to the left and wide from outside the 18 yard box. Carn broke the deadlock on 42 minutes when a Bradley pass found Shane Doherty who squared it for Dermot Doherty to slot it past Aiden Lynch into the bottom right corner of the net. Swifts equalized on 57 minutes when an Andy Barr pass from midfield found Mc Kendry who squared it for John Mc Closkey who shot low past Doherty. The visitors nearly took the lead on 64 minutes when a Downey run on the right wing found Stephen Harley who shot low to the left and wide from 8 yards. On 78 minutes Carn nearly went ahead when a Bradley pass from midfield found sub Tiernan Coyne who rounded the defender but pulled his shot wide. Carn came close again when sub Cade Cooke went on a great run on the right wing and squared it for Dermot Doherty whose effort was heading for the right corner but it was well saved by Lynch.
Carn got their second and winning goal 8 minutes into injury time when a pass from sub Matthew Gasserman found Cooke one on one with the keeper and he rounded Lynch and slotted it to the bottom right corner of the net. QPS had chances to again equalise. Mc Closkey’s pass from midfield found Downey who laid it off for Ryan Mc Garvey who shot over the bar from 10 yard and with 2 mins to go James Quigley found Aaron Mc Colgan but his shot was low and wide from 10 yards.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Greencastle 2-1 Clonmany
Greencastle had the first chance of the game when a long kick out from keeper Dylan Doherty found full back gavin harkin breaking forward but his dangerous cross was well gathered by clonmany keeper, Patrick harkin. With 10 minutes gone a long kick out from Patrick harkin found Jason devlin racing clear but greencastle keeper Dylan Doherty raced off his line to clear the danger. With 15 minutes of the first half gone clonmany took the lead when a corner, taken by Jason devlin, in a strong wind, sailed in to the top corner. The same player then had a left foot shot go just wide 5 minutes later. Greencastle created a great chance with 23 minutes gone when gavin harkin played the ball in to nigel mcmonagle who layed it back to Jamie mccormack whose shot from the edge of the box went just over the bar. Matthew Henry then had shot go just wide after being teed up by nigel mcmonagle. Greencastle had a great chance when nigel mcmonagle played in Jamie mccormack who side stepped the keeper but whose shot went agonisingly just wide of the right hand post. Greencastle had the first chance of the second half when a shaun Doherty shot from the edge of the box was saved by Patrick harkin. 5 mins later a matty Henry free kick was cleared by Raymond mcdaid. Nigel mcmonagle then played in Stephen grant but his shot hit the side netting. Greencastle Mark Henry then headed over from a matty Henry corner. With 15 minutes of the half gone shaun Doherty played a long ball in to the box for christy hegarty, who rose and headed down for nigel mcmonagle whose shot was blocked by a defender. With 20 mins of the half gone clonmany had a great chance to go 2-0 up when substitute mark mclaughlin raced to the byline and crossed for christy harkin whose header from 6 yards out crashed back out off the post. The home team continued to press and Stephen grant played the ball in to nigel mcmonagle who rounded the keeper but had his shot blocked by a defender. Greencastle drew level with 30 mins of the second half gone when Stephen grant played the ball in to the box to nigel mcmonagle who was challenged by the keeper as he was about to shoot. Michael Barr stepped up and expertly slammed the penalty in to the top corner. Barr was on duty at the other end when Jason devlin was in on goal but his shot was blocked by a brilliant tackle. The home side sealed the points with 10 mins to go when they were awarded a free kick on the right hand edge of the box. Shaun Doherty played a low hard cross in which found its way to nigel mcmonagle on the edge of the area who turned and hit a powerful low shot to the bottom left corner through a crowd of players. Clonmany fought on till the end of the game but greencastle claimed the 3 points in what was a very hard fought battle at a blustery Chapel lane
Strand Hotel First Division
Cockhill Celtic Youth – 1 (M McDaid)
Buncrana Hearts Reserves – 0
Cockhill Celtic Youth defeated Buncrana Hearts Reserves with the only goal of the game at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds earlier this afternoon. The home side started on the front foot and took the lead inside four minutes when Jack McDaid shielded the ball from Hearts defender Donald O’Doherty inside the six yard box before laying the ball back for Mark McDaid to fire the ball low past Paul McDaid in the Hearts goal giving the keeper no chance. Cockhill created another opportunity on 12 minutes but Jack McDaid shot wide at the back post from 8 yards out after a Michael Noone cross from the right. Buncrana started with former GAA county player Darrach O’Connor in attack and on 25 minutes Cockhills keeper Kyle Dougal had to be alert to sweep up the danger as O’Connor tried to latch onto a pass over the top by Brendan Murphy. Cockhills Jack McDaid had another chance on 35 minutes but his header from a David Laird cross went wide off the keepers right hand post. HT 1-0
The second half started in much the same vain as the first with Cockhill looking to create and attack when in possession. The visitors just sitting deep to frustrate and hit Cockhill on the break. The plan almost worked on 66 minutes when O’Connor again got in behind the Cockhill defence and this time the forward got his toe to the ball before Keeper Dougal only to see his effort go wrong side of the post much to the relief of the home side. Cockhill did enough to see the game out and secure a second place finish with a game to spare.
Moville 2-1 Glengad Res
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A
Aileach Youth 0-3 Greencastle Res
The game was play in very windy conditions which made good football a difficult task. The first half hour had few chances as both teams struggled to adjust to the adverse conditions. Greencastle with the wind on their back started to press and came close when Kevin McLaughlin advanced from right back to fire a shot from 25 yards that clipped the outside of the post. Greencastle took the lead on 40 minutes when McLaughlins cross was headed in from 10 yards by the onrushing Andrew Peoples. Peoples nearly repeated the trick minutes later when Joe Doherty picked him out in the box but this time his header went over the bar. On the stroke of half time Ronan Doherty got free on the left but pulled his shot wide of the far post. Aileach came out with a bit more purpose at the start of the second half but the Greencastle defence coped well. Greencastle then broke on 60 minutes for the second when Jude Harkin slid the ball through to Joe Doherty who tried to round Clarke in the home goal but Clarke saved well at his feet, the ball squirmed free to Peoples who swept the ball home to double their advantage. Aileach pressed hard to get back into the game but had to settle for long range efforts. Neil McElhinney came close with one of these efforts but the keeper dealt with it comfortably. Greencastle finished the game as a contest on 70 minutes when a deep cross was only half cleared into the path of Harkin who fired past Clarke. Aileach had a late chance when Pól McGrory had a shot from 25 yards that went just over the bar.
QPS Res 2-2 Moville Res
In very windy conditions at Muff, QPS started brightly and on 3 minutes, Mark Wallace headed a Jack McConnellogue cross against the bar and cleared by the Moville defence. 5 minutes in and Josh McLaughlin beat 3 defenders but Moville keeper McGeady was out quickly to save at his feet. Against the strong breeze, Moville took the lead on 11 minutes, when Pearse Doherty controlled a Graham Doherty cross and shot low past Point keeper Bell. On 25 minutes, Pearse Doherty released PJ Barr, who chipped the on rushing keeper Bell, but the ball drifted just wide of the post. QPS looked threatening but a well organised Moville defence kept them at bay. The second half started with most of the play in midfield. QPS got back on terms on 62 minutes, when Chris O’Donnell found Mark Wallace inside the box and he scored with a low drive into the bottom corner. QPS took the lead on 68 minutes, when Ronan Lafferty was brought down 30 yards out and Mark Wallace’s freekick beat McGeady. Moville equalised 2 minutes later, when Pearse Doherty curled a 30 yard free kick into the top corner. PJ Barr had a chance to win it for Moville in injury time but he hooked the loose ball over the bar from 10 yards.
Cockhill Res 2-5 Culdaff Res
Culdaff took an early lead when a good cross by Ben Curley fell to the unmarked Bryan McCandless to slot home in to the empty net Cockhill responded well and equalised shortly after when Patrick McLaughlin scored past his namesake Patrick McLaughlin in the Culdaff net from 6 yards after being teed up by Bernard Gubbins.
Midway through the first half Cockhill took the lead when a quick break away caught the Culdaff defence square and Gary Breslin found the back of the net past Culdaff keeper Patrick McLaughlin with a well placed effort from just inside the box. Culdaff pulled level just before the break with Ben Curley at the heart of it for Culdaff, pressuring the Cockhill defence and whipping in a good near post cross which was turned in by Damien Duffy to even things up, giving Ciaran Sharkey in the Cockhill goal no chance from close range.
An even first half turned in Culdaff’s favour within 5 minutes of the restart with 2 quick fire goals. With Bryan McCandless netting his second with a fine effort from the edge of the box and Damien Duffy making it 4 – 2 minutes later with his 2nd of the match with an angled drive in to the far corner. Cockhill came back in to the match and were unlucky not to pull one back when a Kevin McDaid corner was headed narrowly wide by Gary Breslin. Culdaff all but made sure of the points with 20 minutes to go as Jack McLaughlin beat the offside trap and kept his composure to finish low past Ciaran Sharkey.
Cockhill kept pushing to get themselves back in the match and a Mark Gillespie goal direct from a corner reduced the margin but Culdaff held out for the win.
Aileach Youth 0
Greencastle Res 3
The game was played in very windy conditions which made good football a difficult task. There were few chances in the first half hour as both teams struggled to adjust to the adverse conditions. Greencastle, with the wind on their backs, started to press and came close when Kevin McLaughlin advanced from right back to fire a shot from 25 yards that clipped the outside of the post. They took the lead on 40 minutes when McLaughlin’s cross was headed in from 10 yards by the onrushing Andrew Peoples. Peoples nearly repeated the trick minutes later when Joe Doherty picked him out in the box but this time his header went over the bar. On the stroke of half time Ronan Doherty got free on the left but pulled his shot wide of the far post. Aileach came out with a bit more purpose at the start of the second half but the Greencastle defence coped well. The visitors then broke on 60 minutes for the second when Jude Harkin slid the ball through to Joe Doherty who tried to round Clarke in the home goal but Clarke saved well at his feet, with the ball squirming free to Peoples who swept the ball home to double their advantage. Aileach pressed hard to get back into the game but had to settle for long range efforts. Neil McElhinney came close with one of these efforts but the keeper dealt with it comfortably. Greencastle finished the game as a contest on 70 minutes when a deep cross was only half cleared into the path of Harkin who fired past Clarke. Aileach had a late chance when Pól McGrory had a shot from 25 yards that went just over the bar.
Redcastle Res 2
Clonmany Res 4
Goalkeeper Mark Doherty was called into action as Clonmany pushed forward and attempted to take an early lead following a mix up in the home defence. Redcastle first attempt came on the quarter hour mark when Ronan Hoy just failed to get on the end of a ball from midfield. The opening goal arrived shortly afterwards. Good work from Thomas Comiskey saw the ball delivered across the box where Conor Doherty was on hand to drive the ball home. Both keepers were kept busy before the visitors doubled their advantage – Comiskey getting the final touch on a Dessie Doherty attempt on goal. Prior to the interval Redcastle hauled themselves back into the game when Cathal Crumlish found the net after getting on the end of a Ronan Cassidy delivery. Clonmany failed to capitalise on early second half openings and the home side got back on level terms when Murphy delivered in from the left and Hoy volleyed home giving Liam Mc Gonigle little chance. The game could have gone either way at this stage but Clonmany’s fitness levels proved crucial. On 75 minutes they regained the lead when good approach play allowed David Mc Gonigle to score. Hoy then had a chance to level but fluffed his opportunity. With 5 mins remaining the visitors sealed the win when Conor Doherty struck for his second goal.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two B
Carn Res 3
Rasheney Res 1
This game was switched and played under the lights in Trawbreaga Park on Friday night. The home side’s first chance came in the 2nd minute when a Nathan McConologue cross from the left found Connor O’Neill who shot over the bar from 10 yards. Carn’s first chance came on 5 minutes when Brandon Browne made a run on the left wing and played a through ball to Tiernan Coyne who shot low to the left but his shot was well gathered by Roger McGilloway in the home goal. Carn broke the deadlock on 10 mins when Coyne passed to Browne on the left wing and squared it for Conor Doherty to drill low pass Mc Gilloway from 8 yards. Carn nearly doubled their lead on 15 minutes when a John Downes midfield pass found Conor Doherty who shot low to the left and wide from 15 yards. Rasheney nearly claimed an equalizer when a Conor McDaid run on the right wing found Charles Doherty who laid it off for Nathan Mc Conalogue who shot low to the right but the ball was parried away wide by Jack Nelson in the Carn goal. Rashenny equalized on 26 minutes when Tiernan McDonald made a run on the right wing and crossed it for Brian Devlin who laid it off for Charles Doherty to slot the ball home from inside the 6 yard box. Rasheney nearly went ahead on 36 mins when an Owen Mc Gonagle long pass found McDonald on the right wing and he rounded a defender only for to shoot low to the right and wide.
After the break Carn missed a chance to reclaim the lead when a Paul Stevens pass from midfield found Coyne and he shot high to the left and wide from 25 yards. It was Rasheney’s turn to try to take the lead on 61 minutes when a Charlie Doherty corner from the left found McDonald but he shot low to the right and wide. Carn made it 2-1 on 73 mins when a Stevens pass from midfield found Conor Doherty who went one on one with the keeper and hit a powerful shot to the bottom left corner of the net from 20 yards. Carn nearly got a third on 86 mins when Downes delivered a pass to Coyne who rounded the defender and shot low to the right and wide from inside the area. Carn got their third goal deep in injury time when Ryan O’Donnell pass from midfield found Coyne and he shot low to the bottom corner from 13 yards.
Carrowmena FC 1 – 0 Dunree Reserves
Carrowmena had the last chance of the half when Gerard Gill turned well in the box only to see his shot rebound off the post and the keeper pounced on the loose ball.
Carrowmena 1 – 0 Dunree
As the second half progressed the Carrowmena defence held firm and seen out a deserved 1-0 win.