Match Reports Sunday 25th March
Sunday 25th March
Ulster Junior Cup Quarter Final
Cavan Town 5
Culdaff FC 4
The home side started much the better with Kevin Morris denied by a stunning save from Daniel Mullarkey before Packie Sheridan beat Mullarkey with an effort but Dermot Diver got back to clear off the line.
Their best chance came midway through the half after Sheridan found himself totally unmarked six yards out but miskicked and the visitors defence cleared. Culdaff stunned the home side when they took the lead on 28 minutes after a superb crossfield pass from Darren Mullarkey found Brendan Mclaughlin who unleashed a brilliant volley to the top corner despite Gary O Rourke getting a hand to it. But the visitors joy was shortlived as the home side equalised two minutes later when a short corner was played and the unmarked Andy Fallon slotted home. Cavan were then unlucky when a fine effort from John Heffernan crashed off the bar. On the stroke of half time Culdaff replied when Brian McCandless flicked on for McLaughlin but keeper O Rourke made a fine save. Culdaff started the second period well and Brendan McLaughlin went close with a free kick. But on 57 minutes the home side took the lead when a headed clearance fell to Kevin Morris twenty five yards out and he volleyed to the top corner. Culdaff suffered a blow when Brian McCandless was controversially red carded for an innocuous reaction to being elbowed. Culdaff rallied and equalised on 75 minutes after a Paul McLaughlin free kick found Michael Coyle who outjumped the advancing O Rourke to head home. But the home side were then given a very controversial penalty which Martin Dunne converted to regain the lead. They increased their lead on 80 minutes when substitute Greg Meehan crossed for Sheridan to slot home. But Culdaff rallied and Coyle rose high to head home a Paul McLaughlin corner. On 83 minutes Brendan McLaughlin beat a defender and rounded O Rourke and with the visitors appealing for what looked a certain penalty the referee gave a yellow card for simulation. With Culdaff pushing they were caught on the break and Sheridan added a late goal to make it five three. Culdaff reduced the deficit in injury time when substitutes Aiden Cunningham crossed for fellow substitute Thomas O Brien to fire home but the damage had been done.
Ulster Junior Cup Semi Final
Buncrana Hearts 0
Aileach FC 1
After an even opening period the visitors had the first effort but Dermot Doherty saw an effort saved by Seamus Houghton. At the other end Michael Coyle fired just over the bar before Stephen McHugh failed to hit the target when well placed. Aileach responded and Gareth McGlynn beat two defenders but fired over from the edge of the box. On the stroke of half time Aileach spurned a good chance when Dermot Doherty drifted in behind the home defence but fired wide from a good position. The home side spurned a great chance after the break when an excellent Aaron McColgan free kick found Kevin O’Loughlin who flashed a header just wide. Aileach hit back and took the lead on 56minutes when the home defence failed to clear and in the ensuing scramble Gavin Doherty forced the ball home from close range. They almost added a second but Ronan Coyle flashed a volley wide when well placed. The Hearts had a great chance to get back on terms when McHugh found himself in the clear but fired straight at Peter Devlin in the Aileach goal. Aileach upped the tempo and substitute Anthony Doherty fired narrowly wide before Darren McMonagle had a shot saved by Houghton. Buncrana were then dealt a blow when Brendan Halpin picked up a second caution and was red carded. Buncrana huffed and puffed but failed to force the tie into extra time.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division 2pm
Glengad United 1
Clonmany Shamrocks 0
Glengad dominated possession for most of the game but just when it looked as if they would not get the win they needed they scored in the 88th minute. The first chance came on 15 minutes when James McKinney broke on the right and crossed to Stephen Mclaughlin whose effort was well saved by Patrick Harkin. Clonmany replied with a Mark McLaughlin corner finding Gavin McDaid whose shot from eight yards cleared the crossbar. On the half hour McLaughlin for the home side cut in from the right and his effort just shaved the outside of the post. The best chance came on 36 minutes when Christopher McLaughlin broke and crossed for brother Stephen but his first time volley smashed off the bar. They had another great chance when Patrick McDermott fed Shane Canning but his effort from the edge of the area was brilliantly tipped over by Harkin. After the break a Stephen Mclaughlin corner found John G McLaughlin who headed just wide. Clonmany spurned a great chance on 55 minutes when a Ferghal Harkin corner found Steve Harkin whose downward header was cleared off the line. On 80 minutes Christopher Mclaughlin found McDermott but he blazed over from eight yards. Glengad finally made the breakthrough after successive corners Adam Byrne rose highest to powerfully head home from eight yards.
QPS 1
Carn FC 1
Connor Barrow’s late equaliser snatched a point for Quigley’s Point Swifts in a tight game against Carn in Muff.
Played in good conditions, the first half was a largely scrappy affair with both sides sharing periods of possession but with few chances. Aaron McCarron and Brandon Browne had early speculative efforts easily dealt with by Point goalkeeper Oisin Burke. In the twenty-third minute, the hosts had the first chance of the game when Connor Barrow played in Shaun Downey, but Downey was denied by a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Carn’s Michael O’Donnell when poised to shoot from eight yards. Two minutes before half-time, Ronan Doherty almost gave the away side the lead but his well-struck right-footed effort from twenty yards sailed inches over the bar.
The Muff side started the second half brighter, and almost went ahead in the fifty-seventh minute. Deaglan Bown’s excellent long cross into the Carn box was met by defender Jimmy Muir, but his goal-bound header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Kyle Dougal.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play five minutes later. A cleared free-kick dropped to Brandon Browne just inside the Point penalty area, and the midfielder’s quick pass fed Shane Doherty who beat the offside trap and tucked the ball neatly into the bottom-right corner of the net.
The hosts looked to hit back, and on sixty-six minutes Mickey Nicholas’s turn-and-shot from the edge of the area flew just over the bar. But Carn started to take control of the game, and should have added to their lead on seventy-five minutes when substitute Girts Dzerins scuffed the ball wide from eight yards after excellent play from O’Donnell on the left.
With two minutes of normal time left, Quigley’s Point found an equalizer. Nicholas’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked but the ball fell to Connor Barrow eight yards out, who lashed the ball home from eight yards.
Carn pressed for a late winner, and should have claimed all three points but substitute Cade Cooke missed two glorious chances to snatch victory. First, Cooke was played through from a Shane Doherty pass but blasted the ball wide from ten yards. Two minutes into injury time, Doherty once again played a great low ball from the right to Cooke, but he failed to connect with the ball from six yards with the goal gaping. The hosts, who are already relegated, held on to claim their third draw of the season, while Carndonagh remain third from bottom.
Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O’ Gara Cup
Aileach Res 8
Dunree Res 1
As expected first division Aileach were too strong and ran out easy winners over a Dunree side who battled all the way. The home side took the lead on 16 minutes when Ciaran McGrory converted a penalty awarded after he had been fouled.They increased their lead when Jordan McGeady fired in a rebound from sixteen yards after Roger McGilloway had parried an effort from McGrory.Dunree then got a goal back after Peter O Neill looped a header over Charlie Carlin from fifteen yards.But McGrory then made it three one when after great work by Ruairi Bradley who squared for him to slot home from close range. Gregory Doherty increased the lead on 68 minutes with a lovely chip over McGilloway after a fine ball from Eamon Brown .Late goals from Kevin Wallace, substitute Shane McMonagle (2) and Neil McElhinney completed the rout.
Greencastle Res 3
Glengad Res 5
Premier division reserve Glengad eventually overcome a gallant home side. Glengad took the lead on 5 minutes when Gary Kelly raced clear onto a long ball to fire past Derek McGeoghaghan. They then made it two nil in similar circumstances when Kelly again outpaced the home defence before firing past McGeoghaghan. Greencastle got a goal back when Mark Browne drilled home from eight yards after Shaun Cavanagh had headed back across goals. The home side equalised on 22 minutes when a deep cross by David Henry was parried by Michael McLaughlin and Conor Gillen fired the loose ball home from ten yards. Glengad regained the lead on 57 minutes when PJ McDaid broke on the right and crossed for Cathal Doherty to sidefoot home from six yards. They increased their lead again when Paul McGonigle unmarked headed home from a corner. Greencastle reduced the deficit again on 84minutes when after a scramble Tom Heuston fired home from close range. But Glengad sealed the victory when Kelly was upended in the area and McGonigle slotted home.
Carn Res 1
Sea Rovers 3
Carn had the first chance when Tiernan Coyne crossed but Dillon Cooke fired wide from ten yards. Rovers replied and took the lead when Keelan Doherty fed Gary Doherty who rounded a man and fired low past Daniel McCallion from fifteen yards. Six minutes later they increased their lead when Damien Ward’s long range free bounced into the net. Carn replied with Ryan O Donnell crossing for Lorcan Bradley and he fired home from eight yards to make it two one. On the stroke of half time Rovers made it three one after a Conor Gallagher pass found the unmarked Keelan Doherty to fire to the roof of the net from twelve yards. Carn had the first chance of the second period when Coyne crossed for Dillon Cooke but he fired wide . They continued to press with Kevin McLaughlin releasing Coyne who beat a man but again failed to hit the target from inside the box before Conor Doherty also fired wide. Rovers replied and Graham Morgan crossed from the left for Gallagher but his header drifted just wide before Martin Ward beat two defenders and saw his effort crash off the bar. Rovers had the final chance when Keelan Doherty fed Gallagher on the left and he crossed for Damien Ward but he fired wide.
Culdaff Res 0
Buncrana Res 2
Played under lights on Saturday night the home side had an early chance after a Jack McLaughlin ball over the top found Aiden Cunningham whose first time effort was well saved by Eoghan O Sullivan. Buncrana replied and on 20 minutes Harry Forshaw fed Alan Friel who rounded keeper Martin McLaughlin but his effort was cleared off the line. They created another chance on 36 minutes after a John Timlin cross found Gerard Boyle but his header was weak and well saved. Culdaff replied just before the interval when a deep Michael McFadden free found McLaughlin and his driven cross was touched goalwards by Cathal McGrenaghan but skimmed the outside of the post. Buncrana had the first chance of the second period when Friel collected a long clearance from Benny Murphy but blazed over. They took the lead in fortuitous fashion on 52 minutes after a John Timlin cross was missed by a defender and rolled into the bottom corner. They increased their lead on the hour mark after a James Adair cross was controlled by Boyle who calmly slotted home from six yards. Culdaff raised the tempo and were unlucky when Cunninghams free kick crashed off the base of the post with O Sullivan beaten. The continued to press and Mclaughlin’s cross just eluded the inrushing McGrenaghan. Buncrana were also dancgerous on the break as the home side pressed but the visitors advanced to the quarter finals.
Rasheney FC 2
Rasheney Res 0
There was little by way of goalmouth action until the home team took the lead on 22 minutes when Damien Friel crossed to Charlie Doherty who controlled on his chest and fired in a shot which Kieran Friel parried but Doherty reacted well to slot the rebound home. A minute later Friel fired in an effort from twenty five yards which dropped just over the angle. The reserves replied and when Jack McLaughlin got in behind he crossed to Ryan McLaughlin who hesitated and the chance was lost. Rasheney replied with Friel crossing from the left and the ball crashed off the bar and was cleared.The second half saw the reserves create first when Corny McCole released Jack McLaughlin but Sean Friel advanced well to smother. But Rasheney replied and increased their lead after Declan McLaughlin crossed to the back post where Brendan Doherty was on hand to head past Kieran Friel. Midway through the half Matthew McLaughlin crossed for substitute David McLaughlin who failed to turn the ball home. The same player then unleashed a twenty yards effort which went wide before a Declan McLaughlin effort was saved by Friel. On 88 minutes Brendan Doherty broke and unleashed an effort which Kieran Friel saved well. The reserve side had the final effort after Tyler McBride had an effort turned round the post by Friel.
Cockhill Youths 3
Clonmany Res 1
Cockhill dominated the opening half of this game and Adam McLaughlin had an early header from a Mark McDaid cross which crashed off the bar. They took the lead on 12 minutes when after a clearance in the visitors defence was charged down Keegan Hegarty reacted first to slip the ball low past Fergal Bradley from six yards. Bradley then saved well to deny Mc Daid before pulling off a superb save to deny McDaid who had volleyed goalwards. On 36 minutes Bradley was again in action when he parried a piledriver from Christopher Duffy and Mclaughlin blazed the rebound over the bar. The youths increased their lead on 49 minutes when Keegan Hegarty got on the end of Duffy’s cross to head home from six yards. Duffy then released McLaughlin with a fine through ball but he blazed over when he should have done better. Clonmany came more into the game then and when Nathan McKinney wriggled his way along the byeline he squared across goal but there were no takers. They did get a goal back when after the home defence failed to clear Tiernan McDonald nipped in and headed over Declan Caldwell. Caldwell then denied McCarron with a fine save before the big striker broke the offside trap but Caldwell advanced to kick clear. Cockhill then had an effort after Mclaughlin took a fine save from Bradley and on 83 minutes they sealed their passage to the quarter finals with an excellent goal. Shay McLaughlin broke on the left and fed Michael Owen Doherty who back heeled the ball across for Mclaughlin to tap in.
Redcastle United 3
Moville Res 0
The home side were first to show in the first minute when Brendans Murphy’s
cross lead to a Dean Curran shot but keeper Puaric Carey Doherty made the save. On the 21st minute Sean Curran laid off a corner to Chris O Donnell but his effort from twenty yards was easily held by the Moville keeper. Redcastle went ahead on 26 minutes when Carey Doherty parried an Odie Mc Colgan shot and Aaron Nash poked home from close range.Moville had a good opportunity at the start of the second half when John Harkin capitalized on a defensive lapse to test McCole but his effort lacked the power to worry the home keeper. Adam Harkin then saw his shot rebound of the cross bar as Moville pushed the home side back. Redcastle increased their lead on the break soon after when Nash volleyed home a Curran cross. Minutes later it was three nil when Nash set up Murphy to prod home. Moville responded at the other end through Ryan McColgan who bought a smart save from McCole. The game was uneventful thereafter with limited opportunities for either side. Redcastle had the last chance of note but Sean Curran’s free didn’t trouble Carey Doherty in the Moville goal.
Dunree United 2
Carrowmena FC 1 ( AET)
Carrowmena started well and Aiden McLaughlin had a fine effort on the run well saved by James Doherty. On 22 minutes the home side hit back with Daniel McLaughlin seeing an effort well saved by Michael Noone. Dunree took the lead on the stroke of half time when Liam Baldrick fired a low twenty yards free past the wall and into the bottom corner. The second half was very tight with few chances but Philip McGuinness had an effort saved by Noone from the edge of the area. Carrowmena pressed hard and on 88 minutes Killian Dougal fired a free from just outside the area inside the far post past Doherty to force extra time. In the first period Darryl Moran released McGuinness but again Noone saved well. In the second period Carrowmena’s Mclaughlin had a great chance when he broke clear but blasted wide. With three minutes to go the home side got the winner after a free kick from McGuinness found Daniel McLaughlin who headed home at the back post.
Inishowen Engineering Division 2 A 11am
Redcastle Res 2
Cockhill Res 1
In an even game Redcastle started the brighter when Terry Mc Colgan found space on the edge off the box but shot wide. With the play mostly happening in a conjested midfield both teams found it difficult to create any clear cut chances . Mid way through the half a well worked Redcastle move put Alan Clarke in space wide on the right and his pin point cross found Terry Mc Colgan free at the back post to nod home for the home team. This encouraged a young Redcastle team who pushed Cockhill back for the remainder of the half and just before half time Shane McColgan won the ball and beat three Cockhill players before finishing to the top corner from the edge of the box .Cockhill came out strong in the second half and pushed the home team back for much of the remainder of the game , however Redcastle still looked the most likely to score on the break and the cockhill keeper twice saved in one on one situations early in the half from Evan Craig and Alan Clarke. Cockhill pulled a goal back when a free was flicked on by Gary Breslin and deceived the home keeper. The remainder of the game was a midfield battle with neither side creating any clear openings.