Match Reports Sunday 29th October
Ulster Junior Cup
Glengad United 1
Greencastle FC 2
Greencastle started well and had the first chance when Gerry Gill released Michael Henry with a fine ball over the top but his effort was well saved by Christopher McLaughlin.
The home side replied and Christopher McLaughlin (F) ‘s deep cross found brother Stephen but he was denied by a combination of both keeper Dylan Doherty and Gavin Harkin.On 41 minutes Patrick McDermott fed McLaughlin but his effort was well saved by Doherty. The game exploded into life on the hour when Jamie McCormick fired a stunning twenty five yards effort to the top corner and give the visitors the lead. Minutes later it got better for Greencastle when Gill’s cross picked out the unmarked Christy Hegarty to head home from six yards. Glengad upped the tempo and were unlucky when McLaughlin cut in from the right but saw his effort crash off the post. They got a goal back on 79 minutes when a James McKinney cross was swept home from six yards by Stephen McLaughlin. Former Glengad player Nigel McMonagle then had a real chance to put the tie beyond doubt but McLaughlin advanced to smother. Glengad poured forward but the visitors stood firm to advance and knock the holders of the last two years out of the cup.
Clonmany Shamrocks 0
Bonagee United 1
Despite numerous chances and hitting the woodwork on a number of occasisn the shamrocks bowed out of the Ulster Junior cup and really have only themselves to blame. The shamrocks started on fire with Mark McLaughlin miskicking in front of goal, Ferghal Harkin dragging an effort across goals and wide before Andrew Doherty had an effort well saved by John Carr. Carr then saved well from a Mark McLaughlin free before the same player beat the offside trap but blazed over the bar. Bonagee lifted the siege and midway through the half Noel O Donnell beat two defenders and advanced menacingly but the home defence cleared at the last minute. Clonmany resumed their attacking play with Dessie Doherty seeing an effort saved before McLaughlin was denied by a last ditch tackle when he looked destined to score. Then before the interval Bonagee broke with Paddy McGowan’s cross finding Greg McGee to head past Patrick Harkin. Clonmany upped the tempo on the restart and both Paddy Doherty and McLaughlin had efforts which crashed off the woodwork. McLaughlin then fired straight at Carr when in a good position before Bonagee’s O’Donnell attempted lob drifted just over. Clonmany ended strongly but Jason Devlin failed to hit the target when well placed before the same player had the final chance but fired weakly at Carr.
Culdaff FC 1 ( Culdaff win 5.4 in sudden death pens)
Drumkeen United 1
In what was a very poor performance by the home team they scraped past a Drumkeen side who definitely had the chances to progress. Darren Mullarkey blazed an early chance over the bar for the home side from the edge of the area. They took the lead then on 13 minutes when an inswinging Mullarkey corner was volleyed home by Brendan McLaughlin from close range. Michael Coyle then headed narrowly over from a Noel McLaughlin cross. But Drumkeen, prompted by ex Finn Harps player Niall Bonner in midfield came well into the game with Bonner firing narrowly wide before releasing Michael Guthrie whose effort was deflected behind. Bonner was again narrowly off target with an effort before releasing Benny Bonner who turned inside and saw his shot well held by Darragh McLaughlin. On the stroke of half time Mullarkey fired wide again from the left hand side of the area. Drumkeen started well and their best chance of the game came on 50 minutes when Philip Bonner ran onto a through ball but saw his close range effort well blocked by McLaughlin. Eight minutes later they were level when they collected a poor kick out and Guthrie played a neat one two with Bonner before bursting into the area and finishing neatly to the bottom corner. Midway through the half a superb Matthew Mullarkey run on the right took him into the area but his cross fell behind two attackers. Drunkeen finished strongly and Philip Bonner had the chance to fire them ahead when he sidestepped a defender but saw his effort well blocked by McLaughlin. They had the last chance as well but Liam McGirr headed wide in what was a difficult chance. Culdaff eventually woke from their slumber and dominated extra time. Matthew Mullarkey had a chance turned round the post by Paul McCauley and Brendan McLaughlin failed to connect with a header from the corner. McCauley then made a fine double save after another corner to deny Brendan McLaughlin and Dillon Ruddy.
In the shootout both teams missed their first and sixth penalties before McLaughlin saved and Michael Coyle kept his nerve to drill home.
Illies Celtic 1
Erne Wanderers 0
There was a lively start to this game but there were no real chances in the opening twenty minutes. Illies then took the lead on 23minutes after a William McLaughlin effort was parried by Matthew Paige and Adrian Donaghey Doherty following up hammered to the roof of the net. Paige then produced a wonderful one handed save from a Dominick Coyle header to keep it at one. Erne replied and either side of half time David Dolan had brilliant efforts superbly saved by Johnathan Noone before Noone produced a stunning one handed save to keep out Dermot Shovlin’s shot on the hour mark
. Illies then went close when Donaghey –Doherty saw an effort crash off the post before being cleared before John Campbell advanced into the area but dragged his effort wide. In the last chance of the game Shovlin really should have forced extra time when unmarked his header was again saved by Noone.
Buncrana Hearts 6
Castlefin Celtic 1
Buncrana dominated from the start and took an early lead when a Shane Dillon corner was headed back across goal by Kevin O’Loughlin for Michael Coyle to head to the top corner. When Calvin Gallagher played Coyle in on 15 minutes the big striker fired clinically to the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Bart Wesoloski then made it three midway through the half when he pounced to drill home from twelve yards.Castlefin did go close with a Paddy Doherty effort which crashed off the bar and over. But Coyle completed his hat trick when he ran onto a Kieran McDaid pass and calmly slotted home. On the stroke of half time Castlefin got a goal back when poor defending allowed Doherty to slot home from close range. But the hearts added a fifth shortly after the restart when the visitors failed to clear a corner and Ben Bradley fired low to the corner from the edge of the area. They completed the scoring on the stroke of full time after McDaid converted a penalty after substitute Gerard Boyle had been upended.
Carn FC 2
Raphoe Town 1
Dermot Doherty fired an early chance over the bar for the home side before thye took the lead on 12 minutes when a Joe McKinney cross was headed to the bottom corner by Shane Doherty from ten yards. Both Ryan Kelly and Michael O Donnell had looping headers just over the bar before Dermot Doherty had another effort well saved by Roy Duffy in the Raphoe goal. Raphoe came a bit more into the game and DJ Kelly had an effort from distance just over on the stroke of half time. Carn resumed on the attack after the break with Ryan Kelly seeing a low effort well gathered by Duffy. After a quick break Raphoe’s Caolan Kelly unleashed a shot but Daniel McCallion was equal to the task. Carn upped the tempo and Conor O Donnell had a shot crash off the bar before Ronan and Dermot Doherty combined for the latter to square to Shane Doherty to drill home his second of the game. Raphoe tried to hit back with Stephen Cregg shooting over from the edge of the area before McCallion parried a Stephen Laird free kick allowing Dean Kelly to slot home the rebound. Carn had the final chance of the game but Ryan Kelly headed over as the home side advance.
Aileach FC 5
Glenea United 0
Aileach began brightly and on 10 minutes Darren McMonagle broke down the right and crossed for Thomas McMonagle but the wingbacks header flew harmlessly wide. The lead goal came on 15 minutes when Thomas McMonagle pulled the ball back for his brother Darren to finish low past Sean McClafferty from twelve yards. With 20 minutes gone Aileach doubled their lead after Darren McMonagle forced his way past the left back and crossed for the unmarked Ronan Coyle to finish low past McClafferty from close range. The home side were well on top at this stage and it was no surprise when number three arrived , a Darren McMonagle corner found its way back to the same player and he picked out Gareth McGlynn twenty five yards out the midfielders volley was superbly saved by McClafferty but the rebound fell to Cathal McElhinney who finished to the empty net. Glenea opened better in the second half and on 50 minutes Ciaran McRudden got behind the Aileach rearguard but Peter Devlin was quickly out to smother his effort.
After an hour Aileach broke quickly and Darren McMonagle found himself in space and he drew a fine save from McClafferty who managed to push the ball over the bar. Goal number four came on 70 minutes when Gareth McGlynn picked the ball up on the left and rolled back the years leaving two men in his wake before picking out Gavin Doherty who finished low to McClafferty’s right from fifteen yards. Aileach added a fifth late on when Darren McMonagle got time to pick out substitute Dermot Doherty inside the box and he fired home off McClafferty’s left hand post.
Ballybofey United 2
QPS 0
The home side took the lead on 7 minutes after Aaron McCauley ‘s effort saw Oisin Burke get a hand to the ball but it rebounded off McCauley and over the line. They went close again when Damien Glackin had a sight of goal but fired into the side netting. The point responded when Michael Nicholas fed Conor Barrow but his effort was blocked while at the other end Mark Griffin raced into the area but Burke advanced to smother. The point then had a really good spell before the break with Stephen McKendrys deflected effort gathered by Chris Patton before Josh Boyle hit the post and the same player was denied by an excellent save from patton. But as in the first half the home side got a dream start when Damien Glackin headed home a Barney Lafferty corner.The point did not lie down and Nicholas was twice denied by excellent saves from Patton. Ballybofey then replied and Lafferty fired a free into the side netting before Glackin somehow headed wide from six yards. In the closing stages the points Thomas McMonagle fired a free kick just wide before Barrow ‘s header was saved by Patton.
Ulster Junior Shield
Aileach Res 4
Culdaff Res 1
Aileach started strongly and a dangerous Eamon Brown cross was scrambled clear by the visitors defence in the opening minutes. They did break the deadlock on 11 minutes when a Ruairi Bradley corner was not cleared allowing Stephen Doherty to fire home from close range. Culdaff replied midway through the half when Jack O Brien played a one two before seeing his effort well turned round the post by Kieran Bradley at full stretch. Before the break Bradley disposed a defender and raced clear before drilling low to the corner and giving the home side a two nil interval lead. On 55 minutes Daniel Mullarkey turned an Eamon Brown twenty yards effort round the post at full stretch. On the hour mark a superb run by substitute Stephen O Donnell ended with Mullarkey saving well again. But minutes later O Donnell beat two defenders and slotted low under Mullarkey to make it three nil. A long ball over the top released another substitute Joe Johnstone but his effort was well smothered by Mullarkey before Ciaran McGrory had an effort flash just wide. McGrory then slotted home from six yards after a superb cross by O Donnell had picked him out. Culdaff replied and got a consolation when Jack O Brien beat a defender and fired to the roof of the net from the edge of the area.
Glengad Res 3 ( Glengad win 3.2 on pens)
Buncrana Res 3
The home side had the first chance on 5 minutes when PJ McDaid fed Mark McKinney who drilled narrowly wide from the edge of the area. Buncrana responded and went close when a snapshot from James Adair was cleared off the line by John G McDermott. Buncrana then took the lead when they were awarded a penalty for handball which Brendan Murphy calmly converted. But the home side had another clear sight of goal when McDaid broke free but Cathal McNutt advanced well to smother. The visitors had the final chance of the half and should have increased their lead when a Christy McKinley cross found Adam Doherty but unmarked he headed over from six yards. From the restart Buncrana broke upfield and Adam Doherty fired a superb twenty yards effort high past Ronan Lafferty to double their lead. The home side rallied and got a goal back on 58 minutes when Cathal Doherty scored with a superb lob over McNutt from thirty yards. Three minutes later they were level when a Christopher McLaughlin cross came off the post for McDermott to slot home.John Timlin almost won it for the visitors but his free kick was brilliantly saved by Ronan Lafferty to send the game into extra time. Glengad took the lead midway through the half after a deep cross from Mclaughlin found Gary Kelly to fire to the top corner. But Buncrana hit back and equalised when Timlin crossed for Oisin O Flaherty to head to the roof of the net. There were no other chances in extra time and in the shootout Glengad emerged victorious bythree kicks to two.
Monaghan Town Res 2
Redcastle United 5
Redcastle got off to a great start when Aaron Nash pounced on a loose ball inside the area to hammer low to the net from twelve yards. It got better minutes later when Nash crossed for Cahir McLaughlin to head home. But the home side then got a goal back after a long kick out released Michael McColgan and he rounded Michael McCole to slot home. Redcastle upped the tempo and Jack McConalogue rounded two men before drilling low to the corner. On 33 minutes the home side failed to clear a corner and McLaughlin was on had to tap home. Redcastle were dealt a blow then when Nash was shown a straight red card after an innocuous challenge on the home keeper. Redcastle kept things tight after this and increased their lead when James Curran headed home a corner on 75 minutes. But a minute later Shaun Curran was red carded after dissent when he had been fouled from behind. Monaghan got a late consolation when McColgan converted a penalty after he had been fouled.
Milford United Res 2
Rasheney FC 6
The home side took the lead on 5 minutes when the rashenney defence looked for offside but Milford played on and Doherty smashed the ball home. This spurred Rasheney into action and Charlie Doherty (Pictured) beat three players to tap the ball past the keeper.
Rashenney upped their game and some fine work from Brendan Doherty fed the ball to Damien Friel to shoot from twenty five yards into top corner to make it two nil.Some ten minutes later Matthew McLaughlin cut in from the left hand side and fired an unstoppable drive past the Milford keeper to make it three one Rashenney,
and only two minutes later a goal of the season contender sealed the game. Anthony Doherty won the ball at the half way line released the ball to John Grant and some nice one touch play involving four Rasheney players the ball was fed to Brendan Doherty who’s first touch was to chip the advancing full back and his second was to fire a cross towards the penalty spot where Charlie Doherty was flying through the air to bullet a header into the top corner.
The second half had just started when Rashenney went five one up, a goal mouth scramble and the ball was cleared by Milford but hit against John Grant to trickle into the net. Just minutes later Charlie Doherty completed his hat trick and Rashenneys sixth to seal the tie.With 15 minutes remaining Milford gained what turned out to be a mere consolation.
Strand Hotel First Division
Dunree United 4
Clonmany Res 3
The first half was an all action affair with the teams sharing six goals and play flowing from end to end. Thomas Doherty headed home a Sean Doherty corner in the second minute to fire Dunree in front. On 11 minutes Liam Baldrick fed the same player and he drilled low past Fergal Bradley to double their lead. But Clonmany got a goal back on the half hour when Jphn McDaid pounced on a loose ball inside the area before firing low past Philip Doherty. However the home side restored their two goal advantage when Evan Barry sidefooted home a William Doherty cross in the 41st minute. Clonmany turned the game on its head with two goals in as many minutes on the stroke of half time. Firstly Kevin Harkin unamarked rose to head home Michael Devlin’s free before the same player got on the end of a Devlin cross to head home the equaliser on the stroke of half time. The second half was a lot tighter affair with defences on top. Dunree regained the lead on 66 minutes after a Sean Doherty free was deflected to the roof of the net past Bradley. Clonmany almost salvaged a point on the stroke of full time when Devlin rounded keeper Doherty but a combination of Barry Nixon and John Doherty prevented him from forcing the ball over the line.
Moville Celtic 1
Sea Rovers 1
Although Rovers are in the bottom half of the table a lot of their defeats have been single goal ones and they are a tough side to beat.
In a bright opening Rovers Graham Morgan headed a Keelan Doherty’s cross wide before at the other end Michael McNaught controlled well but fired his shot into the ground and at Glen Watson. Watson done well then to palm away Doherty’s effort as far as Tony Boyce who crossed for McNaught but he headed wide. Moville opened the scoring on 23 minutes when Boyce scored with a superb lob over Watson from the angle of the eighteen yards area. McNaught was then denied by a brilliant save from Watson while at the other end Rovers Keelan Doherty ran onto a Mark Doherty ball over the top but saw his effort blocked by Matthew McLaughlin. The final chance of the half fell to the home side when another Conor Doherty long range effort was palmed away by Watson.After a quiet opening to the second period Rovers equalised on 62 minutes when Graham Morgan rose highest to head a Liam Gallagher cross to the net. Moville upped the tempo big time at this stage and substitute Kyle Harkin produced a delightful cross but there were no takers. Boyce then fired just wide before Harkin shot straight at Watson when well placed.They spurned a gilt edged chance on 88 minutes when they were awarded a hotly contested penalty but while Charlie Gill sent Watson the wrong way the ball rebounded off the angle of the post and bar before being cleared. Deep in injury time Watson earned his side a share of the spoils when he tipped a rasping effort from Doherty over the bar.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two
Rasheney Res 3
Aileach Youths 5
Aileach opened the scoring on 5 minutes after Dara Grant played a one two with Patrick Curran before Grant despite being tackled got enough on the ball to squeeze it home. Rasheney replied on 15 minutes when Ciaran Dillon worked hard to retrieve the ball and feed Jack McLaughlin on the right and his cross was met by Paddy McGilloway on the volley but it flew just wide. They got back on terms minutes later when the ball fell to Michael Toland eight yards and he hammered low to the net past Dylan Clarke. Aileach regained the lead midway through the half when Daibidh Grant fed Curran who cut inside and set up Dara Grant whose effort was blocked and Brendan Hegarty fired home from fourteen yards On the half hour Rasheney equalised when a Jack McLaughlin effort crashed off the post for Dillon who was upended and Toland converted low to Clarke’s left. But two goals in as many minutes the first after a scramble from a corner saw Curran turn the ball home and the second when a Curran effort was blocked by the legs of Sean Friel and rebounded off Shane McMonagle and into the net to leave the visitors in control at the break. On 54 minutes the visitors extended their lead after a Dara Grant free was powerfully headed home by Bredan Hegarty. But Rasheney reduced the deficit when Toland completed his hat trick after scoring direct from a corner. Then on 72 minutes Eamon Reidy for the home side ran onto a long ball and rounded the advancing Clarke at the edge of the area but from a tight angle fired over the bar with the goal gaping.
Carrowmena FC 2
Moville Res 2
In excellent conditions this was a close and hard fought local derby at the Warren and in the early exchanges Moville’s James Gillen had an effort well saved by Michael Noone before Graham Doherty fired a free kick just wide. Carrowmena responded and Ryan McDermott ran onto John Lynch’s pass but a heavy touch allowed Shaun McGuinness to collect and Oran McDermott fired narrowly wide. Samuel Bredin then had a free kick well saved by McGuinness before at the other end a Graham Doherty header was cleared off the line by Lynch.Carrowmena broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time Ryan McDermott tapped home after McGuinness failed to hold Andrew Mclaughlin’s free. Moville started the second period well and Graham Doherty had a header well saved by Noone before the visitors levelled on the hour mark. Noone failed to collect Colm Doherty’s corner and Graeme Doherty capitalised to force the loose ball home. On 71 minutes Joshua Gillen had a sweet left footed effort well saved by Noone. The home side then regained the lead when good work by Gerard Gill saw him thread a pass into Bredin and he rounded a defender before drilling low past McGuinness. Moville threw everything forward and when a free was headed out by the home defence Joshua Gillen returned the ball through a crowd of players and in off the post.
Redcastle Res 6
Carn Res 2
Redcastle started brightly with Mark Doherty forcing early corners from the Carn defence, but it was Carn who took the early lead when Tiernan Coyle collected an excellent through ball to beat the keeper from close range. Redcastle pushed hard and got a quick response when Antonio Rea played in Doherty who rounded the Carn keeper and slotted neatly home. Redcastle took the lead just before half time when good work down the right between Kyle and Shay Davenport resulted in the ball being squared for Cathal Crumlish to slot home from six yards. Redcastle were quickest out of the blocks after half time and from a Paul Mc Gowan corner Gary Kelly rose to head home to make it three one.Carn then had their best spell and rallied to pull a goal back when Kade Cooke poked the ball home in a crowded box. Redcastle replied immediately when a quick break saw Joe McCauley thread a perfect pass for Doherty to run onto and score his second. Darron Harkin then saw his long range effort tipped onto the bar and from the resulting Antonio Rea corner Terry Mc Colgan headed home to put the game beyond Carn. Redcastle completed the scoring when from another corner Mc Colgan scored his second to leave it six two to the home team.