Match Reports Sunday 2nd March

Inishowen Football League Reports

Jackie Crossan Premier Division

Cockhill Celtic 5

Illies Celtic 1

Cockhill started on the front foot at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds and opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Jack Doherty’s free kick found Odhran O’Brien Daly whose goalward header hit the post but Jay Bradley reacted first to fire last Johnny Noone. Conor Graham went close minutes later after good interplay between Doherty and Bradley but dragged his shot wide from just inside the box. 

The home side doubled their lead on 11 minutes after a  teasing cross from the left from Graham was recycled by Corey McBride and his cross was met by a powerful header to the net from Bradley. Midway through the half  Lee McColgan converted from the penalty spot after Bradley was fouled just inside the box after a driving run. Bradley completed his hat-trick on  with a low strike to the bottom corner from inside the D after a flowing team move. 

Illies kept plugging away and pulled a goal back just before half time when a free kick from deep wasn’t dealt with by the Cockhill defence and Jamie McDaid stole in to deftly finish past Harry Doherty.  Cockhill started the second half in a similar vein to the first and got their fifth goal in the 47th minute when James Bradley’s run and cross from the right was poked in at the near post by Conor Graham.Cockhill had further chances to extend their lead but Jack Doherty’s shot was deflected onto the post and Luke Rudden’s flick header from a Fionn McClure corner was cleared of the line. The last effort on goal came from Illies’ Dominick Coyle. With Cockhill appealing for a penalty after McBride was impeded, the clearance found Coyle but his shot on the turn was saved by Doherty. 

 

Redcastle United 0

Buncrana Hearts 3

The visitors had the first opportunity when Nathan Harkin found Eoin Murphy but his half volley drew a fine save from Seamus Houghton. The home side responded with Stephen Grants cross finding Darragh McConway whose first time effort flashed over the bar.  Play swung to the other end when Gavin Harkin released Liam Jordan but his dangerous cross was superbly cut out by Houghton.  Buncrana pressed again and Nathan Harkin saw his downward header again well saved by Houghton as the half ended scoreless. Redcastle were first to show on the restart in the 55th minute when Shaun Currans free kick found Darren Kelly who turned well but shot just wide. The visitors broke the deadlock two minutes after this when Nathan Harkin crossed from the right for Eoin Murphy to head past Houghton from ten yards. Midway through the half a Keelan Doherty free found Jordan who headed over the bar when well placed. Redcastle went close in the 85th minute after a Stephen Grant cross found Mark Farren but he fired just wide. Two minutes later and the Hearts sealed a hard fought win after Calvin Gallagher received a free kick and unleashed a superb twenty yards effort to the top corner. The visitors put a gloss on the scoreline in the final minute when Jordan broke clear on the left and his cross was sidefooted home by Matthew Brown.

 

Culdaff FC 2

Greencastle FC 0

The home side dominated the opening half and created the first opportunity when a dangerous free kick from Aiden Cunningham fell to Sonny Bonner but his volley was deflected wide. From the resultant corner delivered by Cunningham the ball was headed home by Bonner from eight yards to open the scoring.  Culdaff continued to press and only a last ditch tackle from Shaun Cavanagh denied Michael Coyle at the back post from a Thomas O’Brien cross. The home side made it two nil on 27 minutes after Bily Humes superb cross is slotted home from close range by Jack Curley. Caelan McGrory in the Greencastle goal then saved well to claim Ben Curleys long range effort under the bar.  Before the break good combination play between Bonner and Hume sees the latter set up Cunningham who sidefooted wide from six yards. Greencastle created their first chance on 54 minutes after a long throw in was controlled by Cavanagh who turned and fired into the side netting. Culdaff replied  and Curley and Coyle both went close with  good opportunities.The game exploded with three red cards in the 67th minute. The visitors Shay Doherty was red carded for  a tackle and both Bonner and Cunningham received their marching orders for retaliation. The game petered out after this but Keith Norris was denied by a brilliant save from McGrory in the final minutes.

Culdaff

 

Greencastle

Carn FC 1

Clonmany Shamrocks 2

Clonmnay began the game well and dominated the opening half against an out of sorts home side. They took the lead on 13 minutes after Aaron Porter collected a long diagonal ball and advanced into the area where he was upended. Porter picked himself up and drilled the ball low past Daniel McDaid in the home goal. The visitors added a second goal on 37 minutes when the home defence failed to deal with a long ball allowing Terence Doherty to race clear and square the ball for Conor Doherty to slot home. While Carn improved after the break it was Clonmany who threatened. Terence  Doherty had two opportunities but on both occasions failed to hit the target. Carn got back into the game on 73 minutes when Shay McDaid fed Mark Doherty and when his dangerous cross was parried the ball fell to Cian Burke to slot home from close range. The home side huffed and puffed without really threatening an equaliser and Clonmany saw the game out to claim the points.

 

HML Plant Hire Division One 

QPS 7

Aileach Res 1

In an explosive opening to the game there was three goals in the first ten minutes. Shea Lynch opened the scoring for the home side when he broke clear and dinked the ball over keeper Dylan Porter. At the other end the visitors levelled after Kevin Boyle pounced from close range to drill the ball home. But the Point responded minutes later and after great work from Lynch his low cross was slotted home by Cillian McEleney. The visitors suffered a blow on 37 minutes when Oran Hillen collected a second yellow card and was dismissed. The homeside took full advantage before the break and added a third goal  after good work from McEleney found Josh Boyle who turned on the edge of the area and drilled low past Porter. After a quiet start to the second half the Point increased their lead when a Denim McLaughlin cross was headed home by Darragh McIntyre. McIntyre added his second and his sides fifth then when he pounced on a loose ball inside the area to drill home. Late goals from Conor Barrow and Mclaughlin completed the scoring.

 

Gleneely Colts 0

Buncrana Res 0

Gleneely had the first chance on 10minutes when good work from Kyran Cantwell down the left saw him advance  into the box and shot across the goal for it to go just wide with no one following up.  Cantwell had another chance  when he shot from 15yards but was saved by the Buncrana keeper Eoghan O Doherty. Paul Doherty then  had a shot that just went over the bar but Buncrana came more into the game and Eoin McNamee had a chance when his shot from just inside the area went wide. The same player  had another chance on the half hour when his header from ten yards was saved by Ciaran Gallagher. McNamee had a third chance on the stroke of half time when he headed over when well placed following a corner. Buncrana came out of the traps for the second half quicker and Jack Soals shot from the edge of the area  was brilliantly pushed past the post by Gallagher. The home side responded  and were unlucky to see a  Cantwell shot  cleared off the line by a defender and out for a corner. A minute later, Mark McGonigles shot from  twenty yards narrowly went just over the bar. Gleneely thought they opened the scoring but Shane Divers turn, run into the box and his left footed effort just rolled the wrong side of the right hand post. Gleneely pressed but the final ball just eluded them and Buncrana were always dangerous on the break.

Gleneely Colts

Buncrana Reserves

 

 

Moville Celtic 3

Glengad United 1

Moville recorded a crucial win in their bid to avoid relegation and came from behind to claim the points. They got off to the worst possible start when a mix up allowed Stephen Doherty to fire past Stephen Teles in the 5th minute. Moville responded positively with Michael McNaught firing one effort wide before being denied by a superb Michael McLaughlin save. They did equalise on 25 minutes after Conor Lafferty released McNaught who squared for Luke McFadden to slot home. Ten minutes later the home side took the lead after McNaught converted a superb cross from Deaglan Lynch at the back post. Lafferty had the final chance of the half but again McLaughlin saved superbly. Glengad started on the front foot after the break forcing the home side back but the Moville defence stood firm. At the other end Lafferty saw an attempted lob drop over the bar before the same player had another shot saved by Mclaughlin. They sealed the points late on after McNaught pounced on hesitancy in the visitors defence to drill to the top corner from twelve yards.

 

Dunree United 3

Carn Youths 0

The home side began well and when Paddy Doherty got in behind the home defence his ball across was cut out by a defender. Doherty then had another chance when he advanced from midfield but fired wide. Dunree made the break through on 26 minutes after Adam Barrett played Jamie Brosnan through and he finished across the keeper Kyle Harkin to the far corner. Cian Moran then went close for Dunree but his attempted lob drifted just wide. Dunree upped the tempo on the restart and doubled their lead after Brosnan played the ball to Doherty who laid it off for Aaron Harkin to slot home.  Carn replied and when Mark Scott cut the ball back to   Olly Coyle  he was denied by a superb save from Adam Harrigan. Dunree then made it three nil  after Doherty chased down a long ball and finished well past Harkin. Dunree saw the remainder of the game out to claim the points.

 

Donegal Signs Challenge Cup

Aileach FC 9

Rashenny FC 0

Aileach had most of the possession in the early part of this game but stout defence from the visitors meant nothing clear cut was created. The pressure finally told on 20 minutes when Caomhain McFeeley crossed for Reece McGilloway who beat his man before firing past Sam Coyle from six yards. Number two came along when full back Ryan Long overlapped down the right and was on hand to volley home from a tight angle past Coyle The home side added two more before half time the first was an unfortunate own goal and the second a Caoimhin McFeeley shot from a tight angle which just crept inside Coyle’s left hand post. The second half was barely five minutes old when Darren McMonagle turned the ball home from close range after a Dermot Doherty shot came back of a post .Darren Bradley made it six when he capitalised on a defensive error and finished from close range . A visibly tiring Rasheney side conceded three more before the end through Ryan Long, Darren McMonagle and Aaron Doherty. They were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when substitute David McLaughlin shot from the right side of the box which beat Conan Doherty but Michael McElroy was on hand to clear off the line.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two A

Sea Rovers 5

Illies Res 2

In this top of the table clash defences were on top until Rovers that broke the deadlock on 35 minutes after a ball in from Mathew Mooney  found Conor McGeoghaghan to fire low to the corner from fifteen yards. The home side doubled their lead a few minutes later when  a high ball over the Illies defence was well chased down by Mathew Mooney who lobbed the Illies keeper  Conor Doherty  . Illies replied and  were unlucky when Connor Dohertys shot from outside the box went just wide of the post. A more composed Illies started the second half and a fine strike by Illies Jock Mc Daid put the ball beyond the reach of Rovers keeper Mark Mc Laughlin to bring the Ilies back into it . A good spell of possession by Rovers saw Connor Mc Geoghan put Mathew Mooney through to extend the home sides lead . Minutes later the illies Conor Doherty was unlucky as his long range effort went just over the bar. On The half hour mark Mathew Mooney got his hatrick to leave the home side  four one ahead . Illies however were far from giving up and were rewarded for there efforts when Nathan Mc Laughlin beat the defence to slot home and reduce the deficit.. A lack in concentration from the Illies defence allowed Rovers Mathew Mooney through to get his fourth and Rovers fifth of the game  and leave them needing a point to clinch the league title and promotion.

Sea Rovers

 

Aileach Youths 0

Cockhill RES 1

In a close hard fought encounter there were few clear chances throughout the game. Niall Breslin had an early chance for the visitors but fired over the bar. At the other end Daithi Grant played the ball through to Yanga Molodo but he shot straight at Eoin Colhoun. Before the break Cockhill struck for the decisive goal when after a quickly taken free kick caught the home defence out Breslin lobbed the ball over Owen Callaghan to fire his side ahead. On the hour mark Grant found space to unleash an effort but it failed to trouble Colhoun. Cockhill replied on 76 minutes with substitute Conor McDaid  shooting over the bar when well placed. Aileach pressed to try and salvage a point and had a late chance when Michael McClay turned well but shot at Colhoun from the edge of the area.

 

Clonmany Res 5

Redcastle Res 4

In an action packed opening forty five minutes Redcastle  opened the scoring from the kick off after Keelan henry crossed to the unmarked Gary Kelly who headed in off the post past Torin Harkin.  Clonmany equalised on 16 minutes after Ben Gill advanced on the right and his cross was headed over Michael McCole for Pearse McCarron to apply the finishing touch from point blank range. The home side then took the lead five minutes later when McGonigle played the ball into the area to Tyler McEleney who turned his man and fired to the top corner from fourteen yards. But the visitors levelled on the half hour mark after Jason Lynch saw a shot blocked and fall kindly for Kelly to hammer to the top left hand corner from eight yards. Kelly then completed his hat trick to regain the lead for the visitors when he latched onto a ball over the top and advanced to slide the ball past the advancing Harkin. The action ended on the stroke of half time with Clonmany grabbing an equaliser when McGonigles effort was parried by McCole and McEleney was on hand to slot the loose ball home.  McCole in the Redcastle goal then parried an effort from cGoniugle after the restart and made a tremendous double save to deny both Gill and McCarron.  The home side regained the lead on 57 minutes when a Marty Doherty free floated into the area came off a defender and past McCole who had no chance. Redcastle replied with Kelly seeing a good effort from the edge of the area palmed away by Harkin. The visitors made it four all on 87 minutes when Kelly played a ball through from a deep position for Henry to run onto and fire low past Harkin to the far corner. But within a minute the home side grabbed a winner after Gill was upended in the area allowing McCarron to drill to the bottom right hand corner from the spot.

Clonmany Reserves

Redcastle Reserves

 

Carrowmena FC 2

Cockhill COLTS 0

In good conditions at the Warren the visitors started well but the home side had the first opportunity after a Ronan Doherty corner was headed over at the back post by Cathal Crumlish. Minutes later Chair McElhinney weaved his way through a few tackles and unleashed an effort from twenty yards which Graham Doherty in the Colts goal parried for  Doherty whose follow up  was turned around the post by Doherty. Cockhills first opportunity came on 18 minutes after Niall Gordon fed Kieran McGrory whose angled shot was off target. They pressed again and in a packed area Gordons effort was deflected wide. Midway through the half the home side broke the deadlock with McElhinney unleashing a powerful effort which was parried by Doherty but Crumlish laid the ball back to Doherty to drill low to the net from fifteen yards. Just before the break the visitors spurned a gilt edged chance after Gary Breslin was upended in the area but McKinney blazed the spot kick over the bar. Cockhill had the first chance of the second half with Gordon ‘s snapshot cleared off the line by Lynch. Midway through the half a Gavin Doherty cross field ball found Gordon whose effort clipped the top of the crossbar. Cockhill were on top and Dohertys free into the area found Alan Fletcher whose effort was saved by Ciaran Bonner. Carrowmena then broke forward with Rhys Davenports long ball finding Ronan Doherty  who advanced into the area and slipped the ball low past the advancing keeper. Cockhill kept going but failed to breach the home defence.

 

Inishowen Engineering Division Two B

Culdaff Res 0

Dunree Res 2

Dunree reignited their title hopes while at the same time inflicting a crucial blow to the home sides aspirations in excellent conditions on Saturday evening.In the early exchanges Patrick Doherty for the visitors and Gary Smyth for the home wide were both off target with efforts from distance. Dunree created the first real opening of the game on 27 minutes after a superb Bryce Fullerton pass found Doherty  on the edge of the area but he fired over the bar. The home side responded with a searching diagonal ball from Jack Curley to Ruairi McLaughlin whose left footed strike from twenty yards whizzed past the post.  Dunree hit back and Jason Spence had an effort saved at the near post by Patrick McLaughlin in the home goal. The final chance of the half fell to the home side with Smyth flicking the ball on to Eugene McLaughlin in acres of space but he blasted over the bar when well placed as the half ended scoreless.Culdaff began the second half on the front foot  enjoying good spells of possession but they found the Dunree defence with Ryan Bradley in commanding form giving little away. On 73 minutes Dunree broke the deadlock after Doherty worked his way through the home defence before finishing low to the bottom corner from sixteen yards.Dunree then sealed the points on 83 minutes after the home defence failed to deal with an inswinging corner allowing Oisin McGettigan to slot home from close range .

 

QPS Youth 3

Rashenny RES 0

Reversed to Rashenny QPS took the lead midway through the half after a Jason McCallion long diagonal cross was parried by Roger McGilloway allowing Sean Og Gallagher to capitalise and slot home. Rashenny responded  with Liam Grant and Ronan McConalogue had efforts from distance well gathered  by Cain Breslin. The point had another chance after  Simon Wallace crossed for Gallagher whose first time effort was saved by McGilloway. The Point added a second goal on 40 minutes after the ball broke to Marc Wallace inside the area and he drilled home. Wallace then crossed to Ronan Mailey  who stabbed the ball wide at the back post. The first action of the second half came on 65 minutes when Simon Wallace had an effort from twenty two yards crash off the post.  Both Gallagher and substitute Lee Rutherford then took good saves from McGilloway. Rashenny replied with Nathan Dohertys shot deflecting off a defender and looping up in the air before  Breslin claimed under the bar. The visitors then had a long range Marc Wallace effort saved before Kevin Wallace headed over he bar. They sealed the points with substitute Thomas McConalogue converting a penalty after he had been upended.

 

Moville Res 1

Rashenny Youths 4

In the early exchanges  Moville had a couple of chances with Jay Gillen denied by a smothering save from Sam  Coyle  before Colin Doherty ran onto a ball over the top but fired over. At the other end Gareth McKeever had two efforts saved by Vernon Kelly. McKeever then had a third effort parried  by Kelly and saw his follow up cleared off the line by Aidan Moore. Rashenny then opened the scoring on 26 minutes when the unmarked Shea Grant slotted home at the back post following a corner. Grant doubled their lead ten minutes later after McKeever had laid the ball off to him inside the area. Moville rallied with Jay Gillen slipping the ball past the advancing Coyle but saw his effort cleared off the line by a defender. They got a goal back on the stroke of half time when Doherty latched onto a long clearance to lift the ball over the advancing Coyle from the edge of the area. Rashenny dominated the midfield after the break but there were few chances at either end. On 66 minutes the visitors increased their lead with Grant racing clear of the home defence before slotting low past Kelly. Eleven minutes later Grant added his and his sides fourth goal capitalising on hesitancy in the home defence to slot home. Moville had a late chance but Harry Conaghan saw an effort saved by Coyle.