Match Reports Sunday 3rd April
Inishowen Football League Fixtures 2021-22
Sunday 3rd April
Ulster Junior Cup Semi Final
Buncrana Hearts 3
Glengad United 1
After an even opening to this game the home side took the lead in stunning fashion on 21 minutes when Kieran McDaid fired a brilliant free kick to the top corner from twenty five yards on the left past Daniel Mullarkey.
They increased their lead on the half hour after Ryan Doherty scored a retaken penalty awarded when Bart Wesolowski was fouled inside the area. But Glengad got back into the match before the interval when after the home defence failed to clear Brandon Browne volleyed superbly past Rory Kelly from twelve yards. Glengad then had the first opportunity of the second half when John G McLaughlin got on the end of a James McKinney free but Kelly made a good save. Buncrana hit back and made it three one on the hour with James Adair capitalising on defensive hesitancy to control and fire low across Mullarkey and in off the far post. Glengad poured forward after this and Kelly made a brilliant save to tip over JG McLaughlins header from a Stephen McLaughlin free kick. Then McKinney fired over the bar before their final chance came after John G McLaughlins header fell to McKinney but he failed to hit the target from eight yards. Buncrana advance to their first Ulster Cup final next month against the winners of Aileach and Kildrum.
Buncrana Hearts
Glengad United
Jackie Crossan Premier Division 
Aileach FC 2
Illies Celtic 0
Illies started the better and after 15 minutes a free kick caused confusion in the Aileach defence and the ball rebounded off a post into the grateful arms of Darragh McLaughlin. Midway through the half Liam Grant made progress down the right side and his deep cross was volleyed goalwards by Dominic Doherty but went agonisingly wide of McLaughlins left hand post with the keeper rooted to the spot. Aileach were finding it difficult against the young well organised Illies side but were guilty of being caught offside in numerous occasions. The home side did carve out a decent chance as half time approached when Darren Mc Monagle teed up Gavin Doherty but his effort from the edge of the box was well parried by Graham Doherty in the away goal before a defender completed the clearance. Aileach were a different animal in the second half. They forced Illies onto the back foot for long periods and finally got the breakthrough on 60 minutes when Killian O’Rourke pinged a super cross field ball for Darren McMonagle to race clear and round Doherty before finishing to an empty net. On 75 minutes Aileach spurned two great chances to extend their lead when firstly Ethan Canning crossed from the left for Caolan Doherty but his volley flew over from six yards out. Seconds later Caoimghin McFeeley clipped the bar from 15 yards. On 80 minutes they finally got their second when Gavin Doherty played a through ball for Dermot Doherty who squared for Aaron Nash to finish from close range. As full time approached Caolan Doherty was unlucky to see a fine left foot effort from the edge of the box come off the inside of the post and go wide on the opposite side.
Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O Gara Cup ¼ Finals Culdaff FC 2
Rasheney FC 0
Following their promotion victory in the play off last week Culdaff advanced to the cup semi finals with a hard fought but deserved victory over a gallant Rasheney side. With the wind they began well and when Aiden Cunningham slipped a ball through to Bryan McCandless but Damien Friel advanced to block and recovered to gather Ben Curleys follow up. Rasheney responded on 27 minutes with Cormac Dillon breaking into the right hand side of the area and seeing his snapshot well blocked by Martin McLaughlin in the home goal. Culdaff regained the initiative and JJ Doherty unleashed a superb strike from thirty yards which went just past the angle. Then on the stroke of half time a good three man move ended with Jack O Brien flicking the ball past Friel but Shane Gordon headed clear. Against the wind the home side dominated the second half and after McCandless burst into the area the ball fell for Keith Norris whose effort was deflected over the bar. They took the lead with a stunning strike from Thomas O Brien into the wind from twenty five yards over Friel to the roof of the net on 53 minutes. They continued to dominate and JJ Doherty with a header, Cunningham with a curling effort after a good run and McCandless with a powerful strike all saw their efforts crash back off the crossbar. They sealed the tie on 73 minutes when after a long ball forward deceived Friel in the wind and bounced over him O’Brien headed home from a tight angle to see Culdaff advance to the semi finals next week away to Clonmany Res.
Strand Hotel First Division
Clonmany Res 1
Dunree United 2
Clonmany began this game well with Marty Doherty having an effort well saved by Adam Harrigan in the visitors goal. They broke the deadlock in the 9th minute after Joe Doherty converted a penalty low to the keepers right after David McGonigle had been upended. Dunree grew well into the game and Gerry Farrell saw a free kick well tipped over by Harrigan. They equalised also from the penalty spot minutes before the break when Jamie Brosnan squeezed the ball past Friel after Farrell had been upended. Dunree began the second period well and after Thomas Mulhern collected a crossfield pass his low shot was deflected away by the legs of Friel. They did take the lead on 59 minutes when Mulhenr released Liam Baldrick whose effort was well parried by Friel but Mulhern was first to react to fire to the roof of the net. After this the home side had plenty of possession and pressure but failed to trouble the Dunree keeper and Dunree saw the game out relatively comfortably.
Greencastle Youth 1
Redcastle United 3
After an even opening to this encounter at Chapel Lane the home side took the lead in the 15th minute when Daniel Rowans long ball found Matthew Harrison who controlled well inside the area before drilling low past Michael McCole. But the visitors regrouped and equalised midway through the half after a Shaun Curran free from inside his own half sent Joe McCauley clear of the home defence and he slotted past Paul Doherty. Before the break another Curran free over the home defence saw Cathal Crumlish race clear to finish well past Doherty. Greencastle began the second period well and dangerous crosses from Rowan and Evan Davenport after a mazy run were both cleared by McCauley. Greencastle substitute Ben Doherty then laid the ball off to Joshua Lafferty whose dipping twenty five yards effort was well tipped over by McCole. From the home sides corner kick Redcastle broke quickly on 73 minutes and Darren Harkin cut in from the right to drill low past Doherty and make it three one . Harkin then fired into the side netting when well placed before at the other end a Lafferty free was punched clear by McCole who also made a good save to deny Nathan Harkin. Greencastle had a chance to exert late pressure when they were awarded a penalty for handball on 83 minutes but McCole was equal to Ben Dohertys effort to make a good save.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A 
Carn Res 3
Carrowmena FC 5
Carrowmena broke the deadlock in the fifth minute when a Ronan Doherty cross from the right came off the defender and went into the net from outside the six yard box . But Carn equalized eleven minutes later after Denim
McLaughlin fired a free kick from twenty yards on the over the wall and past Mickey Noone. Carn then had a great chance to go ahead on the half hour when Conan Gibbons went on a great run and laid it off for Conor Mc McLaughlin whose shot from 15 yards came off the post with Gibbons firing the rebound wide. Carn did take the lead then when Denim McLaughlin broke on the right and crossed over for Conor Mc Laughlin who fired a low shot past Noone to the bottom right corner of the net from 8 yards. But their lead was to be short lived as on 38 minutes Ronan Doherty was upended in the box and he converted the resulting penalty. Once again Carn regained the lead before the break when a Girts Dzerins pass from midfield came off the defender and the rebound found Kyran Cantwell who sidestepped a defender and drilled low past Noone. The visitors started the second half well and made it three all in the 53rd minute with Shane Skelly breaking on the right wing and crossed it for Ronan Doherty who shot high over the head of the defender past Daniel McDaid into the right corner of the net from 22 yards. They went ahead on 63 minutes with a Sean Diver pass from midfield to Ronan Doherty who went on a great run beating the defender and shot low past McDaid from outside the 18 yard box to complete his hat trick. It became five three on 66 minutes after a Gerard Gill pass from midfield found Ronan Doherty who went one on one with McDaid and rounded him and slotted to the bottom of the net from fourth yards to get his fourth goal. Carn tried to respond when substitute Liam McWeeney broke on the right wing and rounded the defender and laid it off for Cantwell who fired over the bar from twenty yards.
Illies Res 2
Sea Rovers 0
Illies kept their title hopes alive with this hard fought win over Rovers who had a great chance in the opening minutes but Conor McGeoghaghan fired into the side netting when well placed. In a quick counter attack by the home side Gavin Doherty crossed to Shane Devlin who poked his effort straight at Ben Collins. Illies then opened the scoring on 22 minutes after Conor Doherty turned well on the edge of the area and fired to the roof of the net giving Collins no chance. The visitors had a lot of pressure on the home goal for the remainder of the half but failed to trouble Graham Doherty in the Illies goal. The home side dominated the second half and J Pio Donaghey and Gavin Doherty were both off target with decent efforts. They ncreased their lead on 72 minutes with a superb strike from Donaghey to the bottom corner from the edge of the area. The final chance also fell to the home side but Devlin saw his effort crash off the bar.
Cockhill Res 3
Buncrana Res 0
Cockhill took the lead inside the first few minutes with some early pressure forcing a corner and Jay Bradley timed his run perfectly to meet Mark Gillespie’s delivery and head Cockhill in front. Both sides enjoyed some possession after the early opener without testing either keeper. Buncrana almost equalised just before half time when Christy McKinley broke free but his effort was well saved by Shaun Friel to keep Cockhill in front at the break.
Cockhill almost made it two midway through the second half with Luke Bradley rising highest to head a Dylan McDaid cross off the crossbar. At one nil Buncrana were well in this match but some late pressure from Cockhill earned the win when good pressing by Dylan McDaid and Paul Duffy created a chance for Luke Bradley who made no mistake from six yards slotting it low past Oran McBride on 85 minutes.Minutes later Cockhill made it three in similar circumstances as they pressed Buncrana in possession and Luke Bradley was on hand to pick up the loose ball and fire it low past McBride to secure the points for the home side.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two B 
Clonmany Youth 5
Culdaff Res 0
Played on Friday night in Culdaff , Clonmany were on top early on and took the lead in the 24th minute when Aaron Porter broke from half-way and despite Culdaff keeper Patrick McLaughlin saving his shot ,Porter was alert to the spilled ball and tucked the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Clonmany doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Tom Comiskeys diagonal ball from the right wing found Aaron Porter’s run into the box and he shot past Patrick McLaughlin into the bottom right hand corner of the net. Culdaff started the second half strongly and pressed Clonmany back into their own box and were unlucky to see Darragh McCormick’s shot come back off the foot of a goalpost but the Clonmany defence scrambled the ball to safety. After surviving that scare Clonmany regained their control and scored their third goal in the 66th minute when second half subs Aaron Harkin and Callum Doherty played a one -two on the edge of the box and Harkin broke into the box and although Culdaff defender Stephen Callaghan blocked his initial shot Harkin won the loose ball and finished to an unguarded net. Clonmany added their fourth goal in the 79th minute after Aaron Porter’s cross from the left was headed goalwards by sub Liam McGonigle and Caolan Farrell was at the right hand post to apply the finishing touch past Patrick McLaughlin. Clonmany wrapped up the scoring in the the final minute when Callum Doherty timed his run to meet Aaron Harkin’s cross from the left to sweep the ball to the net at the back post to leave Clonmany convincing winners.
Rasheney Res 0
Moville Res 2
Moville started this game well with Mark Grimley firing just over the bar with a good effort on the run. They opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Michael McCarrons cross from the right found brother Ronan who fired first time to the roof of the net from the edge of the area. Rasheney responded and Conor O’Neill saw a hooked effort from a tight angle drift just past the post. Before the break they went close again when after a scramble from a Ryan Doherty corner the ball was cleared off the line by Moville s Andrew Doherty with the home side appealing it had crossed the line. Moville had the first chance of the second period as well when Michael McCarron bore down on goal but Roger McGilloway advanced to block . At the other end Mark Diver advanced from midfield but saw his low effort turned round the post by Stephen Teles. From the resultant corner Jake O Donnell failed to direct his header on target. An error in the home defence on 69 minutes allowed Conor Lafferty to lob McGilloway from the edge of the area and make it two nil. The game fizzled out then and the last action saw a Michael McCarron cross just elude the inrushing substitute Andrew Burke.