Match Reports Sunday 8th April
Sunday 8th April 2018
Oscar Traynor Inter League ¼ Final
Kilkenny League 3
Inishowen League 0
Played on a difficult tight astro pitch in Evergreen FC in Kilkenny Inishowen really failed to get into their rhythm not helped by some erratic refereeing and offside decisions.
That said Inshowen got off to a dreadful start when a defensive error presented Eddie Nugent with the simplest of tasks after 6 minutes to give the home side the lead. Inishowen probed and probed but really failed to get a clear chance in the first half despite some dangerous surging runs from Matthew Henry, Kieran McDaid and Brendan McLaughlin. The home side had one late chance in the half when a long ball over the top found Nugent and he failed to find a team mate and the danger was cleared. Inishowen got off to an equally dreadful start to the second half on 48 minutes after Emmet Nugent latched onto a ball over the top and calmly slotted past Dillon Doherty. Doherty then kept Inishowen in the game when Dean Broaders raced clear but the keeper made a brilliant save at his feet. Inishowen finally got a bit of rhythm into their attack and substitute Nigel McMonagle, Henry and Mc Daid all had efforts from outside the area well saved by Eoin Wall before Thomas McMonagle headed a deep corner into the side netting. Another substitute Conor Barrow played a brilliant ball into McMonagle but his effort was deflected wide. Inishowen had other opportunities after some slick build up play but both McDaid and Henry had opportunities to shoot but elected to try and play through the packed defence and the home side scrambled clear on both occasions. It was no surprise when Inishowen were caught on the break on 88 minutes with substitute Ger Hayes crossing for Paddy Cahill to slot home with the Inishowen defence appealing for offside but unsurprisingly their claims fell on deaf ears.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Illies Celtic 0
Carn FC 0
In the battle to avoid the relegation playoff position the visitors were hoping to complete their league campaign with a win that would give them some hope – with Illies having 4 games in hand over them. However they had to settle for a point. Carn started on the front foot for the first half hour but they found it hard to create any clearcut chances. In the latter part of the half the home side came more into it and the game became somewhat of a dour midfield battle. The best chance of the half fell to Carn just prior to the break when Jonathan Noone made an excellent save from Cade Cooke. Chances were again at a premium in the second half with Illies coming closest after 85 mins. Adrain Donaghey Doherty broke clear on the left and pulled the ball back for Dominick Coyle whose effort was cleared off the line by a Carn defender. Illies claims for a late penalty were waved away as the game finished all square.
Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O’Gara Cup ¼ Finals
Aileach Res 1
Rasheney FC 3
In somewhat of an upset the visitors prevailed and deservedly advanced to the semi-finals. They hit the front in the opening minutes when a Matthew Mc Laughlin cross found the net courtesy of the outstretched leg of an unfortunate home defender. Aileach’s Stephen O’ Donnell was out of luck when his effort was just wide of the post while at the other end from inside the box David Mc Laughlin brought a great save from Ciaran Bradley. After that it wasn’t until the hour mark that either goal was seriously threatened. Conor Gallagher tried his luck from the edge of the area but was off target but on 63 mins Gallagher’s delivery into the danger area saw Ciaran Mc Grory head home past Sean Friel for an equaliser. The home side had the chance to move in front but a cross from Ruairi Bradley was headed wide by Kevin Wallace when well placed. Rasheney moved back into the lead after 70 mins when David Mc Laughlin connected sweetly with a neat Declan Mc Laughlin delivery to make it 2 – 1 and they added a third when a ball into the area was headed by Damien Barr out as far as Matthew Mc Laughlin and he first timed it into the net. The visitors kept pressing but were denied further scores by the excellent Bradley.
Glengad Res 3
Cockhill Youths 2
The home side opened brightly with Gary Kelly shooting over at the back post following a Paul Mc Gonigle corner and P.J. Mc Daid finding the side net after getting on the end of a John Gerard Mc Dermott pass. They moved in front after 13 mins when an over the top delivery from Mc Dermott found Kelly on the wing and his cross was headed down by Mc Daid to Mc Gonigle who shot to the bottom corner. Cockhill then created some openings of their own with Eoin Deery shooting just past the upright and a Ronan Mc Laughlin free just off target. Glengad doubled their advantage after half an hour. A through ball from Brian Doherty found Kelly and his strength allowed him to hold off a defender, round the keeper and slot home. The visitors almost pulled a goad back before the interval when the ball was delivered into the back post where Christy Duffy headed goalwards only for Mc Dermott to clear off the line. Glengad moved into a 3 – 0 lead early in the second half when the keeper failed to hold onto a Cathal Doherty delivery – with the ball falling to Mc Dermott and he set up Mc Daid to score from close to the goal line. Cockhill upped the tempo and got back into the game when a through ball found Kevin Mc Daid and he calmly slotted home past Michael Mc Laughlin. They claimed a second via a penalty dispatched to the bottom corner by Sean Donaghey and although they continued to press they could not find an equaliser to force the game to extra time.
Sea Rovers 2
Buncrana Res 3 (aet)
This game started at a very fast pace but it was fair to say Rovers started the strongest with the best chance falling to Damien Ward. He got on the end of a Graham Morgan cross forcing the Buncrana keeper Ryan O’ Sullivan into a fine save. After 28 minutes a long ball from Ward into the box found Morgan whose close range effort came back off the post before it was cleared to safety. Buncrana started coming into the game and they moved into the lead when a cross from Paul Mc Daid found Alan Friel and he headed low past Rovers keeper Glen Watson. The second half started as the first ended but it wasn’t until the 57th min when Buncrana’s Kevin mc Colgan crossed in to find Friel in the box and he headed home and make it 2 – 0 to the visitors. Rovers weren’t taking this lying down and kept on the pressure and got one back when a Rovers corner taken by William Logan travelled all the way to the back of the net. The home side was dealt a blow when their captain Ward had to come off with an injury and with no subs left to replace him the home side found themselves down to ten men. However the team pulled together and their efforts were rewarded when they equalised in the 72nd min after a Gary Doherty cross reached Keelan Doherty who took control well and finished to the net. The game went to extra time and Rovers were forced to defend on numerous occasions but with a solid performance from Martin Lafferty and William Logan to keep them in the game. Buncrana’s John Timlin came close a few times but couldn’t find the back of the net. The game looked to be heading for penalties when with virtually the last kick of the ball Adam Doherty shot low past Watson to make it 3 – 2 to the visitors. This was a cruel blow to the home side who fought so hard throughout the whole game and credit must be given to some of the younger players who stepped up this year,Evan mc Laughlin, Mark Doherty and Connor Gallagher.
Redcastle United 0
Dunree United 2
In a very close first half Redcastle had the majority of the game but couldn’t put the ball past Philip Doherty who pulled off four big saves from a number of home attackers including Aaron Nash and Brendan Murphy during the match to keep the game scoreless. Minutes after the interval Dunree attacked down the left wing with Philip McGuinness crossing for Thomas Doherty to head past Mc Cole to make it 0 – 1. Redcastle had an opportunity to draw level in the 75th minute when they attacked down the right wing where Jack Mc Conologue took the ball past Dunree defenders and crossed the ball for Brendan Murphy whose shot brought a brilliant save from Doherty. In the 85th minute Dunree attacked down the left wing. Daryl Moran cut inside and crossed the ball for Daniel Mc Laughlin to double his side’s advantage and book a place in the semi-finals.
Inishowen Engineering Division 2 A
Redcastle Res 6
Culdaff Res 3
Played in great conditions there were lots of goal mouth action . Redcastle were quick out of the blocks when a free from Gerard Mc Laughlin found Terry MC Colgan at the back post to head home. The home team went further ahead after Rory Hirrell nicked the ball of the Culdaff centre half to slot home under the keeper. Redcastle made it three nil when Alan Clarke pulled a great ball back from the by line for Cathal Crumlish to tap home at the back post. Clarke then got on the score sheet when he headed home a Terry McColgan cross at the back post. Culdaff pulled one back just before half time when Ben Curley was pulled down in the box and Matthew Mullarkey slotted home.The second half was a closer game but Redcastle were first to show when Crumlish rounded the keeper to square the ball for Terry McColgan to tap home. Culdaff pulled another back when the home team failed to clear a corner and Michael Mc Fadden poked the ball home. Culdaff had there tails up and again when the home team failed to clear the ball fell to Aidan Cunningham to strike from twenty five yards to the top corner. Redcastle replied straight away when Evan Craig crossed for Terry McColgan to head home and complete his hat trick before being replaced by Darron Harkin for the remainder of the game.
Aileach Youths 2
Moville Res 1
Aileach Youths overcame Moville Reserves in the Spring sunshine at Lakeside on Sunday. The home side pressed hard from the start forcing Moville to defend for most of the first half without giving a lot away. They did start to create better openings after about half an hour and came close when Thomas Mc Mackin latched onto a Benny Hegarty pass but his shot across goal went the wrong side of the post. They did take the lead ten minutes before half-time when Dermot Doherty weighted a perfect pass into the path of Hegarty who volleyed into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Aileach were firmly on top at this stage and Doherty fired wide from the edge of the box. Moville got back on terms two minutes before half-time when Conor Lafferty’s header cannoned off the bar and PJ Barr was the quickest to react to level the scores. Hegarty had another chance on the half-time whistle when he volleyed Doherty’s cross towards the far corner but it went the wrong side of the post much to the relief of Coyle in the Moville goal. The second half pattern followed the first with Aileach controlling much of the game. McMackin again came close when he raced through the centre but Coyle saved smartly with his feet. On the hour, Aileach got their noses in front again when Hegarty broke the offside trap to reach Doherty’s through ball, round the keeper and roll into the net. Hegarty missed a gilt edged chance to complete his hat trick when he controlled Daidibh Grant’s through ball, beat a defender and somehow shot wide of the far post. Moville almost got a chance when PJ Barr’s through ball sent Lafferty clear but Fox in the home goal read the danger and cleared at the vital moment. Moville pushed more men forward in the final ten minutes but the Aileach defence led by the impressive Declan O’Donnell and Ryan Doherty stood firm.
Inishowen Engineering Division 2 B
Dunree Res 0
Illies Res 1
The opening quarter of the match was quiet with neither team creating any clear cut chances. Peter O’Neil had a chance to put the home team ahead on the half hour mark but his shot was well wide. Illies then took the lead on 35 mins when Charlie McLaughlin played Keith Elliot through and he finished neatly to the bottom corner past Roger McGilloway in the Dunree goal. Dunree started the better in the second half but failed to create anything threatening. Illies had the chance to double their lead on 65 minutes only for a top drawer save from McGilloway to deny Joe Mc Laughlin. Dunree pressed in the closing stages and could have equalized at the death when Marty McDermott failed to hit the target after a cross from O.J. Cuffe.
Rasheney Res 1
Greencastle Res 5
Greencastle collected another three points here and consolidated their position at the top of the Div 2B table. They dominated the first half and were four goals up by the interval. An early chance saw Shaun Cavanagh head down a right wing cross into the path of Jude Harkin who fired wide from 12 yards. At the other end slackness in the visitor’s defence allowed Nathan Mc Conologue to round Bovaird and fire towards the net – only for Mark Browne to head off the line into the path of Mark Gilmore who hooked over with the goal at his mercy. The opening goal came mid way through the half when Darragh Gillen delivered into the box from the right. The Rasheney defence had the chance to clear but hesitated – allowing Conor Gillen to smash home. Darragh Gillen and Michael Henry then had shots off target before the visitors doubled their lead on 37 mins when Browne got on the end of a Harkin corner and hit the net from close in. Within 5 mins that score was doubled. Firstly Conor Gillen advanced along the left and delivered across the 18 to an unmarked Darragh Gillen and he had time to drive low to the bottom corner and two mins later Michael Henry had an easy back post tap in to make it 4 – 0. Conor Gillen had further opportunities to increase Greencastle’s lead after the interval but he was denied by a last ditch tackle and shortly afterwards he was again out of luck when keeper Keiran O’ Neill reacted brilliantly and blocked with his outstretched leg to turn the ball away. Ryan Doherty came close to scoring for the home side but his strongly driven attempt was only parried by Bovaird and with the ball trickling towards the net Shaun Cavanagh was able to clear from close to the goal line. However, Doherty did get on the scoresheet when he drove home a dinked Matthew Duffy cross and the scoring was complete on 88 mins when Michael Henry raced into the box and shot to the far bottom corner.