Reports 13th & 14th May
Inishowen Football League
Saturday 13th May
Charlie O Donnell Cup Final
Aileach FC 1
Culdaff FC 4
Culdaff FC won their first ever Charlie O Donnell cup with a convincing and somewhat surprising four one win over an 
Aielach side who failed to perform on the day. Culdaff started well and in the opening minute Brian McCandless had an angled effort blocked by the legs of John Roulstone before Darren Mullarkey had a snapshot gathered at the second attempt on 6 minutes. Aileach then had a good spell with Caoimhin McFeely pouncing on hesitancy to slide the ball past Darragh McLaughlin but JJ Doherty was on hand to clear before Gavin Doherty had an effort deflected wide. Their best chance came on 22 minutes when a superb pass from Gavin Doherty fed Keith McColgan inside the area on the left hand side and as McLaughlin advanced he lifted the ball over the keeper but high and over the bar. A minute later McColgan’s cross broke to Thomas McMackin who should have done better than fire wide from twenty yards. But Culdaff weathered the storm and broke the deadlock on 26 minutes when Eugene McLaughlin’s cross enticed keeper Roulstone to try and collect but Michael Coyle flicked on and Paul McLaughlin powered home a header to the empty net. Minutes later they had another clear chance after McCandless robbed a defender and laid the ball off for Eugene McLaughlin to fire just over an unguarded net from the edge of the area. An inswinging Darren Mullarkey corner on 32 minutes was allowed to drop at the back post for Dermot Diver to volley home from two yards and double the lead and Culdaff were firmly in control. Just before the break Ryan Greene won the ball in midfield and released Michael Coyle who played a one two with McCandless but his effort was blocked at the expense of a corner. Culdaff had the first chance of the second period too when a deep Paul McLaughlin cross fell to Eugene McLaughlin who for the second time in the game blasted wide when very well placed. Aileach almost had a chance but Anthony Doherty just failed to control a through ball. On the hour a superb run by Mullarkey took him fifty yards forward before unleashing a twenty five yards effort fly just wide. A minute later a superb Dillon Ruddy ball sent Coyle up the right and his perfectly judged cross was sidefooted home by McCandless. Aileach kept pressing and after a poor clearance Greene made a superb interception from Dermot Doherty’s through ball. On 66 minutes Darren McMonagle turned on the edge of the area and fired in a shot which took a deflection off a team mate. On 69 minutes Culdaff made it four when Coyle pounced on a defensive error and fired in a shot which was blocked on the line and Eugene McLaughlin hammered the loose ball into the far corner. Aileach did get a consolation when Gavin Doherty’s cross looped off the head of a defender and over keeper McLaughlin. Culdaff switched off at this stage and substitute Darren Gallagher stabbed wide from close . Then twice in a late attack the hit the bar when firstly substitute Stephen McKendry ‘s cross shot glanced off the bar and when they ball was returned Anthony Doherty’s header also came back off the bar. But Culdaff saw the remaining time out and the final whistle sparked wild celebrations.
Pictured is Bernard Gubbins presenting the Charlie O’Donnell Trophy to Dillon Ruddy Culdaff’s Captain
Man of the Match
Aileach will be disappointed with their performance although Dermot Doherty in the second half and Gavin Doherty tried hard throughout. For Culdaff Ryan Greene, Conor Farren, Brian McCandless, Michael Coyle and Dillon Ruddy all had excellent games but the award goes to Darren Mullarkey who led the way with his raids forward, tackling and creativity from a deep left back slot.
Sunday 14th May 2017
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup Final
Glengad United 0
Letterkenny Rovers 3
Glengad United ‘s season ended on a night of rare dissappointment when a strong second half performance saw Letterkenny Rovers claim the Knockalla Caravans cup in Maginn Park. Having lost to Cockhill last year Glengad it was a case of déjà vu for Glengad when they faced Letterkenny. While Glengad were full of confidence after clinching the league and the Ulster Junior cup there was very little by way of clear chances in the opening half.Both sides had half chances but the only clear chance in the opening period fell to Rovers’ Paul McVeigh midway through the half. Darren McElwaine done well to head a Lee Toland delivery back across goal and when it fell at the feet of McVeigh he looked destined to score. He turned and got his shot away but John Gerard McLaughlin was on hand to somehow clear the ball from his own line. Rovers upped the tempo in the restart and Lee Toland hit the crossbar with a well struck free from twenty five yards. Rovers then broke the deadlock on 59 minutes after a scramble in the box the ball fell to Brian McVeigh who rifled past Kevin McLaughlin from ten yards. Minutes later they doubled their advantage when McVeigh crossed for his brother Paul to score with a brilliant header at the back post. Both Kevin McGrath and Paul Boyle went close for Rovers before Terence Doherty almost reduced the deficit only to be denied by a brilliant save from Rory Kelly. Rover sealed the tie late on when Steve Okakpu rolled his marker inside the area and fired low past McLaughlin to seal a deserved win.
Man of the Match
Stephen McLaughlin, Byrne and Terence Doherty all acquitted themselves well while Lee Toland, Brian McVeigh and Christy Conaghan impressed for Rovers. But the man of the match award goes to Paul McVeigh who caused the Glengad defence all sorts of trouble with his penetrative runs, abilty in the air, workrate and capped off with a superb header.
First Division Promotion Relegation Play Off
Carrowmena FC 1
Gleneely Colts 6
As expected Gleneely Colts won this promotion relegation play off in the main due to a sterling first half display. They took an early lead after Cory O Brien won a header inside the area and broke onto the ball to calmly finish past Michael Noone. A second goal followed on 18 minutes after a corner broke inside the area for Stephen McLaughlin to hammer low past Noone from fourteen yards. Midway through the half O Brien broke on the right and crossed for Dylan McDaid who cut across a defender but fired wide from eight yards. With Carrowmnea on the attack on the half hour a brilliant interception by John Doherty saw him then release Nathan McLaughlin in acres of space on the right and he squared for Ciaran White to slot home from close range. Gleneely made it four nil on 38 minutes when a McDaid corner broke off a defender and into the net at the front post. On the stroke of half time John Doherty ran onto a ball over the top to slot low past Noone and make it five nil. Carrowmena made a much better showing in the second half and Conor Lafferty fired across Adrian Duffy and past the far post before an inswinging John McLaughlin corner came off the post. The goal of the game came on 77 minutes when Carrowmena’s Dane Doherty turned well twenty five yards out and fired a stunning effort to the top right hand corner. Gleneely responded and when O Brien dispossessed a defender and lifted the ball over keeper Noone it broke for substitute Christy Smith to hammer the ball home. Carrowmena had the final chance when Mark Doherty broke on the right and fired in a shot which Duffy parried well.