Aileach FC 0
Clonmany Shamrocks 1
This was a crucial win for the Shamrocks in a closely fought encounter with few clear chances. After a close opening period Aileach forced a succession of corners but failed to trouble Patrick Harkin. On 29 minutes a Kieran McGrory cross found Anthony Doherty but his glancing header drifted wide. Three minutes later Aileach failed to defend a throw in allowing Mikey Friel to drill the ball across the face of goal for Jason Devlin to slot home for what turned out to be the winning goal. Aileach upped the tempo on the restart with Dermot Doherty firing narrowly wide before Anthony Doherty got in behind the shamrocks defence but hesitated and the chance was cleared. The closest they came was from a Darren McMonagle free which saw Cathal McElhinney’s powerful header brilliantly tipped over by Harkin. Clonmany should have doubled their lead when James Gillespie done brilliantly to clear a Jason Devlin effort off the line to Paddy Doherty who blazed the follow up over the bar. Aileach tried hard to the end but the Shamrocks defence well marshalled by Andrew Doherty and Philip Devlin stood firm.
Aileach Res 2
Moville Celtic 3
Moville had an early chance when Charlie Gill fired just wide from twenty yards. Aileach responded and Stephen Doherty had one effort deflected and another well saved by Liam Grimley. They took the lead when Ruairi Bradley fired an unstoppable effort to the roof of the net via the underside of the bar midway through the half. Moville replied after the break and equalised on 56 minutes after a defensive slip allowed Finn McLaughlin square the ball for Norbert Indyka to slot home. They then took the lead on 72 minutes when Indyka beat the offside trap to race clear and calmly slot home. Finn McLaughlin then made it three one with a sublime finish to the bottom corner from fifteen yards. But minutes later Jordan McGeady converted a penalty after he had been upended. The home side pushed hard but failed to salvage a point and in the final minute were reduced to ten when Paul Mchugh was red carded for retaliation.
Aileach Res 2-1 Illies Celtic
Aileach took the lead on 12 min when a right wing cross found Adam Barr who slotted home from 12 yards past Johnny Noone, they increased their lead on 40 min when Conor Harkin found Stephen Doherty and he volleyed to the roof of the net for a 2-0 lead, Aileach keeper Mc Geady denied Illies Paddy Doherty with a fine save before Illies got a goal back on 43 min when Pio Donaghey broke and fired a unstoppable shot past Mc Geady, illies then had a shot cleared off the line by David Ryan and Campbell shot over just before half time, in the second half Conor Harkin had a shot cleared by Dominick Doherty at the other end William Mc laughlin shot wide for Illies and Paddy Doherty brought a fine save from Mc Geady as Illies looked for the equaliser the final effort came from Aileach’s Stephen Doherty who blasted wide as the home side held on for all three points
Aileach started brightly and after 5 mins Stephen McKendry had a snap shot from 20 yds fly a yard wide. On 20 mins
Dermot Doherty raced clear and was unfortunate to see his lobbed effort clip the bar on the way over. On the half hour the same player just failed to get a finishing touch to a Gavin Doherty right wing cross.
The second half followed a similar pattern until substitute Darren McMonagle fired in a 30 yd free kick which Pauric O’Donnell did well to get a hand to pushing it onto the bar but the ball dropped behind the line for the lead goal.
Culdaff responded well and from a right wing corner the which caused confusion in the Aileach defence the ball clipped McGeedy’s right hand post before being cleared to safety. With Culdaff pressing for an equaliser there was always going to be gaps at the back and with 15 mins left Anthony Doherty raced cleat before rounding O’Donnell
and tapping home. With time running out Anthony Doherty ran on to Caomhin McFeely’s pass and finished well across O’Donnell to the bottom corner to seal the win.
In an entertaining game it was evenly balanced throughout with no chances in the opening half and defences on top in a scoreless first half. In the second period Gregory Doherty had two free kicks well held by Liam McGonigle in the opening part of the second half. The best chance of the game fell to the visitors on 75 minutes when Michael Harkin unleashed a twenty five yards effort which David McGeady tipped over at full stretch. Overall a draw was a fair result.