DONEGAL JUNIOR LEAGUE
Reports
Old Orchard Saturday Reserve Division
Milford United Reserves 1 v 3 Keadue Rovers Reserves
Milford started strong and took the lead on 20 minutes after some good closing down from JJ Fleming, he intercepted a Keadue pass to find himself one on one with the keeper and made no mistake to give Milford the lead. Slightly against the run of play Keadue found an equaliser on 35 minutes. After a good run from Keadue’s right back he sent in a cross that a Milford defender unfortunately put past his own keeper to make it 1-1 at halftime. Keadue upped their game in the second half with Christopher Greene scoring 2 goals to give a very strong Keadue line-up the 3 points.
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 0 v 8 Milford United Reserves
Milford finished their season on a high against a very understrength Kilmacrennan team. JJ Fleming got a hat trick, Ciaran Blaney got 2, Joey Cullen got 2 and Jamie Whelan scored 1 to give Milford a 3rd place finish in the league.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
St. Catherines 1 v 1 Lagan Harps
The home team missed some good early chances through some poor finishing.
Ryan Farrell was taken down in the box and he calmly dispatched for a 1-0 lead to St. Catherines on 15 minutes. Darren Doran was Lagan’s best player and he fired home the equaliser on 30 minutes to make it 1-1, a rasping shot past the home keeper from just inside the 18-yard line. The second half provided little change as a strong swirling wind played havoc with the ball in the air. The Saints finished the game with 10 men as Rory Murray was issued a second yellow 10 minutes from the end. Best for the home team was Conor Knox.
Division 1 / Division 2 Play-Off
Deele Harps 1 v 2 Lifford Celtic
Two sides from the County’s Capital Town met at the New Camp Complex in Killygordan to contest this end of season play-off. Always an awkward fixture this one promised to have that little bit of extra bite as a place in next season’s Division One was at stake. Jordan Duffy gave Deele the lead after ten minutes. They managed to hold their advantage until the stroke of half-time when Lifford equalised through James Mc Nulty. Deele had been the better of the two sides in the opening half and probably would have deserved an interval lead. Lifford came out brighter for the second half after gaining parity just before the break. On fifty five minutes Jason Mc Brearty got what proved to be the winning goal for Lifford Celtic. Lifford went on to dominate that second period and will now join Ballybofey United and Dunkineely Celtic as a new trio in next season’s Temple domestic Appliances Division One. Deele Harps who were worthy opponents in the play-off will play in next season’s CT Ball Division Two.
CT Ball Division 2
Drumkeen United 2 v 1 Eany Celtic
(No Report Submitted)
Voodoo Venue Cup Final
Arranmore United 1 Strand Rovers 0
An Screban, Gweedore was the venue for this season’s Voodoo Venue Cup Final. Near neighbours Arranmore United and Strand Rovers turned out to do battle for the Blue Riband of Saturday Football in Co. Donegal. With Stephen Barrett in charge of Rovers and Gerry Early in charge of United both sides were well prepared for the occasion, Strand Rovers’ first ever Cup Final in what is their 4th season in the league. It looked like Rovers could be a handful for their more experience opponents as they had the better of the opening minutes. Darragh Hanlon fed Doalty Boyle on three minutes but his shot was deflected wide for the game’s first corner. Arranmore took heed of the warning and started to settle into the game. With ten minutes on the clock Gavin Mc Glanaghey was send clean through by his brother Chris who had battled well to dispossess two Strand defenders. Rover’s keeper Kevin Mc Govern stood up well to the renowned striker and did well to save at point blank range much to Mc Glanaghey’s disappointment. Gavin then though that he had made up for his earlier miss when on sixteen minutes he got the better of Mc Govern but the celebrations were short lived as the goal was ruled out for offside. Chris mc Glanaghey was at this stage the best player on the field as he proved time and again to be a handful for the Strand rearguard. He was ably assisted by Brian Proctor who was alert to every ball and won some great possession around the middle. For Rovers Doalty Boyle, David Hindle and Brendan Glackin all tried their luck from distance but none were to trouble John Greene in the united net. On thirty six minutes Brian Proctor got the game’s first goal when he reacted to some loose defending to score past Mc Govern as several Strand players failed to properly clear the ball. With only minutes to go until the interval Doalty Boyle sent over an inviting cross which Hindle could only send wide of the target and the teams retired for refreshments with only the one goal between them.
The second half started and again Rovers had the better start. John Greene had to be alert to a loose ball in his area but he was off his line quickly to avert any danger. Darragh Hanlon went on a left wing run beating three players before sending over a great cross but unfortunately for Strand there was no one attacking the Back post. The game was now very open with Brian Proctor starting to impress his presence on the play. Time and again he was involved both in defence and attack for the Islanders. On sixty minutes Doalty Boyle sent a lovely diagonal ball towards the Rover’s left wing but Sean O’ Hara cut out the danger before Paddy Glackin could get onto the ball. With twenty minutes gone Strand won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Hanlon curled it beautifully around the United Wall but Greene was well positioned to parry the ball away. The game remained fairly even with the stiff breeze prevalent throughout. Rovers did well to create a few good openings but the final ball was lacking on so many occasions. Arranmore never sat back on their lead and kept pushing for a second goal. Hanlon at this stage was running the show and surely this must have been one of his best ever performances for his side. Doalty Boyle, Brendan Brennan, Brendan Glackin and Gerard Diver all showed great desire and kept encouraging their younger team-mates. Unfortunately it just wasn’t Rover’s day. United had prevailed by the single goal and won the Voodoo Venue Cup in front of a big support that had made the Ferry crossing from the island. Philip Ward from the Sponsors Voodoo Venue was on hand to present the Cup to team captain Danny Rodgers.
Arranmore United: John Greene, Sean O’ Hara, Danny Rodgers, Michael Mc Hugh, Phil Boyle, Declan Proctor, Brian Proctor, Martin Proctor, Ruan Rodgers, Gavin Mc Glanaghey, Chris Mc Glanaghey. Subs: Aaron Mc Cafferty (for 11on 67 minutes), Sean Mc Cauley, Prezmek Turski, Nathan Hannon, Paul Early, Conor Proctor. Manager: Gerry Early
Strand Rovers: Kevin mc Govern, Stephen Glackin, James Mc Cole, David Hindle, Brendan Brennan, Gerard Diver, Darragh Hanlon, Brendan Glackin, Doalty Boyle, Michael Ward, Matthew O’ Donnell. Subs: Jack Doherty (for 4 on 45 minutes), David Hanlon, Paddy Glackin (for 10 on 45 minutes), Jack Greene, Darren O’ Donnell, Aidan O’ Donnell, Christopher Boyle. Manager: Stephen Barrett.
Referee: Dessie Mc Laughlin, Assistants: Con Mc Laughlin & Marty Quinn
Results
Old Orchard Saturday Reserve Division
Milford United Reserves 1 v 3 Keadue Rovers Reserves
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 0 v 8 Milford United Reserves
Voodoo Venue Cup Final
Arranmore United 1 v 0 Strand Rovers
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
St. Catherines 1 v 1 Lagan Harps
Division 1 / Division 2 Play-Off
Deele Harps 1 v 2 Lifford Celtic
CT Ball Division 2
Drumkeen United 2 v 1 Eany Celtic
Fixtures
Premier Division / Division 1 Play-Off
Sunday 7th May Dry Arch Park, Bonagee (K.O. 2p.m.)
Milford United v Gweedore Celtic
Brian Mc Cormick Cup Final
Sunday 14th May Dry Arch Park (K.O. 2p.m.)
Ballybofey United v Rathmullan Celtic
Diary Dates
Saturday 20th May
Donegal Junior League
Annual Presentation Function
Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny
Monday 22nd May
Donegal Junior League
Annual General Meeting
League Headquarters, Diamond Park, Ballyare