2014 USL Results & Reports 24.08.14 Results 4 Lanterns USL
Finn Harps Res. 2-2 Fanad Utd.
Swilly Rovers 2-3 Letterkenny Rovers
Cockhill Celtic 1-1 Derry City Res.
Bonagee Utd. 3-0 Drumkeen Utd.
Div. 1 Cup Final
Letterkenny Rovers Res. 1-0 Bonagee Utd. Res.
Reports
Bottom Two End Season in Stalemate
Finn Harps Res. 2
Fanad Utd. 2
Harps and Fanad ended their campaigns with an entertaining game at Finn Park. Harps started the brighter with Shane Graham in the away side’s goal denying Hanlon, McConnell & Eamon McHugh. Cathal McDaid then had a great run ghosting past two or three players before having a curling shot saved by Graham again. Fanad came in to the game at the end of the first half and created a number of chances from the impressive Jordan McBride and Conor Matthewson with Conor McBride denying them on both occasions. The second half started with Wilson in the Fanad midfield forcing a great save from McBride. That forced Harps to come out and play again and Hanlon somehow missed from a great McDaid cross when it seemed easier to score. He made up for it though as in the 65th minute he put the home side ahead after good play from Eamon McHugh, he finished well past Graham. Adam Serrinha then had an effort ruled out for offside for the away side. Eamon McHugh doubled the home side’s lead in the 80th minute tapping in after a Porter header came back off the crossbar. Fanad pushed in the last five minutes and were forcing McBride in the Harps goal in to several top class saves. Mark Wilson scored on 85mins to give Fanad hope and in the 90th minute they got an equaliser after good build up play from McBride, Conor Matthewson fired low in to the corner.
Finn Harps: Conor McBride, Conor McGlynn, Hugh Moy, Shane Porter, Dylan Quinn, David Ward, Cathal McDaid, Jack Dean, Adrian Hanlon, Dean McConnell, Eamon McHugh.
Fanad Utd: Shane Graham, Ronan Sweeney, Adam Salhi, Glen McNutly, Kevin Murray, Jordan McBride, Conor Matthewson, Mark Wilson, Adam Serrinha, Brian McVeigh, Paddy Carr. Subs used: Shay Durning, Odhran Hilley, Eoghan Rafferty.
Top Two finish With Draw to Remain Unbeaten
Cockhill Celtic 1
Derry City Res. 1
The top 2 teams played out an entertaining one all draw in the final league fixture. The young Derry side started excellently and were 1st to every ball and played some crisp smart football in the 1st half. They deservedly took a lead on the 25th minute when Ronan Curtis broke clear and smashed a low drive past Lee Mc Carron in the home goal. Derry with Conor Harkin dominating in midfield and the outstanding Georgie Kelly in defence were full value for their half time lead. Cockhill after a few stern words at half time started the 2nd half a lot brighter. The home side started to force the issue and began to dominate the ball. The breakthrough came when Malachy Mc Dermott sent Garbhain Friel clear only for Derry keeper Michael Lynch to upend the big forward. Referee Stephen Toner awarded the penalty & Friel sent Lynch the wrong way from 12 yards. Cockhill could have grabbed a late winner when Gerry Gill tested Lynch from 15 yards. Both teams had half chances towards the end. The game ended 1 all. Both teams ended the season undefeated, the first time two teams have gone undefeated through the season, with Derry’s draw a couple of weeks ago against Bonagee proving costly and denying them a chance of a play-off.
Letterkenny Claim Victory in Ramelton
Swilly Rovers 2
Letterkenny Rovers 3
Ulster senior league Swilly Rovers 2 Letterkenny Rovers 3. A very entertaining 5 goal thriller at Swilly Park for the final league game of the season. Swilly were minus ten of their twenty man cup final squad due to players transferring to junior and under 19 football before the end of the transfer window, Letterkenny lost a couple of players also. Letterkenny went ahead when Aaron O’Hagan powerfully headed home following a Johnny Bonner corner, Michael McHugh equalised with an excellent finish from close range. Kenny Doran put Letterkenny ahead when Swilly defenders clearance hit of him and went in past a startled Gareth Wade. Johnny Bonner with a delightful twenty yard effort put Letterkenny further ahead. Michael McHugh produced another excellent finish for Swilly to make it 3-2. McHugh also had a goal disallowed shortly afterwards which mystified many in the ground and the game finished 3-2 to Letterkenny.
DIV. 1 Cup Final
Letterkenny Claim Double
Letterkenny Rovers Res. 1
Bonagee Utd Res. 0
Letterkenny Rovers left it very late to defeat Bonagee and claim the League and cup double with a 91st minute goal from Jason Doherty at Leckview Park on Saturday afternoon.
After a very tame opening quarter the game came to life on 25 minutes and it was the visitors who produced the first chance. Kevin Doran skipped away down the left hand side after winning possession and he raced into the box where he played in Sam Murphy and his well struck effort brought a superb point blank reflex save from Christopher O’Donnell in the Rovers goal. This seemed to energise Letterkenny who dominated possession for the rest of the half and had numerous chances to take the lead. A diagonal ball from Kevin McGrath on 29 minutes sent the lively Adrian Delap through and his effort was well saved by Bonagee net minder Roy Duffy. Then a minute later a teasing cross from Gareth Doherty found Gavin McDaid at the far post and his mishit effort from 5 yards was somehow cleared. McDaid-who had scored against the same opposition with a thumping drive earlier in the week- had two more chances to open the scoring but he failed to hit the target. On 40 minutes McDaid turned provider and did well to slip BJ Banda in but his weak shot was saved easily by Duffy. Then the best chance of the opening half arrived on 45 minutes. Luke Nelis did well down the left hand side and he was fouled by Hugh McDaid just inside the box. Referee Paul Duddy had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Jason Doherty took responsibility but his penalty was hit straight at Roy Duffy and was cleared by the Bonagee defence.
The visitors may have been thinking their name was on the cup and they started the second half the brighter. They introduced Dylan McCrory on 57 minutes and he certainly made an impact down the Bonagee right hand side. On 61 minutes McCrory found Sam Murphy with a lovely through ball and Murphy tested O’Donnell who pulled off another super reaction save with his feet. Letterkenny did have chances through substitute Odhran McMacken on 63 minutes while Gareth Doherty should have scored when unmarked from an Anthony Gorman free just eight yards out but his effort went high over the bar on 82 minutes. Just as both sides were gearing up for extra time there was late drama.
Firstly referee Paul Duddy gave substitute Anthony Gorman a straight red card for dissent after the midfielder questioned the non-award of a free kick on 88 minutes. This would have given Bonagee a massive advantage with the extra man going into overtime but Rovers had other ideas by providing their own late, late show. Some neat interplay between Odhran McMacken, Gareth Doherty and Kevin McGrath set Jason Doherty up and he lobbed Roy Duffy in the Bonagee goal. Duffy looked for a moment as if he would get back to gather the ball but he slipped and it somehow found the back of the net to hand Rovers victory.
A very competitive decider and a cruel way for Bonagee to lose out but a fitting final with the two best teams in the division all season battling it out. Rovers manager Eamon McConigley was very pleased with his team’s commitment and application of his team throughout the season and adds yet another honour to what has been an illustrious career as player and manager.
Bonagee Utd; Roy Duffy, Jack Lafferty, Evan McCrory, Paddy O’Loan, Hugh McDaid, Jake Whelan, Reece Shortt, Ciaran Gibson, Odhran Barron, Sm Murphy, Kevin Doran. Subs: Dylan McCrory for Shortt 57 minutes
Letterkenny Rovers; Christopher O’Donnell, Kieran Doherty, Luke Nelis, Ryan Gildea, Noah Mailey, Kevin McGrath, Adrian Delap, Gareth Doherty, Jason Doherty, Gavin McDaid, BJ Banda. Subs: Odhran McMacken for McDaid 61 mins, Anthony Gorman for Banda 79 mins
Referee; Paul Duddy
Assistant Referees; Joe McHugh and Vincent McLaughlin.
Final 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League Table 24.08.14
Team P W D L For Against + / – Pts.
Cockhill Celtic* 14 12 2 0 48 11 37 38
Derry City Res. 14 10 4 0 47 14 33 34
Letterkenny Rovers 14 7 4 3 30 18 12 25
Bonagee Utd. 14 6 2 6 23 18 5 20
Swilly Rovers 14 5 2 6 28 34 -6 17
Drumkeen Utd. 14 4 3 7 27 42 -15 15
Finn Harps Res. 14 2 1 11 11 36 -25 7
Fanad Utd. 14 0 2 12 11 52 -41 2
*Cockhill Celtic are the 2014 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League champions
Final DPD First Division 24.08.14
Team P W D L F A +/- Pts
Letterkenny Rovers 8 6 2 0 30 12 18 20
Bonagee Utd Res. 8 4 2 2 18 16 2 14
Drumkeen Utd. Res. 8 2 2 4 14 18 -4 8
Fanad Utd. 8 1 4 3 12 19 -7 7
Swilly Rovers Res. 8 1 2 5 14 22 -8 5
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