There was a disrupted programme in the Donegal League this weekend due to the adverse weather conditions.
Ulster Shield
Glenea United Reserves 3 KS Eagles 1
Glenea Reserves continued their good run the Ulster Shield with a hard fought victory over their Monaghan opponents.
In a tight first half both sides were finding the slippy conditions difficult to create any clear chances. On 20 minutes Michael McHugh’s through ball played in Martin Maguire but he drilled his effort wide. Eagles had a great opportunity to open the scoring on 25 minutes when Damian Chaber got free but he dragged his shot wide of the goal.
Glenea opened the scoring on 30 minutes when Eamonn McHugh picked up the ball on the left side of the box, drove past the defender and drilled the ball in at the near post catching everyone by surprise.
In the second half the Eagles pushed hard for an equalizer and as they did they began to leave space at the back and on 65 minutes the home side extended their lead when, good play down the left by Eamonn McHugh and Michael Mc Clafferty, released Tommy Rodgers and he drilled the ball into the far corner.
The away side looked to get back into the game but were finding it difficult to create any clear chances until the 81 minute when Maciej Najder got onto a through ball and he slotted the ball home from a tight angle.
On 85 minutes Ciaran Gallagher had to make a good save to keep Glenea’s lead intact. Glenea completed the scoring on 88 minutes when after good play from Tommy Rodgers and Kevin Doohan, allowed Eamonn McHugh to get free in the box and he slotted home to ensure victory.
Best for Glenea were Mark Harley & Martin Maguire, while Damian Chaber was always a threat for KS Eagles. Referee: Michael McFadden
Glencar Celtic 5 Aileach F.C. 1
Both teams started brightly and at a fierce pace with plenty of hard tackles flying in. Glencar were on top but failed to capitalise and went one down after a fine move and neat finish from James McGinley.
This gave Glencar the wake-up call they needed and started to get into the game and levelled the scoring through Liam Doherty after Garvan Grieve’s free kick came back off the cross bar.
Glencar started brightest in the second half and went 2-1 up through Kieran Doherty who chipped the keeper from 25 yards. Paddy Collins made the game comfortable for Glencar after lifting the ball over the centre half and the keeper.
Eddie Mc Laughlin got Glencar’s 4th when he capitalised on a mix up in the defence and slotted home. Baker fired in the 5th to send Glencar into the semis
Glencar Inn Saturday Division
Drumbar F.C. 0 Strand Rovers 3
Strand Rovers defeated Drumbar on Saturday League in a game which was reversed to Maghery. Strand led 2-0 at the break with goals from Gerard Diver and Paddy Glackin before Brendan Glackin added another late in the second half.
The visitors had the best chance in the opening minutes from an individual run from the half-way line which saw Ray Balogun unfortunately hitting the side netting.
Drumbar got a grip of the game for spells of the second half, a much changed side saw good displays from veterans Gareth Cassidy, Aiden Cassidy and the youth of Caolan Loughney and Tirone O’ Shea
Fintown Harps AFC 3 Dunlewey Celtic 0
In good conditions at Park Achla Fintown welcomed Dunlewey. The home team who came racing out of the blocks playing very good football and coming close on a couple of occasions. Dunlewey struggled to settle and where punished when Chris played a ball forward to Shan who played a delightful flick to set up the oncoming Eunan who finished well to the far corner.
Soon after it was 2-0 to Fintown through a penalty from Shan. Then from a corner it was 3 with Shan getting his second with a flicked on header. In the second half Dunlewey had a good spell but it was to no avail.
Near the end Fintown had a few chances through Shan, Eunan and Oran but it ended 3-0 with a great team performance from Fintown and a battling one from Dunlewey.
Saturday Reserve Division
Donegal Town Reserves P Milford United Reserves P
(No Report-Match Postponed)
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves P Castlefin Celtic Reserve P
(No Report-Match Postponed)
Sunday
Ulster Junior Cup
St. Catherines 0 Cootehill Harps 1
St Catherines were the brighter of the two teams in the first half and would have deserved a half time lead but the Cootehill Keeper was in fine form and saved at point range from Barry Cannon on five minutes .
The home team pressed and pressed with Paul McFadden blasting over from close range on 33 minutes. Cootehill defended well and the scored remained 0-0 at the break.
Again in the second half a last ditch challenge from the visiting team’s centre half prevented an easy finish for Daniel Breslin.
Cootehill grew into the game and a crossed ball from the left was met by Shane Smith in the middle to slot home comfortably and give the visitors a lead against the run of play.
Jamie Smith, the Cootehill keeper’s, ball handling was excellent. Balls came in high and low but never left the clutches of the keeper with the Saints forwards hoping for spill which never materialised. An equalising goal eluded the home team and the final result read St Catherines 0 – 1 Cootehill.
Gweedore Celtic 0 Glengad F.C. 3
(No Report Received)
Aileach F.C. 4 Drumoghill F.C. 2
(No Report Received)
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1 Culdaff F.C. 3
Kilmacrennan hosted Culdaff FC on Sunday in the quarter final of the Ulster Cup. Culdaff were hungry from the offset and got their first goal with just ten minutes on the clock.
They managed to get two more goals in quick succession and were 3-0 ahead with just 20 minutes played. Kilmacrennan managed to get one back before the break through Michael McLaughlin.
The second half was a much quieter affair, with each side pushing for another goal, but the scoreline remained the same and the Culdaff men knocked Kilmacrennan out of the Ulster Cup.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Lagan Harps P Milford United P
(No Report-Match Postponed)
Kildrum Tigers P Castlefin Celtic P
(No Report-Match Postponed)
Convoy Arsenal 0 Glenea United 5
The game started evenly with most of the ball in the middle of the pitch. The away side got the breakthrough mid-way through the second half when convoy failed to clear a corner and the ball was scrambled over the line.
The second came 2 minutes later when a long ball made it through the Convoy backline allowing the striker time to round the Convoy keeper.
Glenea kept the pressure on for the rest of the half but convoy were holding firm until almost the last action of the half when Glenea were awarded a penalty which they slotted home to go in 3-0 up at half time.
Convoy came out fighting at the start of the second half but couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Things went from bad to worse for the home side when Glenea put together a nice bit of football to create some space near the edge of the box, which was then well finished past the outstretched Convoy keeper.
Convoy battled on and Glenea looked to have taken their foot of the gas near the end but Convoys tired legs told and with 5 minutes to go Glenea scored a second penalty to put the icing on the cake of a 5-0 victory.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Cappry Rovers 5 Erne Wanderers 0
This game was reversed over to Astro in Ballyshannon. Cappry started the game on front foot and put the pressure on.
The forced the Erne keeper into a few early saves. Cappry finally took the lead in the 20th minute when Gerard Melaugh played Gavin Reilly through who finished well from 12 yards.
In the 25th minute Cappry made it 2-0 when Brendan McLaughlin crossed for Calvin Bradley who finished first time into the corner.
Cappry pressed for a third before half time but couldn’t find a way through the Erne defence. Cappry controlled the early parts of the second half. Erne tried to force their way into the game but could find no way through the Cappry defence.
Cappry made it 3-0 in the 70th minute when Calvin Bradley passed to Alan Gethins who fired into the bottom corner. It was 4-0 in the 80th when Stephen Mc Dermott headed home from a corner.
In the 90th Calvin Bradley scored his 18th league goal of the season with a free kick. Two team performances. Referee: Barry Hunter
Deele Harps P Raphoe Town P
(No Report – Match Postponed)
Bonagee United 0 Keadue Rovers 4
This game was scheduled to be played at Dry Arch Park but as the ongoing bad weather continues, it had to be reversed to Keadue Rovers. As Keadue pitch was also unplayable it was eventually played at the home of Strand Rovers in Maghery, Dungloe.
Keadue started of the brightest and were straight through on 6 minutes and should have scored only for the great intervention of Bonagee Centre half Glenn Rainey.
On 18 Minutes Keadue got off the mark when a low ball played in from the right was touched by Shaun Yank Boyle and he flicked it into the bottom right hand corner of the Bonagee goal.
Keadue were awarded a penalty on 23 minutes but John Carr the Bonagee keeper was having none of it and made a good save. This should have given Bonagee the momentum to push on a find an equaliser but it was Keadue Rovers who kept the pressure on and went in 0 – 1 up at half time.
There wasn’t much change at the start of the 2nd half as Keadue kept pushing for number two and they got their rewards on 51 minutes when Ryan Greene ran the left flank and put in a peach of a ball to his brother Conor who finished impeccably. Keadue were turning the screw with Ryan Greene excelling throughout.
As the weather took a turn for the worse with driving Rain and Wind, Bonagee Started to find their passing game. For a constant 15 minutes Bonagee gave Keadue all they wanted and dominated that period but couldn’t score.
Lee McCauley had a great chance on 61 minutes but put the ball wide and again on 73 minutes Shane Duffy should have scored but that was it for the day. Corey Gallagher got a great individual goal for Keadue on 76 minutes when the ball came back to him on the left from a corner and he placed it to hit the top left corner of the Bonagee goal and this sealed the deal.
Things got worse for Bonagee when they went down to 10 men on the 80th minutes after 2 yellow cards. Keadue finished off the afternoon with Shaun Yank Boyle getting his brace on 82 minutes.
Best for Bonagee were Conor Temple, Joe Friel and Ryan Tyrell. Best for Keadue was Ryan Greene.
CT Ball Division Two
Cranford United 0 Dunkineely Celtic 3
Dunkineely got an early lead through a slip up in the Cranford defence and held out until half time. Cranford had a good spell of possession in the second half but failed to capitalise and Dunkineely got the second with a fine free kick and sealed the points with another late goal. Odhran Coll and Brendan Giles played well for Cranford and a team effort from Dunkineely
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 0 Ballybofey United 5
No match report received but Ballybofey took another step on their way to what will now surely be the club’s first title victory for more than three decades. Hard to believe that might be but that’s how it is. On the day the match was switched to McGarvey Park and 5 different marksmen hit the target for the Finnsiders. Damien Glackin, Alan Patton, Mark Griffin, Niall McCloskey and Gary Dunnion all had the sights set right on the day.
Drumkeen United 3 Curragh Athletic 1
Niall Bonner scored twice for Drumkeen United as they defeated Curragh Athletic at the New Camp with the game being reversed. Aaron Doherty got Drumkeen’s other goal and Tim Callaghan scored for the Curragh
Lifford Celtic 6 Copany Rovers 0
Lifford started well and took the lead from an early corner with James McNulty heading home. Adam Gillespie made it two when he slotted home from a Roulston cross.
Lifford kept on the front foot and Roulston finished well after a neat 1-2 with Kevin McBrearty.
Ross Porter made it 4 after good work by strike partner Jason McBrearty.
Matthew Carlin got on the scoresheet when Paul Mc Nulty played him in to make it 5 and James McNulty got his second of the game and Lifford’s 6th late on when he slid in to finish a Kevin Mc Brearty cross.
Jack Mahon and Jason McBrearty were excellent for Lifford. A tough day for Copany who to their credit put in a spirited performance and played some good football throughout.
RESULTS
Saturday 25th February 2017
Ulster Shield
Glenea United Reserves 3 v 1 KS Eagles
Glencar Celtic 5 v 1 AileachF.C.
Glencar Inn Saturday Division
Drumbar F.C. 0 v 3 Strand Rovers
Fintown Harps AFC 3 v 0 Dunlewey Celtic
Saturday Reserve Division
Donegal Town Reserves P v P Milford United Reserves
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves P v P Castlefin Celtic Reserve
Sunday 26th February 2017
Ulster Junior Cup
St. Catherines 0 v 1 Cootehill Harps
Gweedore Celtic 0 v 3 Glengad F.C.
Aileach F.C. 4 v 2 Drumoghill F.C.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1 v 3 Culdaff F.C.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Lagan Harps P v P Milford United
Kildrum Tigers P v P Castlefin Celtic
Convoy Arsenal 0 v 5 Glenea United
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Cappry Rovers 5 v 0 Erne Wanderers
Deele Harps P v P Raphoe Town
Bonagee United 0 v 4 Keadue Rovers
CT Ball Division Two
Cranford United 0 v 3 Dunkineely Celtic
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 0 v 5 Ballybofey United
Drumkeen United 3 v 1 Curragh Athletic
Lifford Celtic 6 v 0 Copany Rovers
FIXTURES
Saturday 4th March 2017 K.O. 2 p.m. (Unless Stated)
Glencar Inn Saturday Division
Arranmore United v Fintown Harps AFC (K.O. 1p.m.)
Glencar Celtic v Orchard F.C.
Drumbar F.C. v Dunlewey Celtic
Saturday Reserve Division
St. Catherines Reserves v Cappry Rovers Reserves
Drumoghill F.C. Reserves v Glenea United Reserves
Milford United Reserves v Keadue Rovers Reserves
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves v Erne Wanderers Reserves
Sunday 5th March 2017 K.O. 2p.m. (Unless Stated)
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Kilmacrennan Celtic v Kildrum Tigers
Convoy Arsenal v Rathmullan Celtic
Lagan Harps v Castlefin Celtic
Milford United v St. Catherines
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Gweedore United v Gweedore Celtic
Erne Wanderers v Donegal Town
CT Ball Division Two
Eany Celtic v Kerrykeel ’71 F.C.
Letterbarrow Celtic v Whitestrand United
Drumkeen United v Cranford United
Ballybofey United v Lifford Celtic
Copany Rovers v Dunkineely Celtic
