There was an action-packed day in the Donegal Saturday Leagues yesterday – here’s how the games panned out:
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Glencar Celtic 2 Arranmore United 1
Glencar came out with 3 points from a very tight game.
Both sides battled hard on a heavy pitch going in at half time with the score 0-0. Arranmore started brightest for the second half and went ahead when Glencar only half cleared their lines from a corner.
As they pushed out an inswinging cross beat every defender but fell to an Arranmore player who finished well.
This seemed to rise the home side and chick Mc Laughlin powered home a bullet header to even the scoreline. Glencar went ahead minutes later when veteran striker Kieran Doherty robbed the keeper to punish the away side. Team performance from both sides.
Orchard F.C. 3 Glenea United Reserves 0
This game was played at Letterkenny Community Centre. Glenea started brightly and had the better of the opening exchanges. Orchard slowly came into the game and took the lead on 35 minutes with a fine individual effort by Luke Friel who rattled the back of the net from 10 yards.
Both teams had chances before half time but the score remained 1-0. The second half started and the Orchard with their 1-0 lead pressed for a second goal and were rewarded on 65minutes when Luke Friel put Michael Devine in on goal and he didn’t miss from five yards.
Glenea had chances to pull a goal back, the best of them came from a corner only for Tommy McLaughlin to save twice.
The game was finished as a contest on 75minutes after Michael Devine scored his second goal and Orchard’s thirds after Tommy McLaughlin put him in from a long ball over the top.
Glenea to their credit kept playing football and had a few chances towards the end of the game. Best for Orchard were Ciaran Gibson and Micheal Devine a good team effort from Glenea
Milford United Reserves 1 Donegal Town Reserves 0
Milford welcomed Donegal Town to Moyle View Park on a good day for a game. Milford started strong with Darren Mc Laughlin firing just wide from the edge of the box.
On 20 minutes Anthony Hegarty won the ball on the halfway line and ran through the Donegal Town defence before finding the bottom corner. Darren Mc Laughlin and JJ Fleming both had chances to double the lead but couldn’t find the back of the net.
The second half was very scrappy with Barry Gallagher pulling off one wonder save for Milford. With 15 minutes remaining, and Milford having already used their only sub, Anthony Hegarty had to go off injured leaving Milford with only 10 men. Donegal Town pressed for an equaliser but Milford held out.
A good team effort from both teams with Darren Mc Laughlin and Lorcan Friel best for Milford.
Cappry Rovers Reserves 1 Keadue Rovers Reserves 2
Cappry played host to Keadue in perfect conditions and it was the away team who started quickest.
After 12 minutes Keadue’s forward volleyed to the corner of the net from 35 yards giving the keeper no chance.
The same player made it 2-0 on18 minutes after a mix up between defender and keeper leaving the easiest of tap-ins. Cappry came out firing for the 2nd half and Joel Bradley Walsh scored on 47 minutes with a neat finish. Cappry had chances to score but Keadue held on for a deserved win.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
St. Catherines Reserves 2 Kildrum Tigers Reserves 1
In the 5th minute a great through ball from Oran Higgins setup Shane McIntyre who forced a great save from the St. Catherine’s goalkeeper.
On the 7th minute the St. Catherine’s no.7 blasted the ball over the crossbar. In the 15th minute a great ball from Conor Matthewson fed Oran Higgins who fired in a cross but Darren McCarron failed to make contact with the ball. In the 23rd minute David McGuinness squeezed a great shot passed the Kildrum keeper to put St. Catherines 1-0 ahead.
In the 27th minute a great ball from Conor Matthewson freed Oran Allen who put his chance just inches wide. In the 30th minute a foul on Rory Murray resulted in a penalty kick which was saved brilliantly by Kenan Gibson.
The visitors held the one goal advantage at the break. In the 47th minute Shane McIntyre set up Christopher Cronin who fired a stunning strike past the St. Catherine’s keeper to make it 1-1. In the 60th minute a chance fell to Oran Higgins who put his shot narrowly over. In the 62nd minute the St. Catherine’s no.8 struck a shot off the Kildrum post.
On 65 minutes a great cross from Oran Allen was met by Shane Mc Intyre but he fired his shot just wide. In the 67th minute a free kick, given away by Reece Duncan, led to what became the match winning goal from the head of Rory Murray.
In the 70th minute a free kick from Conor Matthewson was brilliantly saved by the St. Catherine’s keeper.
Best for Kildrum was Conor Matthewson and best for St. Catherines was Rory Murray.
Lagan Harps Reserves 1 Drumkeen United Reserves 2
A great strike from the angle of the box by Vinnie Mc Laughlin decided this evenly balanced game.
Brian Farrelly for Lagan and Peter Mc Namee for Drumkeen went close early on. John Cunningham then did well to prevent his brother Ciaran opening the score for Drumkeen.
Lagan took the lead just before halftime when Brian Farrelly shot home from the edge of the area. Drumkeen started the second half well and equalised on sixty minutes.
Vinnie McLaughlin headed back across the area and Ciaran Cunningham fired home. Both teams went for it as the game went from end to end. Drumkeen then grabbed the late winner.
For Lagan Christopher McMonagle, Oran Downey and Brian Farrelly were best.
Vinnie Mc Laughlin, Peter Mc Namee and Marty Gallagher were best for Drumkeen.
Referee: James Malseed
