As the semi-finals of the Clubman Shirts got underway, several teams continued the action in the Inishowen Football League.
Illies FC 0 Glengad United 3
After a tight opening period in which defences were on top Illies threatened first when Kevin McGonagle burst into the area but a superb Matthew Byrne tackle averted the danger.
Glengad gradually began to press and when Terence Doherty broke clear of the home defence on 26-minutes Johnathan Noone advanced to block superbly. Ten minutes later a superb Byrne cross from the left found Conor Barrow but his goalbound effort was brilliantly tipped away by Noone as the half ended scorelessly.
Glengad had the first chance of the second period when Terence Doherty unleashed a thunderbolt which crashed off the bar. But they took the lead on 64 minutes when Barrow despatched a superb free-kick to the top corner from the edge of the area.
Illies then had a great chance to get back into the game when a Paul Doherty cross found Paddy Doherty but his header was well saved by Daniel Mullarkey.
Glengad struck for the crucial second goal on 79-minutes when Barrow outpaced the home defence to run onto a long ball and neatly tuck the ball past the advancing Noone.
Glengad added a third in the final minute when substitute Christy McLaughlin broke clear but was denied by Noone and the ball fell to another substitute Patrick McDermott to slot home.
Redcastle FC 1 Culdaff FC 4
The game started lively with neither side having any clear chances. After three minutes, a corner from Redcastle was well defended by Culdaff who then broke quickly, it should have been a certain goal for Noel McLaughlin but a last-ditch challenge from Seamus Doherty stopped the ball from going into the empty net.
A couple of minutes later Redcastle played the ball out well from the back and worked it up the pitch and eventually, Brendan Murphy had his header well saved by Dara McLaughlin to keep it scoreless.
From the resulting corner kick, the visitors broke quickly again and this time a great cross from Matthew McLarkey found Michael Coyle who headed well into the bottom corner to give Culdaff the lead.
With a quarter of an hour played Culdaff had their second when they worked the ball from the back to Shaun O’Neill who had to put the ball in an empty net.
Ten minutes later Redcastle should have had their first goal of the game when a cross from Joe McCauley found Cahir McLaughlin who with just the keeper in front of him saw his shot smartly saved by the foot of McLaughlin but the ball fell to Aiden McLaughlin who saw his rebound saved brilliantly by McLaughlin again.
On the half-hour mark, a delightful chip from Brian McCandless found McLarkey again who headed in Culdaff’s third. With five minutes until half- time Redcastle were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, it was well struck by Shaun Curran but it was well saved by again by Dara McLaughlin who got down well to the bottom left corner and parried it wide.
On the stroke of half-time, a good cross from Matthew McLarkey found Michael Coyle who made it four-nil at the break.
Redcastle almost had the perfect start when half-time substitute Eunan Mullan saw his shot fantastically saved by Dara McLaughlin. Minutes later Aiden McLaughlin had another effort tipped wide as Culdaff kept their clean sheet intact.
On the 51st minute, a long ball from Cahir McLaughlin found Aiden McLaughlin who saw his shot come off the top of the crossbar.
Five minutes later Aiden McLaughlin had another effort saved by Dara McLaughlin to keep Redcastle at bay.
On the hour mark a great turn from Brendan Murphy put him through on the keeper and he unselfishly squared it to Aiden McLaughlin but great reactions from Dara McLaughlin somehow managed to keep it out.
Minutes later Aiden McLaughlin had another chance but this time his shot beat the keeper only to hit the outside of the post.
In the last minute, a good pass from Aiden McLaughlin found Stephen McLaughlin who’s volley took a wicked deflection and looped over the Culdaff keeper and gave Redcastle the goal they deserved.
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