It was another busy weekend of action across Inishowen as Premier Division took place across the county, with Clonmany earning themselves an impressive victory at home to Culdaff. While Greencastle travelled to Cork to take on Ringmahon Rangers in the FAI Junior Cup.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Clonmany Shamrocks 4 Culdaff FC 1
The Shamrocks got a dream start in the opening minute when Mark McLaughlin fed Jake Harkin to drill a crisp low effort from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. On ten minutes they doubled their lead after Niall McLaughlin advanced and squared for Oisin Hession to fire low past Darragh Mclaughlin from fifteen yards.
It became 3-0 on the half an hour mark when Niall Mclaughlin was allowed to run unchallenged from midfield before firing past Mclaughlin from twenty yards.
Further pressure saw both Ferghal Harkin and Niall McLaughlin hit the woodwork. Culdaff finally mustered a response on the stroke of half-time after a good run by Aiden Cunningham but his effort was saved by Patrick Harkin.
Clonmany remained on top in the second period with Mark McLaughlin and Oisin Hession both off target with efforts before at the other end Noel McLaughlin had a shot saved by Harkin.
Clonmany increased the lead on 81 minutes when substitute Brendan Devlin found space in the area and drilled low to the corner from twelve yards. Culdaff kept going to the end and got a late consolation after a scramble in the area saw Paul Mclaughlin force the ball home.
Aileach FC 0 Carn FC 3
After a fairly even opening 10 minutes Aileach carved out the first clear-cut opportunity. Darren McMonagle released Anthony Doherty and as he bore down on goal the ball took a wicked bobble and his attempt rolled harmlessly wide of Edward Doherty’s goal.
Carn responded and a free-kick wide on the left just evaded the inrushing Ryan Kelly. Midway through the half Aileach spurned a glorious chance to take the lead when Caomhin McFeeley got to the bye line and crossed for Thomas McMacken who failed to make contact with the goal at his mercy.
Aileach continued to dominate possession but the final ball let them down time and again and Doherty was relatively untroubled for the remainder of the half. With 10 minutes gone in the second half, Carn took the lead against the run of play when a right-wing cross was headed by Cade Cooke into the path of Dermot Doherty he drove high past Ciaran Bradley from the edge of the area with the ball going in off the bar.
If ever there was proof needed that goals change games this was it as Carn were a different team now and Aileach struggled to create anything meaningful.
Within another 10 minutes, Carn had doubled their lead after a right-wing cross by Cade Cooke was controlled by Aaron McCarron before slotting home cooly low past Bradley.
With Aileach pushing to get back in the game, gaps were appearing and with time almost up Cade Cooke grabbed a third for the away side when he turned home a left-wing cross from close range for a well-deserved victory.
Illies Celtic 1 Buncrana Hearts 4
Illies had an early chance in the opening minutes but Adam Duffy’s effort was well saved by James Gallagher in the Hearts goal.
But the Hearts responded and when Kieran McDaid’s cross was flicked on by Michael Coyle the ball deflected off an unfortunate defender past William McLaughlin in the home goal.
They doubled their lead then on 35 minutes with a brilliant team goal which ended with Ryan Curran feeding McDaid who drilled a sublime low shot inside the post from the edge of the area.
Before the break, Illies tried to reply with Liam Grant finding Paul Doherty but his effort was well gathered low to his right by Gallagher. Ten minutes into the second period Buncrana made it three nil when McDaid broke through the home defence and fired low past McLaughlin from a tight angle.
Midway through the half, the home side reduced the deficit after Adrian Donaghey Doherty burst into the area and squared for Duffy to slot home. But with ten minutes remaining Buncrana scored a fourth after McDaid broke on the right and pulled the ball back to Michael Coyle to fire high to the roof of the net from twelve yards.
In the final minute, a Liam Grant driven cross was diverted goalwards by Liam Doherty but Gallagher made a tremendous one-handed save to deny him.
FAI Junior Cup
Ringmahon Rangers (Cork) 1 Greencastle FC 2
Greencastle made the long long trip to Cork worthwhile with a very late show on Saturday afternoon as they scored twice in the closing minutes to come from behind and advance to the last 16.
The home side got off to a great start when they broke the deadlock on eight minutes after a deep cross from the left by David O’Leary saw Jordan O’Sullivan head past Dillon Doherty.
Eamon Donnelly responded for the visitors but was off target. The home side then went close when Kevin O’Regan broke in a one on one but Doherty saved well.
Greencastle had a good spell, with Jamie McCormick seeing a half-volley tipped over by Cian O’Connor before the keeper saved from Matthew Henry and punched a Shaun Doherty effort clear.
Greencastle had the first chance of the second half when substitute Michael Barr advanced and unleashed a 25-yard effort which O’Connor saved. Midway through the half O’Regan had an effort well saved by Doherty.
Greencastle really upped the tempo in the last twenty minutes with Henry seeing one effort sail over before seeing a goal-bound header blocked.
The pressure finally told in the 87th minute when Nigel McMonagle broke on the left and his cross was sidefooted home from six yards by Jamie McCormick.
Then they struck for the winner deep into injury time after Christy Hegarty flicked the ball on for Shaun Doherty who controlled on the edge of the area before firing a left-footed effort low to the corner.
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