It was another thrilling weekend of soccer across the Donegal League as high-drama occurred across the county. Full round-up of results below.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Glencar Inn Saturday Division one
St. Catherines Reserves 0-7 Arranmore United
Both teams started well in windy conditions. Arranmore scored on 25 minutes and extended their lead on 35 minutes. In the second-half the away side made it 3-0 on 60 minutes. In the final 15 minutes, the away side pressed on and added 4 more goals. Excellent team performance by the Islanders.
Glencar Celtic 4-2 Oldtown Celtic
Tough conditions at Flagpole for the big Letterkenny Derby. Oldtown started much the better side and worked an opening that ended with Dom Friel’s tackle giving away a penalty. Friel duly made amends as he made a top-class save to keep the sides level.
Oldtown, however, were looking dangerous and deservedly took the lead midway through the half with a fine lofted finish. Glencar eventually got to grips with things and worked a couple of openings before Marty Brogan eventually bundled home an equaliser. A tidy Odhran Barron finish then gave Glencar the lead at the break.
Conditions improved in the second half. Glencar were now playing well and another goal from Barron, after a lovely passing move, gave Glencar a cushion.
It was four before long when substitute Paddy Collins got in on the scoring act. As Glencar took their foot off the gas they conceded a second penalty which was converted to make it 4-2 and that’s the way it finished.
Referee: Marty Mc Garrigle
Voodoo Venue Cup
Fintown Harps AFC 2-3 Keadue Rovers Reserves
In the first half, it was all Fintown and they went in one up at half time through Jason Campbell.
In the second-half, Keadue were the better team for 30 minutes and found an equaliser and indeed a lead goal.
Fintown got back into the game courtesy of a super goal from Eunan Doherty. With the game heading for extra time, Sean Mc Millan was taken down from the free-kick from which Eunan Doherty found the winning goal.
Sunday 3rd March 2019
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Keadue Rovers 1-3 Castlefin Celtic
Castlefin Celtic kept up their title challenge with this impressive victory over Keadue at Central Park. The visitors were probing away and on twenty-six minutes went one up when a shot from the left was parried by Danny Rodgers but JP Malley ran in to tap home the rebound.
It was a deserved lead for the visitors but it only lasted 4 minutes. From a rare Keadue attack, Cory Gallagher pounced with a fine diving header to make it 1-1.
Keadue almost went ahead a minute from half time when Daniel Ward’s shot from long range was fumbled and Michael Greene’s shot was blocked at the near post.
Into the second half and it was Castlefin who had the brighter start and caught the home side napping on fifty minutes when, after moving the ball down the left-hand side, the ball was worked to the far post and Rory Dalton hammered low to the net. Keadue responded well to going behind, forcing a few set pieces and corners but never really threatened the keeper.
The game was wrapped up on seventy-eight minutes when Barry Tourish netted following a defensive mix up. Keadue kept their heads up in the final ten minutes and tried hard but the visitors could’ve added to their tally only for a few fine saves from Danny Rodgers in the home goal.
Best for Castlefin were Ronan Tourish, JP Malley and Peter Bryson while best for Keadue were Cory Gallagher, Danny Rodgers and Shaun Yank Boyle.
Referee: Alastair Gourley.
Rathmullan Celtic 3-2 Kildrum Tigers
Michael Deeney’s Hoops boosted their top-flight survival fight with a clinical win at a packed Flagpole Field.
The Hoops took the lead on 18 minutes when starlet full back Reggie Miller crossed into the area with Jay Dee Alawiye stretching for a header which was saved well by Rory Carr but the rebound was finished off by Alawiye.
Kildrum were right back in contention just before the break on 38 minutes when, after an initial strike from forward Matthew Crossan, the referee adjudged that it hit Miller in the hand and from the resulting penalty William Lynch made no mistake to level proceedings. On 54 minutes Rathmullan winger Ryan Connolly crossed for Mc Cahill who finished with aplomb.
On the hour mark Miller was put through one on one with keeper Carr but the full back was alleged to have controlled the ball with his hand and from the resulting free kick Kildrum were right back in the game when a long ball into the Hoop’s defence saw Odhran Mc Mahon lob keeper Shaun Gallagher much to the frustration of the home support.
The Hoops persevered despite the setbacks and deservedly took the lead on 74 minutes. Alan Boal put an “eye of a needle “pass through to Wilson who capped off his Man of the Match performance with a clinical finish inside Carr’s near post. The Tigers keeper Carr had a superb game and denied Alawiye moments later.
Mark Wilson and Jay Dee Alawiye inspired a Hoops side who were top class in all departments against a resolute Tigers side with Matty Crossan impressing most at the Seaside.
Referee: Mick Lagan
Glenea United 0-4 Cappry Rovers
Cappry ran out convincing winners in Glasserchoo with a 4-0 victory. Aaron Kelly opened the scoring after nine minutes when he got on the end of a long ball that split the defence.
Four minutes later Cappry were two up when good work on the right by James Murray set up Arron Kelly who slotted to the corner.
On the 40th minute, Cappry struck again, this time with a long ball that seemed to go over everyone and bounce into the net.
Glenea started off the second half better and pushed men forward. Darren Ferry came close in the 49th minute when his effort came off the upright.
Cappry finished off the scoring in the 75th minute when a cross was tapped in by David Gethins. Good team performance by Cappry
Donegal Town 1-2 Kilmacrennan Celtic
Kilmacrennan Celtic maintained their title charge with a hard-fought victory at the Hospital Field. The visitors started the brighter and created a few early chances, the best of which saw Daire McDaid shoot narrowly over when put through one on one.
McDaid made no such mistake moments later when he pounced on a loose ball inside the area to fire his side ahead. Donegal came into the game after the goal with both Ronan Mc Hugh and Matthew Mc Kenna going close on separate occasions. After the re-start, Donegal piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser. Kilmacrennan always remained a threat and drew a wonderful save from Enda O’ Hagan, in the Donegal goal, from a free kick. Ronan Mc Hugh had the Town level ten minutes into the half, firing an unstoppable drive into the top corner. They weren’t level for long however, as Kilmacrennan scored almost directly from the kickoff.
It was once again that man McDaid who scored, what proved to be the winner, with a fine finish.
Both sides had chances late on but Donegal failed to convert their chances as Kilmacrennan defended superbly to preserve their advantage and seal what could prove to be a crucial three points.
Referee: Patrick Martin
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Drumoghill F.C. 0-4 Ballybofey United
A second-half hat-trick from hitman Damian Glackin saw the visitors, Ballybofey United, cruise to three valuable points against 10-man Drumoghill FC at “The Moss”. Glackin was clinical during a dominant second-half performance but he will be the first to credit his strike partner Jude Patton who was creative throughout.
The game though hinged on a red card in the 34th minute for a show of dissent from Ciaran Daffan. Although Ballybofey were ahead at that stage through Mark Griffin’s early strike, the game was really in the balance with both teams enjoying good spells of possession. Griffin had earlier capitalised on poor marking in the Drumoghill rearguard to find the net from 12 yards.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Drumoghill produced a spirited start to the second half and should really have levelled the scores on 47 minutes when Liam O’ Donnell slalomed his way through the Ballybofey defence with only Chris Patton denying him with a super save at his near post.
Despite showing promise, Drumoghill found themselves further behind on 54 minutes when Gavin Doherty released Jude Patton who beat the offside trap before finding Glackin at the back post to find the net.
It was 3-0 when the same combination sent Glackin clear again and he rounded Toner before firing home.
Glackin sealed his hat-trick on 61 minutes when he was first to react to Ryan Duffy’s superb effort from fully 30 yards which came back of the crossbar.
Convoy Arsenal 0-3 Cranford United
Cranford dominated play in the first half. Cranford took the lead on 43 minutes when Chris Duffy headed home a free kick that was whipped into the area.
Things got worse for Convoy just before the half time whistle as Gary Wilson got sent off reducing the home side to 10 men.
Convoy started the second half well, pressuring Cranford, and came close to equalising with Cranford’s keeper making a good save from Joe Mc Gill’s free kick. Cranford doubled their lead when Convoy’s keeper failed to clear a cross and Pauric Mc Ginty headed into an empty net. Mc Ginty made sure of the points for the visitors, getting his second of the match in the 85th minute.
Lifford Celtic 2-1 Lagan Harps
Played in perfect conditions, Lifford welcomed Lagan to Greenbrae. It was the away side who had the best of the early exchanges and should have hit the front as early as the 10th minute following a defensive mix up.
Lifford gradually gained some composure and created numerous chances for the remainder of the first half but Mc Fadden in the Lagan goal was equal to the Lifford pressure.
Lifford eventually broke the deadlock on the hour as Brian Breslin beat three defenders inside the box to finish. The same player doubled the home side’s advantage on their next attack as he calmly dispatched from 18 yards.
Lagan halved the deficit following a fine strike from the edge of the box which went in off the post. Brian Breslin had a late chance to complete his hat-trick but his volley went wide of the post.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Letterbarrow Celtic 5-3 Glenree United
Letterbarrow produced a great home display against a very well organized Glenree team. Dillon Mc Groary opened the scoring with a great finish and Gerard Mc Brearty soon doubled the home side’s lead with a great finish into the bottom corner. Kevin Mc Brearty put the home side three up after using his speed to counter a Glenree set-piece.
Barney Boyce got one back for Glenree before Gerard Mc Brearty put the home side 4-1 up at half time.
Glenree started the second half better and despite going a man down Barney Boyce scored from a set piece and then a penalty to keep the game alive. Letterbarrow looked nervous but James Mc Groary scored in the dying moments to make sure Letterbarrow took all three points.
Dunkineely Celtic 0-3 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C.
The first 20 minutes of this fixture was end to end and then from a corner on 25minutes Conor Mc Gonigle hit the net for Kerrykeel.
Corey Byrne in the Dunkineely goal pulled off some great saves to keep the score to 1-0 at half time. Dunkineely started the 2nd half well and dominated for the first 10 minutes.
They could have scored but Kerrykeel came back into the game and on 70minutes the Dunkineely keeper took down Sean Little and Johnny Friel scored from a penalty.
Kerrykeel took control and added another through Bernard Mc Gettigan and the game ended 3-0. A well-fought contest, best for Dunkineely were Aaron Byrne and Corey Byrne while best for Kerrykeel were Johnny Friel. Paddy Carr and Sean Little.
Deele Harps 2-1 Copany Rovers
Deele welcomed a determined Copany on a fine day for football. The game was contested largely in the Copany area but a mixture of last-ditch defending and poor finishing gave the away side hope. On 20 minutes against the run of play, Copany took the lead with a fine finish from a runner from midfield. Deele continued to dominate possession without finding a breakthrough.
It took until the 78th minute for Deele to equalise, Conor Catterson converted from the spot after Aidy Gallagher was brought down. Copany hearts were broke on 82 minutes when Aidy Gallagher finished well following good work from Cameron Mahon. Copany then had to come out and Deele should have added to their tally but it finished 2-1.
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