Keadue Rovers overcame Buncrana Hearts in the Ulster Junior Cup yesterday, with Kildrum Tigers also tasting victory. in the Ulster Junior Cup There were also fixtures in the Ulster Junior Shield.
Sunday 26thJanuary 2020
Ulster Junior Cup
Keadue Rovers 2-1 Buncrana Hearts
Keadue Rovers advanced to the semi-finals of the Ulster Junior Cup at the expense of Buncrana Hearts after this tightly contested quarter final at Central Park.
In what were good conditions for football, the away side were quicker out of the blocks and created a chance in the first few minutes and for the opening ten minutes they were on top in the possession stakes with Keadue content to hit on the break.
The visitors were ahead on eleven minutes when a foul was committed just inside the box and up stepped full back Declan Fullerton do coolly dispatch for the opener. Keadue responded well, moving the ball about but not creating anything in the way of chances. Buncrana’s front men were holding it up well and on eighteen minutes they had a shot just narrowly over the bar.
They were close again five minutes later with a shot from the edge of the area. Towards the half hour though, things started to even out a bit and it became slightly scrappy. Keadue started to apply some pressure and were rewarded on thirty-seven minutes when some good play led to Calum Boyle running towards the box and following a one two with Luke Neely he fired home a good leveller.
Buncrana reacted very well to this and were on top for the closing ten minutes of the first half, forcing several corners and had a shot cleared off the line. At the start of the second half, Buncrana were once again the quicker starters and had a goal chalked for offside after a free kick. They were again unlucky on fifty-one minutes when their striker had a shot well saved by Danny Rodgers.
Keadue, despite having not much in the way of possession were resolute in defence and were frustrating the visitors who could not break them down. The game again became a little scrappy midway through the second half. The visitors were unlucky again when Darrach O’Connor made a good run on sixty-five minutes but his final shot went just wide. Despite the pressure the home side held firm and the impressive Chris Greene at centre half was equal to anything thrown at him.
In the final fifteen minutes Keadue did get more possession and David Ward was unlucky with a free kick on eighty minutes which was deflected over. On eighty-five minutes a good move, which had a couple of blocked attempts at first, eventually fell to Jay Doherty on the edge of the box. He took a few touches, went wide, and hit a rasping effort to the top of the net to spark great celebrations.
The visitors threw everything at Keadue and were unlucky with a last-ditch effort which went just wide. Keadue were not to be denied after some gallant defending and stuck in for a gritty win. Best for Buncrana were Calvin allagher and Declan Fullerton and best for Keadue were Calum Boyle, Chris Greene, Jay Doherty and Luke Neely.
Castlefin Celtic 0-1 Kildrum Tigers
Kildrum advanced to the semi-finals of the Ulster Cup after an extra time win in Park View. There were very few chances throughout the game with Kildrum sitting back and hitting the hosts on the break.
In the 50th minute Castlefin won a penalty when Raymond Foy was taken down in the box but Ronan Tourish’s spot kick was well saved. Kildrum started to come into the game without really creating many chances. The home side had efforts from Foy and Ciaran Friel but saw their efforts saved. Kildrum had a few half chances themselves through Michael Lynch and Kevin Mc Hugh. In the dying seconds Mc Hugh won a penalty and stepped up himself to score. Referee: Stephen Toner
Cavan Town 3-2 Cockhill Celtic Youths
Cockhill will feel aggrieved not to have forced extra time at least as a number of key decisions went against them. They started well and took the lead midway through the half after Mark McDaid fed the overlapping David Laird whose cross picked out Michael Owen Doherty and he controlled and fired low to the net.
But on the stroke of half time the home side were awarded a dubious penalty for an innocuous challenge and Packie Sheridan converted. The home side took the lead on 58minutes when Paul Smith headed on a long kick out which looped over the stranded Liam McGonigle.
But Cockhill replied and levelled when a superb Adam McLaughlin cross found Odhran O Brien-Daly who fired home at the back post. Cockhill failed to consolidate and were caught out when Smith split their defence with a sublime pass for Sheridan to convert. Cockhill pressed late on but the closest they came was with Oisin O Flaherty firing inches wide.
Ulster Junior Shield
Glengad Res 3-1Arranmore United
Glengad avenged their semi final defeat from last year at the holders Arranmores hands with this come from behind victory. After a slow opening to the game both John G McDermott and Paul McGonagle fired over for the home side.
The visitors replied and Aiden Proctor cut in from the right but fired over the bar when well placed as the half ended scoreless. Arranmore broke the deadlock on 55 minutes when Garvan McGlanaghy latched onto a long clearance and finished well past Michael McLaughlin.
But the home side equalised on the hour after Paul McDermott laid the ball off to Nathan McConalogue and he fired to the top corner. They took the lead then on 73 minutes when McDermott converted a penalty after he had been upended. They sealed the tie when McConalogue won possession and advanced past two defenders into the area before slotting home. Proctor had a late chance for the visitors but fired over from the edge of the area.
Redcastle United 1-4 Glencar Celtic
Glencar started on the front foot and dominated the opening minutes of the game. Rerdcastle’s defence was breached in the 5th minute when a cross from Boyle found Jordan McGinty and he controlled the ball well and slotted past the keeper. Glencar continued to push for a second but the Redcastle defence stood firm.
Redcastle equalised against the run of play when a long ball from Rhys Davenport found Daragh McConway who ran through but saw his effort smartly saved by the keeper but the ball fell back to McConway and he slotted into the open net. Redcastle now started to get a foothold in the game but were unable to take their chances.
With 10 minutes left Glencar took the lead again when a cross from Garvin Greene found Jordan McGinty again and he headed past the keeper.Redcastle started the second half very positively but were unable to get an equaliser. Then with Glencar’s first attack of the second half they scored.
A cross from Kieran Maloney found Paddy Collins he flicked the bouncing ball over the keepers head. Minutes later Glencar added a fourth when a through ball from Kieran Maloney found Collins and he fired past the keeper. Glencar dominated possession and could have added more goals but the Redcastle defence coped with them well.
Culdaff Res 0-4 Strand Rovers
The visitors were too strong for the home side and early attempts from James McCole and Matthew O Donnell were well saved by Dermot Callaghan. Rovers took the lead in the 13th minute when Brendan Glackin broke on the right and crossed for McCole to slam the ball into the bottom left hand corner from twelve yards.
David McCarron then pounced on a misplaced header but saw his effort cleared off the line by Michael McLaughlin.Culdaff rallied and when Dammien Duffy blocked a clearance from keeper McGovern the ball fell to Mark Doherty in a great position but his effort was blocked and cleared.
They should have equalised on 44 minutes after a superb cross from Doherty found Crampsey who volleyed over the bar from six yards. Then at the other end Glackin somehow miscued when the goal was gaping as the half ended. Two goals in the opening six minutes ended the game as a contest.
Firstly the unmarked Glackin headed home from six yards after Shane O Donnells free. The Glackin found himself in acres of space on the left to advance into the area and slot low under Callaghan. Culdaff substitute Peter McCallion then unleashed a well struck effort which McGovern held under the bar. The visitors completed the scoring after substitute Jack Doherty threaded a ball through for Doalty Boyle who rounded Callaghan to slot home.
Greencastle Res 2-3 Oldtown Celtic
Tommy McLaughlin broke the offside trap and calmly placed the ball over the advancing Bovaird in the Greencastle goal togive the visitors an early lead. Both teams exchanged chances with Bovaird advancing from his line to take the ball from Shaun McCleary before David Henry fired just wide from the edge of the box at the other end.
The second half started with both teams battling it out on the midfield. Oldtown Celtic made it two after Tommy McLaughlin again beat the offside trap to double his tally for the day. Oldtown then made it 3three nil when Shaun McCleary dispossed Daniel Rowan in the corner and advanced to slot into the bottom corner from a narrow angle.Greencastle responded and upped the tempo and reduced the deficit when Andrew Peoples got on end of a Gavin Rowan free to slot home. Greencastle pushed hard in the last 15 minutes with Joe Doherty and Shaun Cavanagh making the Oldtown defense work.
With the game entering the last few minutes Andrew Peoples picked himself up after being fouled in the box to convert from the Penalty spot. But Oldtown held on to record a 3-2 victory.
Aileach Res 3-0 Cockhill Res
Aileach qualified for the next round with a hard fought 3-0 victory over Cockhill at Lakeside. Aileach started brightly but failed to create any meaningful chances in the opening quarter.
The deadlock was broken on the half hour when Paddy Curran raced clear on the right and pulled the ball across the goal to Stephen Doherty who skilfully sidestepped the defender and fired inside the near post from 15 yards. Cockhill almost got on term just before half time when Marty Breslins header at the near post following a corner was well saved by David McGeady. Aileach controlled most of the play in the second half with Cockhill ever dangerous on the break. Aileach increased their lead with 20 minutes to go when Currans cross from the right found Doherty at the back post and he volleyed into the bottom corner for his and Aileach’s second. Cockhill battled gamely and came close when Kevin McDaid advanced and fired just wide from 20 yards. Aileach added a third with ten minutes left on the clock when a long clearance from McGeady caused confusion in the Cockhill defence and Paddy Curran took full advantage to beat a defender and keeper to the ball and fired into the unguarded net. Doherty had two great chances to complete his hat-trick following good play from Shane McMonagle and Curran but he fired the first chance over the bar and Friel in the Cockhill goal blocked his second effort. Both teams have to do it all again at the same venue next week in the Fr. O’Gara Cup.
Drumbar 3-0 Rasheney FC
After surviving an early penalty, Rasheney created the first opening when John Mc Laughlin’s effort from a Charlie Doherty free was gathered comfortably by Oisin Bryson. Drumbar’s response came from Nathan Carr but his low effort from Joe Mc Ginty’s right wing cross was just past the upright.
A long ball delivered by keeper Paddy Mc Gilloway was allowed to travel beyond the home defence but John Mc Laughlin could not capitalise and minutes later a scuffed shot from Mc Laughlin from an acute angle on the left was dealt with by Bryson. David Mc Laughlin then dinked a short cross into the danger area but Doherty headed over from close range. Just before half time Mc Gilloway gathered a free struck from distance by Daniel Bennett.
The home side upped the tempo after the interval. Caolan Loughney’s 20 yard attempt took a deflection and travelled wide and they they opened the scoring after 53 minutes when the referee ruled that Bennett’s fiercely struck 25 yard free had crossed the goal line after it had come off the underside of the crossbar before being cleared.
At the other end good interplay between David Mc Laughlin and Shane Cregan took the former close in on goal but the ball was cleared before he could apply the finishing touch. Shortly after Doherty had an attempt from outside the box held by Bryson Drumbar doubled their lead when Joe Gillespie’s low cross into the area found sub Vinny Breslin ghosting in at the back post to hammer past Mc Gilloway and Bennett made it 3 – 0 when he bundled home Tyrone O’ Shea’s delivery from the right wing.
Whitestrand United 1-3 Quigleys Point Swifts
Whitestrand welcomed Quigleys Point Swifts from the Inishowen League to Mc Garvey Park for this Ulster Junior Shield competition clash. Going into this first ever match between the two sides, both teams had been having a reasonably decent season thus far in their respective leagues, having only lost two matches.
The home team sitting second in the third flight of the Donegal Junior League with the visitors sitting in second position in the second tier of the Inishowen League.
In a game played in perfect conditions, the home side almost went ahead after 4 minutes when Aaron Curran’s long distance effort to chip the keeper, hit the crossbar and bounced on the goal line and out.
Kevin Mc Carry had a chance soon after to put the home side in front but he chose to take the ball down where a headed effort may have been the better option. QPS first real attempt came on 17 minutes from a free kick on the left-hand side on the penalty box.
The beautifully flighted set piece from Lee Barr was met with a bullet header from six yards which was brilliantly turned over the bar by Paddy Kelly in the Whitestrand goals. Kelly, who has only played a few matches this season, produced an excellent double save on 33 minutes to deny Stephen Mc Kendry & Caolan Mc Colgan in the QPS forward-line from taking the lead. The break through goal came for the home side on 42 minutes when a great defensive tackle on Shaun Kerr by a QPS defender fell to Liam O’ Riordan and Whitestrand’s top scorer finished to the bottom left corner of the net, despite the best efforts of the goalkeeper. Half-time score was 1-0.
Quigley Point Swifts came flying out of the blocks in the second half and should have equalised on 47 minutes when John Mc Closkey hit the upright with a header at the back post. The game turned around completely in the first 20 minutes of the second half. On the hour mark, Niall Trearty’s poor defensive clearance let Caolan Mc Colgan through on goal and just as the forward was about to shoot, Trearty, trying desperately to atone for his mistake, was adjudged to have fouled the striker and referee, Sean O’ Donnell, awarded a penalty to the visitors.
QPS centre half, Lee Barr stepped forward and made no mistake from the spot kick to give the visitors a well-deserved equaliser. Within two minutes of the restart, QPS took the lead with a header at the back post following some poor defensive play from the Whitestrand rearguard. The game was effectively put beyond Whitestrand in the 67th minute when QPS’s scored their third goal from a brilliant finish from Caolan Mc Colgan, firing an unstoppable shot to the top left corner of the net, giving Paddy Kelly no chance whatsoever.
The home team pressed hard to get back into the game and despite introducing several substitutes in the final quarter of the game, never seriously threatened the visitors. John Mc Closkey and Caolan Mc Colgan stood out for Quigleys Point Swifts while Paddy Kelly, Ronan Morris & Kevin Mc Carry were best for Whitestrand United. Referee: Sean O’ Donnell.
Curragh Athletic 6-1 Glenea United Reserves
Curragh welcomed Glenea to the Sports Complex in Killygordon for an Ulster Shield game played in perfect conditions. It was the home side that broke the dead lock on 15 minutes when the on-fire Tim Callaghan scored a great individual goal.
Then on 30 minutes the home side got their second when a great ball into the box saw the defender slice it into his own net. On 50 minutes Mickey Black went on a great run and finished well. Gary Quinn scored a screamer on 70 minutes then Callaghan got his second. Micky Black got his second and Curragh’s sixth to complete a great performance. Callaghan and Black best for Curragh.
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