WHILE there were no games in the Premier Division today, Convoy Arsenal kept up their superb run in Division 1 and a scoreless draw for Glenea at Gweedore Celtic means Convoy’s go out on their own at the top of the pile. Here’s today’s roundup.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Lifford Celtic 0 St. Catherines 4
This was definitely a game of two halves and St. Catherine’s took full advantage of a strong helping breeze in the first 45minutes.
Originally fixed for Greenbrae, the match was switched to Emerald Park as Storm Ciara rendered the Lifford venue unplayable. The scoring was opened on 4 minutes with an own-goal from Anthony Crossan.
He could do nothing but put the ball in his own net from two yards as he tried his best to clear a low driven cross from the left.
On seven minutes Barry Cannon found himself one on one with the keeper and his attempted shop bounced off the keeper to find its way to Conor Doherty who slotted home to an empty net. It was all one-way traffic and the impressive Evan Broderick rose high in the box to meet a corner from the right on 15 minutes. His header flew straight to the top corner making it 3-0 to the home side.
The fourth and final goal came on 20 minutes when Ryan Cunningham slammed a left footed shot low and hard past the keeper. Ryan subsequently missed a penalty 5 minutes later when he himself was taken down in the Lifford box. Torraigh McConnell pulled off a great save to keep the score at 4-0.
Lifford improved after this and tried in vain to break down a dogged Saints defence.
Conor Breslin at left back had a good game for the visitors while a young home defence including Jack Mc Sharry and Ryan Carr done well to keep a clean sheet for St Catherine’s.
Letterbarrow Celtic 1 Convoy Arsenal 6
Convoy Arsenal continued their fine run of form with a comfortable win over Letterbarrow Celtic at a blustery and wet Tymeen.
After a tight opening to the game, which saw both sides have a good chance each, the visitors took the lead on thirty minutes when JP Malley drove a superb shot into the side netting from 25 yards.
Malley added a second three minutes later with a deflected effort. In first half injury time Convoy put the game to bed after the home side had stopped expecting a free kick and Evan McBride capitalised.
Letterbarrow battled back well at the start of the second half but Convoy fared better in the Stormy conditions. JP Malley grabbed his third on 75 minutes from close range.
Joe McGill caught out Letterbarrow on the break to add a fifth on eighty-five minutes with the sixth coming from an own goal with the last touch of the game deep in injury time.
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 2Drumoghill F.C. 3
It was smash and grab from the away side as they somehow left Rab’s Park with all three points.
The ‘71 only have themselves to blame as they battered Drumoghill in the second half but failed to find the net. The home side took the lead in the first minute when a Sean Little corner was headed home by Conor McGonigle.
Drumoghill then drew level on 10 minutes when a free kick wasn’t dealt with and Liam O’Donnell fired home. Minutes later they took the lead when Boyce brought down Callaghan inside the area and O’Donnell then fired home the penalty.
Kerrykeel got going again and Conor McGonigle got his second on 30 minutes when he fired home from 18 yards into the bottom corner. The second half began with Kerrykeel pushing and they had Drumoghill pinned back into their own box but just could not find the net. Paddy Carr first went close on 55 minutes when the Drumoghill keeper made a great save.
Michael Sweeney hit the post and Sean Little hit the crossbar from a free kick. Soon after, a Little corner was met by Conor Mc Gonigle who hit the crossbar, the rebound came to Sweeney who again hit the crossbar and the ball was cleared off the line.
In injury time Carlos Rodgers played in O’Donnell who was brought down by McDevitt who seemed to win the ball but the referee pointed to the spot and sent off McDevitt. O’Donnell then scored from the spot to secure the win. Kerrykeel just didn’t have time to get one back which is a real dent in their promotion push.
Best for Kerrykeel: Conor:Mc Gonigle, Paul Friel and Evan Hewitt.
Carlos Rogers and O’Donnell were best for Drumoghill. Referee Martin McCauley
Gweedore Celtic 0 Glenea United 0
The two local teams had to settle for a share of the points and on the day a draw was a fair result. A strong crossfield wind made it difficult for any quality football, with the result that clear cut chances were at a minimum. Defences were well on top as both midfields struggled to gain any superiority. Sean Coll and McMullin marshalled the Glenea defence whilst John Paul Gallagher and Donall Mac Giolla Bhríde did likewise for Gweedore.
Micheal McKelvey did well to stop Mc Geady from giving Glenea the lead in the 30th minute.
On the stroke of half time Jamie Doherty’s free kick was well saved by the Glenea keeper.
The second half was a very tight affair with neither side willing to give their opponents any clear-cut chances. Colin Ferry and Thomas Diver did threaten on a few occasions and Mc Kelvey had to push a Ryan Mc Fadden shot round the post. Best for Gweedore were Liam Mc Fadden and Ciaran Mc Hugh. Best for Glenea were Sean Coll and Mark Harley.
Referee: Marty Mc Garrigle
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Whitestrand United 3 Curragh Athletic 2
On a cold day where the wind was bound to play a part Whitestrand took on Curragh at McGarvey Park. The first half started with Curragh with the wind at the backs and large parts of the game were played in the Whitestrand half but there was not much threat.
Whitestrand broke forward and took the lead when Kevin McCarry calmly finished. They extended their lead when a corner was sent in and Liam O’Riordan made it 2-0.
This wasn’t long after Curragh had missed a good opportunity to equalise.
Curragh started the second half strongly and pulled one back with a good finish under the Whitestrand keeper. Whitestrand broke through and regained their two-goal lead with a second for McCarry. This looked to have put the game to bed. Curragh again responded however with another goal and they pushed for an equaliser.
Whitestrand also kept going forward and it was an open end to the game but the result between third and fourth in the table went in favour of Whitestrand who extended the gap between the two.
