It was another hectic weekend of football in the Inishowen League.
Sunday 17th October
FAI Junior Cup
Glengad United 2-0 Fanad United
There was little by way of goalmouth action in this game until the 20th minute when after good build up play by the home side, John McDaid sent Terence Doherty away on the right and he pulled the ball back to Stephen McLaughlin on the edge of the area but he fired just over.
Fanad replied with Dominic Dillon finding Seamus Coyle who burst through midfield but shot narrowly wide of Daniel Mullarkey’s left hand post.
Glengad took the lead after half an hour when a John McDaid corner was not cleared and John G McLaughlin fired home from six yards. Fanad came more into the game then and spurned a massive chance from a Patrick McGilloway corner which fell to Caolan McElwaine, but he blazed over a gaping goal from six yards.
The home side had the final chance of the half when a long Matthew Byrne clearance sent Brandon Browne clear but he shot over the bar from the edge of the area. Fanad made the better start to the second period with Pat Mc Ginty firstly heading a Conal O Donnell cross straight at Mullarkey before then heading over following a corner from six yards.
Glengad upped the tempo then with James McKinney firing inches wide after good build up by McLaughlin and Doherty had set him up. Cathal Mcdaid then cut in from the left only to see his effort superbly saved by Matthew McConaghey in the Fanad goal. The Fanad keeper then made another superb save to deny McKinney from point blank
range.
Glengad sealed the win on 77 minutes when John McDaid fed substitute Conor Barrow and he cut inside from the left and fired low past McConaghey. In the latter stages Mclaughlin was denied by the keeper and Doherty fired over as Glengad advance to a meeting with Kildrum in a couple of weeks to see who goes into the open draw stage this year.
Carn FC 2-4 Kildrum Tigers
Veteran Kildrum striker Kevin McHugh fired the home side ahead in the 13th
minute when he ran onto a through ball and fired past Gavin Mc Laughlin in the home goal.
Carn equalised on the half hour when a Denim McLaughlin effort came off the post to Kyran Cantwell whose follow up was
well parried by the keeper only for Dayton Cooke to tap home. The final chance of the half fell to McHugh but McLaughlin in the home goal was equal to his effort.
Kildrum started the second half well and Gary Crossan forced McLaughlin into a good save before they took the lead on 59 minutes. Matthew Crossan advanced and released Gary Crossan to drill low to the
corner.
Kildrum increased their lead on 78 minutes when Crossan cut in from theleft and finished brilliantly to the top corner. Carn set up a grandstand finish on 85 minutes when Christy Doherty flicked home a free kick to the bottom corner.
However, with the homeside pushing hard Kildrum sealed things in the final minute with Ethan Coll racing clear of the home defence to shoot low past McLaughlin and advance to a meeting with Glengad United.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Clonmany Shamrocks 1-2 Illies Celtic
Chances were few and far between in the opening half with both Dean Harkin and Jake Harkin seeing shots deflected wide. Illies probably had the best chance on 31 minutes after Ronan Hegarty broke clear on the right and was denied by a fine blocking save from Liam McGonigle in the shamrocks goal. Clonmany had the final chance of the half after Aaron Porter and Matthew Brennan combined to release Harkin on the left but he was denied by the advancing Noone.
In the second half, the shamrocks were the first to show when Shane McCaul fed Dean Harkin but he fired over the bar. Illies replied and had a good chance when Hegarty received a Frankie O’Connor pass and in a one on one poked the ball wide of the advancing McGonigle but wide of the post. The visitors then broke the deadlock on 59 minutes when Adrian
Donaghey Doherty got on the end of a Dominick Doherty cross to side foot home at the back post.
Clonmany then got back on terms eleven minutes later when Oisin Hession converted a penalty low to Noones right after McCaul had been bundled over in the area. But Illies struck for the winner and a vital three points on 79 minutes when Donaghey Doherty‘s cross found Liam Doherty on the right and he advanced past two challenges before drilling low across
McGonigle to the bottom corner.
Clubman Shirts League Cup Semi Finals
Buncrana Hearts 3-3 Aileach FC (Buncrana win 4-3 on penalties)
The first chance came on 5 minutes to the Hearts after a Kieran McDaid free found Kevin O’Loughlin who headed over when well placed. At the other end Darren McMonagle fired just wide before Buncrana again had a chance with Mikey Friels effort saved by Darragh McLaughlin.
The visitors suffered a blow when they had to replace Jordan McGeady before the half hour. Buncrana had another good chance after John Timlin released McDaid but well placed he failed to hit the target. Aileach finished the half the better and created the best chances of the game with substitute Killian O’Rourke releasing McMonagle who was denied by a superb save from Eoghan O’Doherty.
On the stroke of half time O’Doherty’s punch fell to Aaron Nash but he blazed over the bar. Aileach started the second half well and on 47 minutes Shane McMonagle released Nash who rounded the keeper but saw his goal bound effort cleared off the line by Ryan Doherty. Buncrana then took the lead on 59 minutes after a McDaid corner was headed home by O’Loughlin from eight yards.
Play was flowing from end to end and Darren McMonagle headed wide before Nash saw another goal bound header was tipped over by O’Doherty. Aileach substitute O’Rourke then saw an effort saved before seeing the rebound blocked by one of his own players. Aileach equalised on 85 minutes after Thomas McMonagle headed home a free kick from five yards. They then took the lead on the stroke of full time after a poor defensive pass was pounced on by Nash who squared for Darren McMonagle to tap home. Three minutes into injury time the home side equalised after Declan Fullerton advanced on the left and his crossfield ball was brilliantly volleyed into the net from ten yards by O’Loughlin to force extra time.
It was Buncrana then who took the lead when two minutes into extra time Kieran McDaid broke on the right and fired past McLaughlin with the aid of a slight deflection. But again Aileach got level before half-time when Darren McMonagle cut inside from the right and fired a superb shot just inside the post giving O’Doherty no chance. In the second half the only chance fell to the home side when a Kieran McDaid free kick eluded all and clipped the outside of the post.
In the shootout Buncrana scored their first four kicks and when Aileach failed to convert their fourth and fifth it was Buncrana who now advance to a final with Greencastle.
Cockhill Youths 2-4 Greencastle FC
Greencastle FC advanced to the final of the Clubman Shirts League Cup with a hard fought 4-2 victory against a youthful Cockhill Youths side. The visitors went in front early, on 4 minutes, when Nigel McMonagle, broke clear on the right channel to cross for Jack Coyle to tap home from eight yards out giving young Eoin Colhoun no chance in the home net. The home side tried to play their way back into the game but found it difficult to get any period off possession.
The visitors hit the home side on the break for the second on 13 minutes when Shea McLaughlin advanced on the right and had the composure to slide the ball low pass the advancing Colhoun from 18 yards. Cockhill responded well and Michael Owen Doherty took control of a pass from Bobby Bradley on 30 minutes and shot right footed only to see his effort bounce to safety off the bottom of the upright.
Greencastle went three up on 40 minutes after a long diagonal ball from defence by Michael Barr found Jack Coyle in the left channel and as he advanced into the area his right footed shot at a tight angle to the by-line
found its way low past the unfortunate Colhoun into the net at the keepers near post.
Cockhill were much improved in the second period as they got a lot closer to the opponents and on 55 minutes Adam McLaughlin advanced well from midfield only to drag his effort wide of Paddy Quigleys’ right hand post. Cockhill pulled a goal back on 75 minutes when McLaughlin made a great run down the right and his cross was deflected past the keeper by the unfortunate Michael Barr.
The visitors responded immediately when Jamie McCormick received a short pass from James Henry to shoot right footed to the net from twenty five yards after he was afforded too much time outside the area. Cockhill pulled another goal back on 84 minutes after a McLaughlin corner on the right again deflected into the net by a visiting
defender from six yards, giving Quigley no chance.
Strand Hotel Division One
Redcastle United 1-2 Greencastle Youths
In a scrappy game the visitors went close in the 14th minute when Evan
Davenport found Andrew Peoples who unleashed a twenty yard effort which crashed off the bar. Greencastle then took the lead on 35 minutes after a Ben Doherty cross found Tiernan Cannon who shot low past Michael McCole from 12 yards. From kick-off, the home side got back on level terms when Brendan Murphy released Stephen Grant on the right and when Grant crossed, Murphy fired past Paul Doherty.
With defences on top in the opening period it was the hour mark before the next action with the visitors regaining the lead. A superb burst forward by Davenport from midfield took him into the area before rounding McCole and slotting home for a superb
individual goal. Redcastle tried to respond and when Murphy crossed Alan Clarke fired over. The visitors had the final chance with another Davenport effort but McCole saved as Greencastle recorded their first league win of the season.
Culdaff FC 3-0 QPS
The home side started well and in the fifth minute a Jack O’Brien cross saw Ben Curley’s effort brilliantly saved by Oisin Burke and Bryan McCandless headed the rebound over the bar. The point replied with a long range effort from David Healy sailing just over the bar.
Culdaff upped the tempo and when Eugene McLaughlin and McCandless combined the former fired wide from ten yards before O’Brien had an effort saved. They took the lead on the half hour after O’Brien’s free was forced home from close range at the back post by Dillon Ruddy. O’Brien then had another effort saved before he picked out
Ruddy but he failed to hit the target from six yards.
O’Brien then played a fine though ball to Jack Mc Laughlin whose angled effort was well saved by Burke. The home side were then dealt a blow on the stroke of half time when JJ Doherty received a red card for a professional foul and from Darragh
McDermott’s free Martin Mclaughlin made a superb save to keep the home side ahead at the interval.
The ten men of Culdaff made a good start to the second period with Ruddy’s header from O’Briens corner well saved by Burke. They created another chance then when Ben Curley sent McCandless into the clear but his shot was saved by the legs of Burke. Culdaff did make it two nil on 58 minutes after Ruddy charged down a defenders clearance and finished brilliantly with his left foot.
QPS replied and Ross Nicholas broke on the left and crossed to Darragh McDermott but he fired weakly at McLaughlin. Culdaff responded and after brilliant play from Ruddy, Jack McLaughlin crossed to McCandless but he fired over the bar.The home side completed the scoring when Ruddy scored with a thumping header from O’Briens corner.
Dunree United 3-4 Clonmany Res
Clonmany were first to show and Mark McLaughlin saw his goal bound effort
cleared off the line by the retreating Adam Harringan in the Dunree goal. At
the other end, Liam Baldrick looked destined to score but with the goal gaping
he managed to hit the post with his effort.
The visitors then took the lead on the half hour after Mark McLaughlin converted a penalty after he had been upended. Dunree equalised within a minute when Baldrick converted a free kick from the edge of the area despite Kieran Friel getting a hand to it. Clonmany struck back immediately and regained the lead after Friel’s long ball over the home defence sent Mclaughlin clear and he finished with aplomb.
They made it three one before the interval after Liam Hirrell fed McLaughlin who flicked the ball into the path of Dessie Doherty who gave Harrigan no chance. Dunree began the second period on top and scored two quick goals to draw level. Firstly Jerry Farrell fired a penalty down the middle after Dermot Graham had been hauled down. Farrell then capitalised on a defensive error to race clear, round Friel and slot home to make it three all.
Clonmany then struck for what turned out to be the winner on 76 minutes with Steve Harkin rising highest to head home McLaughlins corner. Dunree pressed for a share of the spoils but the Clonmany defence stood firm.
Aileach Res 6-3 Glengad Res
In an entertaining high scoring encounter the visitors were well in the game until the 76th minute when Aileach opened up a two goal lead. PJ McDaid for the visitors and Michael McElroy both were off target with efforts in the early
stages before Michael McLaughlin in the Glengad goal pulled off a wonder save from a deflected Darren Bradley effort.
On 33 minutes the home side opened the scoring when following a short corner Conor Gallagher crossed for Anthony Doherty to flick the ball home. Glengad levelled within minutes then when Gary Kelly rose highest to head home a corner. The home side regained the lead then after Davy Ryan’s through ball was poked home by Bradley from close range. But again the visitors got back on terms when Oran Doherty crossed for Kelly to head home his second of the game and make it two all at the break.
When Bradley was upended in the opening minute of the second half Anthony Doherty converted from the penalty spot high to McLaughlins left and Doherty completed his hat trick following a goal mouth scramble it looked like they had things wrapped up but Glengad rallied again and reduced the deficit. Paul McGonagle converted a penalty after Nathan McConalogue was upended in the area.
On 76 minutes Gareth McGlynn then scored a stunning left foot volley from the edge of the area and this knocked the visitors back. They completed the scoring on 82 minutes when Ryan converted a Stephen Doherty cross at the back post.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two
Rasheney FC 3-1 Culdaff Res
In an even opening half the home side had a couple of early efforts from David McLaughlin which Stephen Callaghan dealt with in the visitors goal.
Culdaff replied and Sean McGrenaghan found space on the right but fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area. Rasheney then took the lead on 36 minutes from a Conor McDaid corner which found the unmarked Kaylum Long who headed powerfully past Callaghan. The visitors equalised minutes into the second half when McGrenaghan fired a superb shot past Craig Doherty from the edge of the area.
Defences were then on top until Rasheney regained the lead on 80 minutes. After an Oisin Doherty effort was well parried by Callaghan the ball broke kindly for Charlie Doherty to drill home. The home side continued to press and Cormac Dillon fired wide from a tight angle. Rasheney sealed the points after Dillon fed Declan McLaughlin who
squared for Damien Friel to finish well past Callaghan.
Moville Res 5-0 Clonmany Youths
In an entertaining opening to this game Moville’s John McGeady saw a header crash off the bar while Danny Murphy had two efforts well saved by Killian McCarron. At the other end Michael Grant created chances for Tiernan McDonald who fired over from the edge of the area and John McCarron who headed just wide.
The home side opened the scoring on 35 minutes after Ronan McCarron released Murphy through the middle and he raced clear to drill low past McCarron.
They added a second goal before the break when Caillou O Kane found Murphy inside the area to fire high past McCarron from fifteen yards. Moville dispelled any thoughts of a comeback two minutes into the second period when Evan Hudner despatched a superb free to the top corner.
On the hour mark Clonmanys Niall McCarron fired just over when well placed. But Moville increased their lead after Murphy raced forward and pulled the ball back for McCarron to drill low to the corner from fifteen yards. Moville added a fifth on 70 minutes with Murphy and Michael McCarron combining to find Conor Farren who slotted the ball into the net from ten yards.
Sea Rovers 3-0 Dunree Res
Rovers got a very early goal when Oisin Hasson broke and he fired low to the corner of the net from inside the area past Philip Doherty. Good pressure from Rovers then allowed Connor Mc Geoghan get a good shot away but it flew just over the bar.
Sea Rovers enjoyed most of the possession but Dunree did make a break with Neil Moran unlucky to see his shot coming of the bar. Rovers broke and a fine pass from Daniel Gallagher found Andrew Gallagher who beat two players to get his shot away from the edge of the box to make it 2-0 just before half time.
Rovers then missed a few chances from Tiarnan Stevens, Conor McGeoghan and Andrew Gallagher as the half came to a
close.
First real break in the second half came when a pass from Oisin Hasson reached Ciaran Doherty whose shot forced Dunree keeper Philip Doherty into making a fine save. Rovers pushed hard now and a ball in from Sean Meehan fell to Anthony Cantwell who set up Daniel Gallagher to fire low past the keeper Philip Doherty.
Pressure from Rovers got them caught on the counter attack and Dunrees Philip Mc Elhinney saw his shot go just wide of the post in the final action of the game.
Carrowmena FC 9-3 Buncrana Res
The home side moved to the top of the table with a comprehensive victory over a previously unbeaten Buncrana side who also had only conceded one goal in five league games. They opened the scoring on 4 minutes when Ruairi Dougal found Ronan Doherty on the left and he advanced to drill low past Oran McBride.
Buncrana almost replied immediately as Eoin McNamee was denied by a
brilliant fingertip save on to the bar and over from Kyle Dougal.
The second arrived on 12 minutes after Tony Mc Clenaghan fired home the rebound when he pounced on a loose ball after McBride had denied Adam Harkin.Two goals in two minutes then put the game beyond the visitors reach when firstly Pauric
Gillen found Adam Harkin to fire high to the roof of the net from wide on the right.Ronan Doherty converted a penalty low to the right a minute later after Michael Henry had been upended inside the area.
Midway through the half McClenaghan added his second and his sides fifth when he turned and fired past McBride with the aid of a slight deflection. Before the break Gillen and Henry combined to release Gerard McLaughlin and this time his effort flew past McBride with a huge deflection. The pace of the game slowed dramatically in the second period but the home side were still the dominant force and forced four successive corners which proved fruitless. They did add a seventh goal on 62 minutes when Gillen fed McLaughlin who crossed for Henry to dribble into the area and slide the ball low past McBride. The young Buncrana side to their credit never gave up and pulled two goals back in quick succession. Firstly Sean McLaughlin dispossessed a defender and fed Michael Doherty to fire past Dougal. They added another after a good through ball from Liam McCarron released Gerard Boyle and he slotted past Dougal. But the home side hit back and a Ronan Doherty cross was hammered home by Ryan McDermott before the same player beat the offside trap to race clear onto a Jude Harkin pass and finish well. McNamee then scored a late consolation to the make the final score 9-3 to the home side.
Carn Res 4-2 Aileach Youths
Carn broke the deadlock in the first minute when John James McDaid broke on the left wing, beat the defender and squared it for Luke White who shot to the top left corner of the net from 15 yards for a dream start.
Carn doubled their lead four minutes later after Billy Dempsey’s pass from midfield found Conor McLaughlin who went one on one with the Aileach keeper Dylan Clark and shot low to the bottom right corner of the of the net from 15 yards.
It became three nil for the home side on 17 minutes when Conor McLaughlin made a great run and squared it for Girts Dzerins who drove a powerful shot to the roof of the net from inside the 18 yard box.
Carn continued to press in the second half and made it four just after the hour mark when Matthew Lafferty was upended in the penalty box and Girts Dzerins converted the resulting penalty. Aileach nearly pulled one back midway through the half after Kevin Wallace broke on the right wing and crossed it for Ethan O’Toole whose low shot was parried away past the far post by Danny Diver in the Carn goal. Aileach did pull one back on 77 minutes with Shay Cuffe breaking on the right and crossed for David Walker who drove a powerful shot past Diver from 10 yards. Aileach pulled another one back on 86 minutes when a corner from Matthew McDermott on the left found Ethan O’Toole unmarked and he tapped it in from five yards but the home side saw the game out to claim the points.
Rasheney Res 0-4 Cockhill Res
Cockhill started this game the better with Sean McColgan firing across goal from a tight angle but it eluded all before Mark Gillespie fired over from the edge of the area. Gillespie then looked certain to open the scoring when he
raced through the middle but Roger McGilloway diverted the ball behind for a corner.
Midway through the half, Cockhill pressure finally told when Kevin McDaid held the ball up on the edge of the area before laying it off to Kieran McElroy who hammered a diagonal effort to the far corner. Rasheney’s first chance came on 32 minutes when a Paddy McGilloway free found Joey Holland whose header was well saved by Eoin Colhoun. But the visitors resumed on the offensive and both Ryan Downey and McColgan saw efforts saved by McGilloway. Rasheney had the final chance of the half but Paddy McGilloway fired just wide from a free kick.
Cockhill increased their lead minutes after the restart when Gillespie raced away from the home defence and slotted low to the corner before James McGonagle had an effort saved by McGilloway. Rasheney tried to reply with a powerful Mark Diver effort gathered at the second attempt by Colhoun before the keeper then turned Paddy McGilloways effort round the post. Then Joey Holland saw a goal bound effort blocked by a defender on the line.
In between those efforts ex Rasheney player Sean Friel was unlucky to see his shot clip the crossbar. Cockhill lifted the pressure and sealed the points on 66 minutes when after good interplay between McColgan and McDaid the former raced into the area and finished
neatly.
They added a fourth goal on 75 minutes when McDaid steered a low cross from the left first time past McGilloway from ten yards. Raheney kept plugging away and Divers rasping shot was superbly tipped over by Colhoun before James McConalogue’s header from the corner crashed off the bar.
This weekends fixtures:
Inishowen Football League Fixtures 2021-22
Sunday 24th October
Ulster Junior Cup 1.30pm
Glengad United v Greencastle FC
Cockhill Youths v Clonmany Shamrocks
Carn FC v Buncrana Hearts
Castlefin Celtic v llies Celtic
Donegal Town v Aileach FC
Strand Hotel Division One
Gleneely Colts v Culdaff FC 11am
Clonmany Res v Aileach Res 11am
QPS v Dunree United 2pm
Redcastle Res v Glengad Res 2pm
Inishowen Engineering Division Two 11am
Clonmany Youth v Rasheney FC
Dunree Res v Culdaff Res
Illies Res v Moville Res
Buncrana Res v Sea Rovers
Cockhill Res v Carrowmena FC
Rasheney Res v Carn Res
