All the reports available for the weekends action in the Donegal Junior League.
Saturday 29th January 2022
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Arranmore United 2 v 2 Glenea United Reserves
Arranmore were back league action as they welcomed Glenea to the Island. The Islanders started the match as the dominant team and were rewarded on the 12th minute when a fine pass from Martin Proctor landed well for Brian Proctor to finish to the net.
The Islanders kept the pressure on and John Roper set-up Brian Proctor who unleashed a phenomenal shot into the top corner. Arranmore had plenty of more chances towards the end of the half but couldn't finish. Glenea made a bigger impact in the game after the break. They pulled a goal back and found an equaliser in the closing minutes for a share of the spoils.
Fintown Harps AFC 1 v 1 Cappry Rovers Reserves
In dry but breezy conditions at Parc Achla this was a closely fought game with Cappry taking the lead on the half hour mark through a penalty for a hand ball in the box. Ryan McGee stepped up to send Leon Thompson the wrong way. Fintown had some great chance with Aidan McCahill and Michael Doherty both going close.
In the second-half Fintown were awarded a penalty when Michael Doherty was fouled. Keelan Mc Monagle scored to level the game. A fair result after a competitive encounter.
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 4 v 1 Milford United Reserves
This game was end to end in the first half and both teams could have taken the lead but it remained all square at half time. In the second half both teams had chances but Milford struck first with an excellent goal.
Kildrum then kicked into gear with a quick-fire response, Michael Ayton putting the Tigers back in it before Oisin Mc Fadden gave Kildrum a 2-1 lead with a great finish. Daniel Clarke then got in on the action with a great run and finish before Mc Fadden made it 4-1
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 0 v 2 Donegal Town Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Dunlewey Celtic 1 v 2 Drumbar F.C.
Very blustery conditions in Glentornan Park when Dunlewey Celtic welcomed Drumbar. Both sides looked to attack in the opening exchanges with chances for both sides. It was the home side who struck first when Eamonn Collum finished a loose ball inside the area to put Dunlewey 1-0 up ten minutes before the break. Drumbar were unfortunate not to go in level at the break, denied by a great goal-line save by Daniel Roarty in the Dunlewey nets.
Drumbar started the second half with the wind at their backs and pressed from the off to get back into the game. Their efforts paid off when Robbie Murphy pounced after a long-range shot was saved and bounced back to the Drumbar man who finished well. Dunlewey could not get a foothold in the game with the conditions making it difficult. Drumbar kept pressing and won a penalty with 15 minutes to go and Liam Gallagher stepped up to slot the ball home. Drumbar came out of this game with the three points following a dogged display in the second half.
Gweedore Celtic Reserves 4 v 5 Copany Rovers
With Copany five up at half time and playing with a strong breeze no one expected a young Gweedore team to come so close to completing an amazing second half comeback. Gweedore dominated their opponents in the early stages of the first half but two goals each from Daniel Brogan and Dale Dinear and a fifth from Tommy Given seemed to have finished this game as a contest at the break.
Gweedore came out fighting in the second half and pulled a goal back in the sixtieth minute when Paul Rua Mc Bride scored from a free kick. Three further goals in the last fifteen minutes left Copany hanging on for three valuable points. Liam Wiggins scored from the penalty spot and two further goals from Paul Rua Mc Bride, for his hat-trick, meant a grandstand finish. Gweedore almost completed an unlikely comeback in injury time when Cathal De Burca failed to make contact at the back post with McBrides corner.
Tommy Given equalled the Copany club scoring record of one hundred and fifty seven goals and Paul McBride scored his first hat-trick having celebrated a significant birthday the previous day. An all-round performance from both teams. Referee: Paul Murphy
Ramelton Mariners 1 v 1 Castlefin Celtic Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
St. Catherines Reserves 2 v 1 Ballybofey United Reserves
St Catherines secured a narrow 2-1 win over Ballybofey in an entertaining game played in Emerald Park. Ballybofey aided by a strong breeze, had the better of the first half hour without creating any clear-cut chances and it was the home side who went closest when Nathan Maxwells shot from 20 yards narrowly cleared the bar. Ballybofey eventually took the lead on the stroke of half time when St Catherines failed to clear a corner and the resulting cross was finished to the net by Conor McGlynn.
The home side upped the pace in the second half and had several chances before equalising in the 67th minute. Ballybofey twice cleared the ball off the line and from the resulting corner Paul ‘Feet’ Murrin rose highest to head home. Darragh Murrin was causing the away defence all sorts of problems with his blistering pace and he went close twice before his brother Paul settled the game with five minutes to go.
He controlled a long ball forward and turned and lobbed the keeper from the edge of the six-yard box to seal a deserved win. Best for St Catherines were the Murrin brothers up front and defenders Conor Knox and Darragh Cunningham. Best for Ballybofey were Colin Kearns and Karolis Reuka. Referee: John McGlanaghey
Swilly Rovers Reserves 0 v 1 Cranford United Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Sunday 30th January 2022
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Bonagee United 2 v 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic
The first chance of the game came to the visitors on twelve minutes when a cross into the box was headed over the bar from six yards by Garry Whoriskey. The visitors had a great chance to go ahead on sixteen minutes when the ball fell to Matthew Mc Laughlin but his shot from inside the box went wide of the post.
The home side took the lead on twenty-two minutes when Aaron Wasson won the ball in the middle of the pitch, he passed to Lee McMonagle who beat the defender and fired home from just inside the box. The visitors came close again on thirty-two minutes when Caolan Kelly headed over from six yards from a corner kick. The home side should have scored on thirty-four minutes wham a great ball into the box from Jordan Gallagher fell to Aaron Wasson but he shot wide from seven yards.
The visitors should have levelled the match on forty-five minutes when John Sandilands’ cross into the box was headed over the bar by Ridda Abdullah from six yards. The home side came close on forty-nine minutes when Sergi Alcorn headed wide from ten yards. Carr in the home goal made a great save on fifty-two minutes when a ball into the box from Matthew McLaughlin fell to Michael McLaughlin who shot from ten yards but the keeper turned it around the post. Lee McMonagle saw his strike from thirty yards just go over the visitor’s crossbar on seventy minutes.
The visitors levelled the match four minutes later when Matthew Mc Laughlin’s Cross into the box from the right was turned home from six yards by Michael Mc Laughlin. Aiden McLaughlin saw his header from an Eamon Cannon free on eighty minutes go over the bar from ten yards. The home side got the winner on eighty-five minutes when Coady Brogan sent Aiden McLaughlin clear with a great through ball from midfield and he made no mistake from just inside the box The visitors gave the home side a few scares in the last five minutes when a Michael Mc Laughlin effort went just wide of the post. Team effort by both sides. Referee: Paddy Martin.
Castlefin Celtic 3 v 2 Drumkeen United
Drumkeen welcomed Castlefin to a dark cold and wet St Patricks Park on Sunday Afternoon. The home team dominated the early exchanges and indeed the first half hour with the game being played almost entirely in the Castlefin half. Drumkeen were not turning their domination into goals but after 20 minutes they had a great chance to take the lead. A great through ball sent Rory Craig in on goal but he was denied by Castlefin keeper Lee White who was quickly out to stop him in his Tracks. The ball still ended up in the Castlefin net and Drumkeen were claiming that the advantage should have been given to them but referee Vincent McLoughlin disagreed and they had to be content with a free kick on the edge of the box.
The free kick proved to be of little advantage though as it sailed well over the Bar. About 10 minutes later Castlefin on a rare foray into the Drumkeen half found themselves a goal ahead as a mix up in the Drumkeen defence allowed Matthew O’Rourke to nip in and fire his team ahead. The goal turned the game on its head and the visitors went on to dominate the rest of the first half. The second half began in a similar vein with the visitors dominating and Drumkeen struggling to get out of their own half.
With only a goal in it Drumkeen were still in with a chance no matter how slight of getting something from the game. On the hour mark that slight chance seemed to have disappeared completely when Castlefin added a second goal. Drumkeen as they had done numerous times gave the ball away. Ronan Tourish saw his shot well saved by the Drumkeen keeper Mark Gordon but unfortunately for young Gordon the ball then deflected back off Tourish and fell to Marty Owens who was left with a tap in.
That seemed to be that in terms of the result of this game as there seemed to be no way back now for Drumkeen. Corrie-lee Bogan nearly added a third for Castlefin but saw his effort go wide of the post.. The way the second half was progressing no one could have predicted what happened towards the end as Drumkeen staged a late comeback and what had been a drab enough affair only really came to life in the last 15 minutes.
Drumkeen managed to force a corner and took a short one which eventually found its way into the box and was touched home by Conor Laverty to halve the deficit. It’s funny what a goal can do and it seemed to inspire the home team who kept the pressure on the Castlefin defence. On one such attack Castlefin defender Emmet White was adjudged by referee Vincent McLoughlin to have handled the ball. Drumkeen were awarded a penalty and a chance to equalise. Niall Howley stepped up and hit a great penalty to get his team back on level terms. An unlikely share of the spoils now seemed to be on the cards but Drumkeen hearts were broken late on when Castlefin got what proved to be a late winner.
Castlefin had a long range free kick which they launched in to the box and unfortunately for the home team it deflected off a Drumkeen player and into the net. Time was now against the home team and shortly afterwards the final whistle sounded. Both teams tried hard in bad weather conditions especially near the end.
Convoy Arsenal P v P Kildrum Tigers
(No Report, match postponed)
Donegal Town 1 v 2 Keadue Rovers
Donegal town welcomed Keadue to the Hospital Field and it was ‘Town’ who were quicker out of the blocks with a great finish by Ronan Mc Hugh giving the Keadue keeper no chance. Keadue to their credit kept battling and were rewarded when a counter attack caught ‘Town’ square and Keadue finished well.
The second half was marred by the gale force wind and rain making playing conditions extremely difficult and treacherous. Keadue went two up after Aiden Mc Hugh cut in from the left and finished smartly giving Mulreany no chance. ‘Town’ threw everything at Keadue but could not get that all elusive equaliser. Great team performances by both sides.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Ballybofey United 2 v 1 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C.
Some astute dealing in the January Transfer Window has helped Ballybofey United bolster their side for the run-in to the end of the season. Mark Griffin has returned to the club while Darren Mc Gowan has joined from Cappry Rovers. John Lynch wasn’t available for this match but he too will be a valuable asset to the Dreenan men as he showed last week against Gweedore Celtic.
This was a tight affair in which Ballybofey took the lead after thirty minutes when the highly rated Daithí Mc Mahan found the Kerrykeel net. Kerrykeel drew level just before the interval when Paddy Carr scored from twelve yards. The home side were up for this one however and played on the front foot throughout. Built on the outstanding performances of the Mc Gowan Brothers, Shaun and Darren, who were outstanding in the centre of defence, Ballybofey went on to claim three valuable points.
Niall Mc Closkey got their winning goal, this time thirty minutes into the second-half. The Twin-Towns men will now hope to build on this result as they currently sit in a tight battle to survive the drop to Division Two and with the teams that surround them it is likely to be an interesting conclusion to the season. Referee: Mick Lagan.
Cranford United 2 v 3 St. Catherines
St Catherines left a windy and wet Cranford Park with all three points. In a game that St Catherines looked like winning easily it turned out to be a close encounter. St Catherines were out of the blocks quickly and raced in to a two-goal lead. They had a chance to go three up but Jason Hegarty saved a penalty.
This spurred Cranford on and they came into the game and scored a great goal from Martin Mc Bride. Just as momentum started to turn Cranford’s way St Catherines went 3-1 up on the stroke of half time. Cranford were a lot better in the second half and hit the post from a Kyle Mc Fadden strike. They did get another goal back from an own goal.
Fanad United 0 v 1 Gweedore Celtic
Gweedore Celtic travelled to Traigh-a-Loch and went away with all three points. It was a tight game dominated by the conditions. Fanad missed a good chance in the opening minute when Eddie O’Reilly just failed to connect with a cross into the box.
In the 15th minute Kyle Mc Garvey headed over the bar from a good cross. Gweedore started to take control and took the lead in the 25th minute. Mark Mc Conigley made an excellent save and when the ball rebounded to Aidan Breathnach he fired home. The second half didn’t produce many chances for either side until the 70th minute. Gweedore missed a gilt-edged chance to extend their lead when Ciaran Mc Hugh shot wide.
A minute later Eddie O’Reilly fired over the Gweedore bar when well placed. Fanad were left kicking themselves in injury time when Kyle Mc Garvey saw his penalty well saved by Gweedore keeper Mick Mc Kelvey and from the follow up Declan O’Donnell shot wide.
Milford United 1 v 1 Rathmullan Celtic
Rathmullan returned over the Moss Road on Sunday afternoon with a share of the spoils following a tough encounter with hosts Milford with a goal in each half deciding the outcome.
In a real derby style atmosphere and with both sets of players working tirelessly to get three points and the bragging rights on the day. The best chance in the first half came to Jay Curran but his shot was well saved by Caolan Mc Gettigan. Milford got the opener on 30 minutes when a short corner found Gary Merritt at the corner of the box and his low driven cross was knocked in by a Rathmullan defender to give the hosts the lead. At the start of the second half Rathmullan started brightest, creating a few chances and on 60 and 65 minutes and got their reward as the ball broke to Jay Curran and his shot was deflected off the head of Lorcan Friel before looping over Caolan Mc Gettigan.
Milford began to get back into the game and created the better of the chances but never troubled Shaun Gallagher in goals. Rathmullan’s best chance came with a great through ball from Ronan Morris to Eoin Sheridan who was denied by a great tackle by Darragh Kelly Cullen. A point was a fair result with both teams content with the outcome. Best for Milford in a hardworking team performance were Jonny Logue, Darragh Kelly Cullen and Conor McHugh. Best for Rathmullan were Kevin Doran, Ronan Morris and James Gallagher. Referee Gerard Devine
Swilly Rovers 2 v 1 Raphoe Town
Victory for the Ramelton men in a very wet and windy Raphoe. Swilly went ahead on 14 minutes when Marty Mc Daid scored with a 20-yard shot which deceived the Raphoe keeper. Raphoe levelled on 37 minutes when Scott Devenney converted a penalty after a foul in the box. Swilly’s winning goal came on 65 minutes when Connor Gormley rifled home a superb free kick. Raphoe had a player sent off towards the end and Swilly held on for a deserved victory
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Curragh Athletic 0 v 7 Letterkenny Rovers
Glenree United 1 v 4 Deele Harps
Glenree Park was subject to strong winds and a few showers today as the home side fell to a first defeat in Carrigart in 2022. A different side to what is usually on show for Glenree, but they started the game very well and had the better of the opening chances.
Gooch brought two good saves out of the Deele keeper. Glenree’s early dominance was a false dawn though as they were caught on the counter-attack. The Deele attack quickly pounced and after the first effort was parried the rebound was put into the net. Glenree again pushed on and both sides exchanged several efforts but it was Deele who were more clinical. The Deele winger cut inside and slotted home powerfully at the near post giving his side as two goal half-time advantage. The second half brought more bad weather and as the winds picked up so did the attacking. Glenree were pinned back and a Deele free-kick was bundled into the net by the Deele attackers.
Glenree immediately mounted a comeback effort with several efforts going close but it was Andrew Cairns who managed to get the goal, his first for the club. Tails up after the goal and Daire Shields was feeling dangerous, he danced inside the Deele fullback and was fouled inside the area. The resulting penalty was saved well by the Deele keeper. Glenree kept pushing but the conditions were in Deele’s favour and they were rewarded with a late goal. 4–1 to the visitors with goals from Jordy Duffy (x2), Corey Lindsey and Cameron Mahan. Andrew Cairns with the goal for the home side. Referee: Con McLaughlin
Whitestrand United 3 v 1 Lagan Harps
Lagan Harps came to Mc Garvey Park for the first game after the mid-season break. Whitestrand were looking to build on a good win last weekend. The game was even at the beginning of the match and then Whitestrand United took the lead when Jordan Nugent broke through and finished well.
There were not many other chances in the first half in trying circumstances. The second half started in much the same fashion as the first with Lagan having large swathes of possession but with Whitestrand looking dangerous on the break. They got a second when the ball broke to Matthew Stewart and he finished well. Lagan found a way back into the match when they were awarded a penalty which was dually dispatched.
However, Jordan Nugent continued his excellent form when he scored a late third to make the points safe. Whitestrand have started the second half of the season well and now head to Letterkenny Rovers next week for a crucial clash looking to maintain momentum.Referee: Dessie McLaughlin
Saturday 5th February 2022 K.O. 1p.m. (Unless Stated)
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Milford United Reserves v Arranmore United
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Copany Rovers v Drumbar F.C.
Dunlewey Celtic v Castlefin Celtic Reserves
Voodoo Venue Cup
Area 1
Ramelton Mariners v Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves
Area 2
Donegal Town Reserves v Fintown Harps AFC
Area 3
Keadue Rovers Reserves v Strand Rovers
Area 4
Oldtown Celtic v Cappry Rovers Reserves
Sunday 6th February 2022 K.O. 1p.m. (Unless Stated)
Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division
Convoy Arsenal v Donegal Town
Drumkeen United v Bonagee United
Keadue Rovers v Castlefin Celtic
Kildrum Tigers v Glenea United
Kilmacrennan Celtic v Cappry Rovers
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Ballybofey United v Milford United
Gweedore Celtic v Cranford United
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. v Drumoghill F.C.
Rathmullan Celtic v Fanad United
St. Catherines v Swilly Rovers
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Deele Harps v Letterbarrow Celtic
Dunkineely Celtic v Glenree United
Lagan Harps v Gweedore United
Letterkenny Rovers v Whitestrand United