Saturday 19th 2022
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Donegal Town Reserves 4-0 Arranmore United
(No Report Submitted)
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 1-0 Keadue Rovers Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 0-3 Glenea United Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Milford United Reserves 0-3 Glencar Celtic
In perfect conditions the first-half was very even until Glencar took the lead on the half hour mark. Pajo Rafferty did well to beat two men before cooly slotting home at the near post.
Milford battled in the second-half without creating any clear-cut chances. Glencar got their second with 15 minutes left. Garvan Grier found space on the edge of the box before unleashing a vicious shot into the net.
With 5 minutes left they wrapped up the victory through Peter Doherty with another fine finish. Team effort from both teams with Pajo Rafferty man of the match. Referee: Mick Lagan
Oldtown Celtic 5-2 Cappry Rovers Reserves
In a game that was played in fine conditions at the Letterkenny Community Centre, Oldtown won against a spirited Cappry side. Oldtown raced out of the traps and took the lead on 5 minutes when Tommy Mc Laughlin cut the ball back for Kevin Mc Grath to fire home.
Mc Laughlin then made it 2-0 when he latched onto a through ball and fired home from 12 yards. Oldtown had the momentum and pushed for more goals and added a third when Sean Cleary fired home after Chick Mc Laughlin headed a free-kick back across goal. Tommy Mc Laughlin added his second of the game with a fine turn and finish from inside the area and then he hit the bar from 25 yards shortly afterwards.
Cappry kept battling in the game and got a goal back before half-time when a defensive mix-up resulted in an own goal and gave Cappry a way back into the match. After half-time it was nip and tuck for both sides before Cappry pulled another goal back when Ronan Carlin finished from the edge of the area.
This got the Cappry tails up and they pushed to get back into the game but the Oldtown defence stood firm. Luke Friel added a 5th with 10 minutes to go after a fine through ball from Kevin Mc Grath to seal the game for Oldtown. Team performances from both sides.
Strand Rovers 2-0 Fintown Harps AFC
It was a lovely day in Strand Park. Playing against a strong breeze in the first half Strand had the better of the changes but didn’t really test the Fintown goalkeeper.
Strand took the lead before half time when Ryan Brennan headed home from a corner kick. Fintown started the second half much better creating a few changes but Cormac Hanlon made some great saves to keep the lead for Strand.
On sixty minutes Doalty Boyle headed home for Strand from another corner kick. Strand tried to increase the lead further but the Fintown defence stood tall.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Ballybofey United Reserves 3-2 Cranford United Reserves
Two wonder strikes from Jude Patton, two top drawer saves from Daniel Crawford, an all-round gritty performance from Liam Gallen and the desire to win the match were the ingredients that saw Ballybofey United Reserves through this Saturday Division Two clash with Cranford United Reserves at Dreenan on Saturday afternoon.
Shane Carlin got Ballybofey’s third goal in the second-half after Cranford had reduced the home side’s two-goal interval advantage. Cranford did manage to score again but one wasn’t enough to earn a point on their visit to Ballybofey. Referee: Marty Mc Garrigle.
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 3-3 Copany Rovers
Castlefin and Copany had a share of the spoils in game which produced 6 goals in blustery conditions. The hosts took the lead in the 22nd minute, Corrie-lee Bogan converted a penalty after Dean Kelly was fouled.
The visitors responded, A Glen Harron volley from 20 yards brought the sides level. In the early stages of the 2nd half Copany took the lead when Dale Duncan drilled a free kick into the bottom corner. The hosts kept battling and got level, a great run down the left by Kelly who poked into the net.
In the 80th minute the visitors found themselves ahead again, Harron slotting home from the spot. Castlefin kept going to the end and in the 89th Kelly tapped home at the back post after a cross from Marty Doherty.
Gweedore Celtic Reserves 1-1 Dunlewey Celtic
On a day when the wind was the real winner, a draw was a fair result when these local teams met at an Screaban on Saturday. Playing with the aid of the elements in the first half it was no surprise that Dunlewey dominated proceedings. However, they could not convert their superiority into clear cut chances and the home keeper, Daniel Mc Loughlin, had no real saves to make.
His opposite number on the other side Daniel Roarty kept the sides level when saving brilliantly from Johnny O’Donnell just on the stroke of half time. With the aid of the wind in the second half Gweedore were expected to lay siege to the Dunlewey goal but it was the away team who began the better and struck for the first goal after ten minutes of the second half.
A cross from Christopher Cannon was not dealt with in the Celtic rearguard and Keith Sweeney scrambled the ball over the line. Dunlewey limited the home team to a few long range efforts after this but they conceded the equaliser with fifteen minutes remaining. Centre half Shaun Gallagher won the ball in the middle of the field and he unleashed a shot from thirty five yards that ended up in the roof of the net.
With Brendan Mc Geady to the fore for Dunlewey he made sure that his team would hold out for a valuable point. On the day, given the conditions, a draw was a fair result. For Gweedore Danny Diver and Shaun Gallagher were best with Brendan Mc Geady outstanding for Dunlewey.
Ramelton Mariners 1-4 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
St. Catherines Reserves 0-3 Drumbar F.C.
St Catherine’s slipped up in the race for promotion going down 3-0 to a well organised Drumbar side who now move level on points with them. The visitors started strongly and were ahead after three minutes with a well struck free kick from Gary Spencer.
They continued to dominate and extended their lead on 13 minutes when Josh Mc Crea fired low to the corner after some clever footwork in the penalty area. St Catherines tried hard to get back into the game but were making no impression on a backline well marshalled by Spenser and Kevin Martin.
Drumbar continued to dominate and scored a third after 35 minutes when Vinny Breslin finished a free kick from the right into the top corner. The second half was a tame affair with both sides missing half chances but Killybegs were never able to get a foothold in the game. Best for Drumbar was Tom Daly with Mairtin Heraty playing well for the home side.
Sunday 20th March 2022
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Bonagee United 3-0 Keadue Rovers
The home side got a free on three minutes and a Daniel Stolarcky strike from the edge of the box was saved by the keeper. Jordan Gallagher had a free kick from twenty-five yards on ten minutes well saved again by the visitor’s keeper.
The home side took the lead on twenty minutes when an Aaron Wasson cross into the box from the right fell to Lee Mc Monagle on ten yards but his shot was saved by the keeper and then the ball fell to Jordan Gallagher at the back post he squared the ball back to Mc Monagle who scored from six yards. The home side had another great chance on thirty-eight minutes when a Wasson cross into the box was headed over from ten yards by Mc Monagle.
The home side should have scored on the stroke of half-time when Wasson crossed into the box from the right to Evan Mc Groary at the back post, he played the ball back to Mc Monagle who shot wide from eight yards. The home side got their second on forty-six minutes when a great through ball from Jordan Gallagher from midfield to Wasson who beat the defender to the ball and rounded the keeper and hammer home from ten yards.
It should have been three on fifty minutes Wasson played a good ball down the right to Mc Monagle his cross into the box was met by Jordan Gallagher who hammered over the bar from twelve yards. It was three nil on fifty-five minutes when Wasson cut into the box wide on the left and his strike on goal was deflected into the net.
The visitors then had their first strike on goal on seventy minutes when the ball fell to Oran Fallon but his strike from the edge of the box was well saved by Carr in the home goal. Both sides had half chances for the rest of the game but nothing to bother either keeper. Team effort by both sides. Referee: Paddy Martin.
Kildrum Tigers 1-2 Cappry Rovers
Kildrum had early chances to take the lead through Oran Higgins and Daniel Clarke but it was Cappry who converted their first chance of the game, Paddy McNulty squeezed home the opening from a tight angle.
In difficult conditions Kildrum tried to pull level but it was Cappry who had the last big chance of the half, Vincent Mc Laughlin awarded a penalty but Aaron Kelly dragged his spot kick wide. Kildrum levelled mid-way through the second half, substitute Aaron O’Donnell who got the goal.
The final big moment came with ten minutes remaining again the Referee pointed to the spot for handball against Shane Porter. This time up stepped Benny Bonner who rifled home the rebound to be the match winner.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Fanad United 0-1 Rathmullan Celtic
Rathmullan Celtic travelled to Traigh-a-Loch on Sunday and went away with all three points against the League Leaders. The 1st half was a cagey affair with little in the way of goal mouth action.
In the 15th minute, Liam Mc Grenaghan hit a dangerous free into the Rathmullan box but Declan O’Donnell headed over. Just before half time, Ephraim McFadden’s free kick was met by Jay Curran however his header failed to trouble Fanad keeper Mark Mc Conigley.
Rathmullan played with the breeze in the 2nd half and applied pressure from the off. Five minutes in a Dara Patton free from 20 yards was well held under pressure by Mark Mc Conigley. Three minutes later Alan Boal saw his dipping shot from the edge of the box land on the roof of the Fanad net.
On the hour mark Fanad did have a chance to open the scoring. Liam Mc Grenaghan hit an excellent cross but Kyle Mc Garvey just failed to connect. The only goal of the game arrived with 15 minutes to play. Dara Patton’s deep corner was headed back across goal by Kieran Gorman and Jay Curran was on hand to head home at the front post.
Fanad came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the dying seconds when Eddie O’Reilly’s header was palmed away at full length by Rathmullan keeper Shaun Gallagher. Referee: Mick Lagan
Milford United P v P Kerrykeel ’71 F.C.
(No Report, Match Postponed)
Swilly Rovers 2-0 Cranford United
Victory for the Ramelton men in a hard-fought game that was reversed to Cranford. Marty Mc Daid with a clinical finish from six yards and a bullet like header by Ciaran Kelly sealed the victory with goals on 68 and 73 minutes.
Swilly had most of the play with Cranford always dangerous on the counter-attack. Jamie Lee Blaney denied Kyle Mc Fadden and Chris Duffy near the end to help secure victory points that are valuable now with only five games to go.
Tyler Durning had a penalty saved by Jason Hegarty early on but Swilly were not to be denied. Referee: Gerard Devine.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Letterkenny Rovers 0-1 Lagan Harps
Lagan Harps reignited hopes of a promotion push after defeating Letterkenny Rovers 1-0 in brisk conditions at Leckview Park on Sunday afternoon.
This was a first league defeat of the season for Rovers who just fell short against a well organised, stubborn and determined Lagan side who maybe feel they should have had put the game to bed long before the only goal of the game from the impressive Kieran Cunningham on 78 minutes.
The opening half was a tame enough affair with no quarter being given by either side in what was a feisty enough encounter and it wasn’t until the 35th minute for the first action of note when Cunningham fired just wide. Cunningham was again to the fore just before the break when he forced a top notch save from Blake Forkan in the home goal before Dean Murray’s effort from the rebound was again acrobatically stopped by Forkan before Cunningham blazed over.
Rovers may have been relieved to go in at the interval all square having lacked a killer punch in the opening half and they started the second half more brightly and were unlucky not to have taken the lead on 55 minutes when a well-timed through ball from Luke Parke sent Caolan Mc Connell away and his cross was met by Darragh Morrison who’s shot cannoned off the foot of the post.
Morrison then had claims for a penalty waved away by referee George Clinton shortly after when he appeared to have been upended in the box while Lagan also had cause for ire when they saw a Damien Nelis goal chalked off for offside after Ross Hamlyn’s freekick caused some consternation for Forkan in the home goal. Cunningham then blazed over when well placed on 75 minutes before the game’s defining moment came on 77 minutes.
Rovers spurned a good chance through substitute Conor O’Donnell who fired high into Lagan Keeper Jason Quinn’s arms when he looked set to score and just 90 seconds later Lagan were celebrating when Cunningham fired low to the bottom corner for what turned out to be the winner.
Fixtures
Wednesday 23rd March 2022 K.O. 7.30 p.m.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Bonagee United v Kildrum Tigers
Saturday 26th 2022 K.O. 1p.m. (Unless Stated)
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Arranmore United v Oldtown Celtic
Cappry Rovers Reserves v Strand Rovers
Fintown Harps AFC v Milford United Reserves
Glencar Celtic v Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves
Glenea United Reserves v Kildrum Tigers Reserves
Keadue Rovers Reserves v Donegal Town Reserves
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Cranford United Reserves v Castlefin Celtic Reserves
Drumbar F.C. v Ballybofey United Reserves
Drumoghill F.C. Reserves v St. Catherines Reserves
Dunlewey Celtic v Ramelton Mariners
Swilly Rovers Reserves v Gweedore Celtic Reserves
Sunday 27th March 2022 K.O. 1p.m. (Unless Stated)
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Bonagee United v Donegal Town
Cappry Rovers v Convoy Arsenal
Castlefin Celtic v Kildrum Tigers
Glenea United v Keadue Rovers
Kilmacrennan Celtic v Drumkeen United
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Fanad United v Cranford United
Gweedore Celtic v Raphoe Town
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. v St. Catherines
Milford United v Swilly Rovers
Rathmullan Celtic v Drumoghill F.C.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Curragh Athletic v Letterbarrow Celtic
Deele Harps v Letterkenny Rovers
Lagan Harps v Dunkineely Celtic
Whitestrand United v Glenree United