The Colin Breslin Youth Cup kicked off this week and a novel cup competition with two groups of five teams with semi finalists to be made up of those who finish 1st and 2nd in their group.
Here are the reports on the games played with one postponement being Kilmacrennan Celic v Bonagee which will be rescheduled.
Keadue Rovers Youths 7 Drumkeen Utd Youths 2
Keadue got their group matches of to a flyer in the Colin Breslin Cup game at home to Drumkeen at Central Park on Wednesday evening. On an ideal evening for football, the visitors were much the brighter team at the start, passing the ball well and creating some chances. They went ahead on ten minutes when a defensive mix up for the Keadue back line and Niall Sweeney took a chance from near the end line and cracked in a good effort from a tight angle.
Five minutes later, they were almost two up when a challenge almost lead to a penalty but the resultant free kick went wide. By the twentieth minute, Keadue began to get a grip on proceedings, pushing Drumkeen back but their defence was managing to snuff out the threat. The visitors, despite having less possession were very good on the break forcing some good clearances from the home team.
After the half hour, some good runs from Oran Fallon and Aidan Brennan were getting behind the defensive lines and had a few shots cleared off the line. Odhran Gallagher hit a superb effort from long range which was saved and it was 1-0 at the break.
The second half was a much better and open game and Keadue wasted no time in getting level, when after forty seven minutes, from a corner, Jack Ward stabbed home a leveller from close range. On fifty five minutes, Keadue went 2-1 up, when Odhran Gallagher was fouled in the box and Oran Fallon converted the penalty.
Drumkeen pushed hard for a leveller and were close on the hour with James McEniff in the home goals making a good save. Two minutes later, a great ball from Oran Fallon was met on the run by Aidan Brennan who stroked home confidentally for 3-1. Back came the visitors and on sixty six minutes, a shot from Daibhinn Doherty was deflected and went into the corner of the net.
A scrappy period followed with both teams trying to get a grip on the game with next goal pivotal.
That goal landed for Keadue in the seventy fourth minute when a free kick on the edge of the area was flicked home by an Evan McFadden header. On eighty minutes, Keadue made the game completely safe and it was a superb goal with passing between Odhran Gallagher and Aidan Brennan leading to a good finish from Oran Fallon.
Two final goals in the last five minutes came from Aidan Brennan and Odhran Gallagher to give the game a flattering scoreline. It was harsh on Drumkeen who for a long time were very competitive and for Keadue, a great overall team performance and each player deserves great credit.
Referee: Seimi Ferry.
Ballybofey Utd 2 Mulroy-Fanad 1
Ballybofey Utd hosted Mulroy-Fanad on Monday night in the 1st round of the Colin Breslin Youth Cup.
Ballybofey started brightly and took the lead on 17 mins after Ronan Carlin beat his man and slotted it past the Fanad keeper. Ballybofey doubled their lead on 30 minutes with a good finish from Cathal Kennedy. Fanad got one back just before halftime after a defensive mistake from Ballybofey and the Fanad striker Dylan Mc Fadden was on hand to slot it home.
Both sides created several chances in the 2nd half but could not find the net leaving Ballybofey to grab the 3 points to get their cup campaign off to the best possible start ahead of a trip to Drumkeen next Wednesday.
Milford Utd 2 Ballyraine 2
Although Milford enjoyed some good spells of possession in the first half, it was Ballyraine who tested the keeper more, with Eoin McGettigan again in fine form while getting his fingertips to a fine long range effort.
Milford continued to play some great football in the second half, and were rewarded when Corey McConigly rifled into the top corner after Darragh Kelly Cullen played him in with a fine pass.
Mikey McBride then looked to have wrapped up the points with a close finish after good work down the wing, but Ballyraine never gave up and got one back with 6 minutes to go through Sean Russell.
They continued to pile the pressure on the home side, who dug really deep in defence, but with a minute left, Ballyraine were awarded a penalty and rescued a point in dramatic circumstances when Rowan Smith converted.
Both sets of players emptied the tank in what was a really good game of football.
Fixtures
Wednesday August 3rd
Group A:
Ballyraine v Drumbar – 7:30pm
Bonagee v Milford -7pm
Group B:
Drumkeen v Ballybofey Utd -7:30pm
Mulroy-Fanad v Letterkenny Rovers -7:30pm
