The winter conditions impacted the Donegal League fixtures this weekend, but there was still plenty of action in the County yesterday and today as the leagues finish up for the Christmas break.
Friday 9th December 2022
Brian McCormick Cup
Letterkenny Area – Group B
Rathmullan Celtic P v P Fanad United
(Match Postponed)
Gweedore Area – Group B
Kilmacrennan Celtic P v P Keadue Rovers
(Match Postponed)
Saturday 10th December 2022
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Arranmore United 1 v 3 Glenea United Reserves
Arranmore started the better side with a lot of good play down their left-hand side, they created plenty of chances early on. Glenea took the lead against the run of play from a ball over the top and Ciaran Coll gave the keeper no chance with a finish into the bottom corner from a difficult angle. Arranmore hit the post twice, Aidan Proctor and Peadar Boyle while Damian Webber was unlucky not to score at the back post.
Arranmore had Brendan Green to thank after making a couple of good saves to keep Arran in contention at the break. Glenea got a second relatively early in the second half after a move down their right-hand side.
Arranmore’s young players continued to create chance after chance and eventually got a goal back with five minutes to go through Peadar Boyle. Arran pushed hard for an equaliser but they were caught on the break and Glenea got a third goal to finish the game off in the last minute. Referee: Stephen Laird.
Copany Rovers P v P Oldtown Celtic
(Match Postponed)
Dunlewey Celtic 0 v 1 Glencar Celtic
In frosty conditions at Glentornan Park, this match was a feisty affair. Dunlewey probably edged the first half with the better chances but could not find the finishing touch.
Daniel Roarty saved well from a Glencar free kick. 0-0 at half time. The second half started quickly with Glencar having a chance in the opening minutes but the Dunlewey defence recovered well to keep them at bay. Both sides tried to create chances but conditions were tricky with the ball slipping on the surface.
Glencar got the telling goal of the game when Pajo Rafferty made the most of a loose ball and finished well into the bottom corner from 20 yards on 65 minutes. This proved to be the only goal of the game and Glencar left Glentornan with the three points.
Keadue Rovers Reserves 2 v 2 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves
Keadue and Drumoghill played out a decent game at an ice cold Central Park on Saturday. It was the visitors who made the brighter start, working both wings well, without creating much in the way of chances.
Keadue made the breakthrough against the run of play when a run on the right wing by Luke Neely led to the ball being squared to Peter Mc Gee and he buried it low in the corner to give the hosts the lead. Neely then had a chance shortly afterwards, which was fired wide.
Drumoghill created a good move on twenty-four minutes with Odhran Donnelly’s acrobatic effort going over the bar. Keadue retained the majority of the possession and were generally on top but similar to the opening goal which was against the run of play, Drumoghill were level on thirty minutes, when a right-wing cross was not closed down and Christy Smith’s run to the back post, left him with a tap in for 1-1.
Drumoghill almost took the lead on forty minutes when a mix-up in the Keadue defence led to a goal line clearance. Into the second half and Keadue flew at it from the start. They had a few openings around the penalty area without getting a shot away until on fifty-three minutes when they were awarded a penalty.
Jordan Doogan’s effort was saved by Ryan Lockhart. Keadue made a few substitutions on the hour mark and were rewarded for their attacking play when Luke Neely ran on to an excellent through ball, took it down, and slotted low to the net for a deserved lead.
The home team had further chances but found Ryan Lockhart in the visitor’s net in tremendous form. Drumoghill did push up after seventy-five minutes and had a shot from Christy Smith that was saved. Keadue kept hitting on the break using their pace up front but just couldn’t get the elusive third goal.
On eighty-eight minutes a speculative effort from Conor Gallagher from long range went in just under the Keadue crossbar for the equaliser. Best for Drumoghill were Christy Smith and man of the match Ryan Lockhart while Luke Neely and Peter McGee stood out for Keadue. Referee: Mick Lagan.
Kildrum Tigers Reserves P v P Cappry Rovers Reserves
(Match Postponed)
Strand Rovers P v P Donegal Town Reserves
(Match Postponed)
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Fintown Harps AFC 3 v 1 Cranford United Reserves
This game was moved to Letterkenny as both team’s fields were unplayable. Cranford were first to create an opening bringing a good save from Karl O’ Brien in the Fintown goal. Shortly after that Logan Quinn had a good chance. Fintown had a good spell then for 15 minutes without making their dominance count.
Cranford then had a purple patch during which Mc Fadden went close from long range. The first half finished level. The second half started brightly for Cranford and they took the lead from a set-piece, a corner sent in from the left and Dale Mc Fadden with a great cushion header finding the bottom corner.
Aaron Mc Glynn then went on a great run down the right and beat a few defenders before his cross found Logan Quinn who headed home an equaliser for the Fintown men. With their tails up Fintown applied tge pressure in search of a lead goal.
Shane Mc Devitt then found the bottom corner of the net to give Fintown the lead. Cranford fought hard and had some great chances, hitting the post on 70 minutes. Paddy Molloy the Fintown manager made a few changes to freshen things up and one of his subs Jordon O’ Donnell ran through and finished past the keeper to secure the points.
Some great performances from both teams with john Gerard Mc Glynn having a stormer at centre half and Aaron Mc Glynn on the left side showing well for Fintown. A team performance from Cranford. Referee: Marty Mc Garrigle
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 2 v 3 Gweedore Celtic Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Milford United Reserves P v P Ballybofey United Reserves
(Match Postponed)
St. Catherines Reserves 4 v 1 Ramelton Mariners
St Catherines finished off the year with a convincing win over Ramelton Mariners. The home side started well and had several chances before Ramelton broke and scored with their first attack, Paul Gallagher finishing from 10 yards.
St Catherines responded with Conor Cunningham and Paul O’Hare causing the Mariners all sorts of problems and O’Hare scored a deserved equaliser on the half hour, slotting home from inside the area.
The Cats started the second half on the front foot and went ahead within five minutes with O’Hare scoring a fine individual goal. Conor Cunningham made it 3-1 on the hour mark, finishing neatly from the edge of the box. A few minutes later the game was over as a contest when O’Hare completed his hat-trick from close range.
Ramelton did not give up and created several chances but lacked the finishing touch to trouble the home defence. Best for St Catherines were O’Hare and Dean Breslin who had a superb game at left back and for Ramelton Eoin Russel stood out
Swilly Rovers Reserves 4 v 3 Castlefin Celtic Reserves
Castlefin Celtic went 1-0 up in the first 5 minutes when a Swilly player put the ball into his own net after a dangerous attack. Swilly levelled from a corner when Jordan McDaid put a great delivery into the box and Shay Durning met it with a powerful header.
Castlefin took the lead again 5 minutes before half time from a quick counter attack finished by Marty Doherty. It was soon 3-1 when a ball was played through the Swilly defence and Barry Tourish finished well with a looping shot over the Swilly keeper. Swilly got one back 15 minutes from time when Jordan Mc Daid finished well after a ball in from the left side.
Jordan Mc Daid got his brace when he equalised with a lofted finish over the keeper. The winner came in the last minute when Shay Durning was brought down in the box. He stepped up and converted the spotkick. Referee: Dessie Mc Laughlin.
Sunday 11th December 2022
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Cappry Rovers P v P Castlefin Celtic
(Match Postponed)
Kildrum Tigers P v P Glenea United
(Match Postponed)
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Drumkeen United P v P Letterbarrow Celtic
(Match Postponed)
Letterkenny Rovers 3 v 1 Convoy Arsenal
Letterkenny Rovers signed off for the Christmas break with a hard-fought Sunday Division One 3-1 win over Convoy Arsenal.
The game on the sun-kissed pristine Leckview Park Astro was one of the few to go ahead due to the freezing weather conditions and the home side were quick out of the blocks netting in the opening minute when Conor and Gareth Temple combined to set up the lively Danny Hall to fire home.
Convoy rallied and had a half-hearted penalty appeal waved away after Ryan Carlin was upended in the box but it was Rovers who doubled their lead on 17 minutes with a thumping effort from distance by Jack Dwyer over goalkeeper Andrew Walsh.
James Wilson came close for the visitors with a header as the halftime interval approached and they sought to get a way back into the game. Convoy though started the second half brighter and halved the deficit on 48 minutes when player/ manager Anthony Bogle hammered home from the spot after Wilson was fouled.
Convoy then came close through Carlin while Rovers could have extended their lead and came close through Conor O’Donnell and Darragh Morrison (twice). The home side sealed the win on 86 minutes when O’ Donnell scored from the spot after a foul on Guillermo Perez Lopez. A good win for Rovers who will be full of optimism heading into 2023.
Milford United P v P Donegal Town
(Match Postponed)
Swilly Rovers 1 v 1 Gweedore Celtic
(No Report Submitted)
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Dunkineely Celtic P v P Deele Harps
(Match Postponed)
Gweedore United 5 v 3 Whitestrand United
Gweedore United ended their year with an unbeaten home record this season against a youthful Whitestrand side. The home side started strongest with good play and got their first goal in the 7th minute when a good cross was finished from close range by Ciaran Mc Fadden.
Daibhid Lynch nearly scored when the ball broke in the 9th minute, his shot was well saved by Cian Gallagher. In the 16th minute Gweedore made it 2-0 with another good move, this time Conor Mc Fadden crossing for Ciaran Mc Fadden to finish well. In the 22nd minute Michael Sweeney pulled a goal back with a good individual effort to make it 2-1.
In the second half, the home side went all out and extended their lead by three goals with good finishes from Darren Ferry with two and a screamer from Mark Mc Fadden in the 62nd minute to make it 5-1.
The home side were well in control, however a determined Whitestrand pulled two goals back late on through Michael Sweeney and Lynch with an excellent free kick in the 88th minute to make it 5-3 at full time. Sweeney and young Daibhid Lynch excelled for Whitestrand while it was a strong team performance from Gweedore on the day to move into second for the Christmas break. Referee: Paul Murphy
