Ulster Senior Cup semi-final
Greencastle FC 2
Bonagee United 1 (AET)
In an entertaining encounter the Ulster Senior League side had a chance in the opening minute after Gareth Harkin unleashed a left footed effort from the edge of the area which flew just wide.
Greencastle replied with Brennan Moore off target with two efforts while DJ Canavan headed over following a Michael Henry corner.
In the 20th minute Bonagee went close again with a Tony McNamee free kick just past the post before at the other end Moore’s free kick was well saved by Oisin Cannon.
Greencastle ended the half well with Moore controlling a long kick out from Browne but Cannon advanced swiftly to clear. The final chance also fell to the home side when Moore laid the ball off to Odhran Kennedy whose effort was deflected wide. Greencastle opened the scoring in the 50th minute after Nigel McMonagle released Michael Henry whose whipped cross was sliced by a defender and looped over the stranded Cannon.
Brennan Moore then had two efforts in quick succession off target before Bonagee responded. Gareth Harkin raced clear of the home defence but his effort was turned behind by Browne and from the corner Darragh Ellison volleyed wide.
Harkin then was denied again by another superb save from Browne and when the loose ball fell to Jamie Lynagh his first time effort crashed off the bar.
Play swung back to the other end with McMonagle bearing down on goal but as he attempted to round Cannon the keeper got a hand to flip the ball away before Cannon again advanced to block a Shea McLaughlin strike.
Bonagee equalised in the 84th minute when Tony McNamee sent Conor Black away on the left and he superbly lobbed the advancing Browne to force extra time.
Bonagee had the best chance of the first period of extra time when Deano Larkin went through one on one but was denied by a brilliant recovery tackle from Seamus McLaughlin.
Three minutes into the second period the home side sealed victory when Seamus McLaughlin fed Moore who crossed for McMonagle to shoot powerfully to the bottom corner.
Bonagee threw everything at the home side then but the home defence, well marshalled by DJ Canavan and Josh McConalogue, stood firm.
Donegal Signs Cup Quarter Final
Culdaff FC 2
Illies Celtic 3
There was little by way of goalmouth action at either end until the 17th minute when a sliced clearance by a home defender drew a brilliant reaction save from Zach Conlon in the Culdaff goal.
Illies broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute after Frankie O Connor broke on the left wing and his cross eluded everyone before creeping inside the back post.
Illies doubled their lead four minutes after the break when Dominic Doherty collected a short corner and crossed for the unmarked Brendan Doherty to head home at the back post.
The home side rallied and Jack Mclaughlin headed over before lifting the ball over the Illies defence for Bryan McCandless but he headed wide.
On 63 minutes they got back into the game when Aidan Cunningham released McLaughlin who finished superbly past Johnathan Noone.
But Illies regained the lead when with the home side appealing for offside Liam Grant advanced and squared the ball for substitute Ethan Doherty to slot home. But again the home side rallied and reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute after Darragh McCormick’s lofted pass over the Illies defence found McCandless to slot past Noone.
Ryan Green then had a chance for the home side but shot narrowly past the post. Illies had the final chance but Conlon made an excellent save to deny Ethan Doherty .
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Aileach FC 2
Moville Celtic 2
Moville took the lead in the 14th minute when a cross from the right was headed home at the back post by Aaron McGuirk.
After half an hour Aileach created a good opening when Aaron Nash flicked a header on to Dermot Doherty whose cross was partially cleared to Nash but his half volley flew just wide of Taylor Clarke’s right hand post.
Aileach got a deserved equaliser in the 37th minute when Aaron Nash got clear down the right and Clarke did well to turn his effort wide. From the resulting corner Thomas McMonagle headed powerfully goal-wards and Clarke again somehow kept it out. But the parry fell to Darren McMonagle who drove to the roof of the net from eight yards.
The second half opened fairly evenly. Midway through the half the home side grabbed the lead when Jack Doherty fed Gavin Doherty in midfield then overlapped and gathered the return before finishing superbly to the top corner.
But within three minutes Moville were level when a free kick from the right wasn’t cleared and the ball fell to Pauric Skelly who slid the ball past Matthew Gallagher.
Moville pushed hard for a winner but Aileach defended stoutly and were dangerous on the break with a draw a fair result.
Buncrana Hearts 5
Clonmany Shamrocks 0
In an all action first half the home side began well with Sean Mullan seeing a header from a Ryan Doherty cross come off the bar before the same player fired over from ten yards.
Clonmany’s Pearse McCarron crossed from the left to Aaron Porter whose shot was well saved by Rory Kelly.
Buncrana broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when a McDaid cross found Mullan who superbly guided a header inside the far post. They increased their lead on the half hour when a John Timlin cross broke off a defender for Bart Wesolowski to slot home from close range.
McEleney in the Clonmany goal then produced a superb finger tip save to deny McDaid but on the stroke of half time he was powerless to stop a McDaid free flying to the roof of the net for a three nil interval lead.
Buncrana had the opening chance of the second half when Wesolowski broke and released Matthew Browne but his effort was well saved by McEleney.
At the other end McCarron got on the end of Coye’s free kick but failed to hit the target. The home side resumed control and added a fourth when McDaid crossed from the left for Wesolowski to slide the ball home.
They added their fifth after John Timlin released Browne who crossed for Wesolowski to slot home and complete his hat trick.
Strand Hotel Division One
Dunree United 3
QPS 4
Dunree opened the scoring in the 9th minute after Mark Moran dispossessed a defender turned and drilled a left footed effort into the bottom corner.
The Point replied and were only denied an equaliser with a Dermot Graham last ditch tackle.
Dunree then increased their advantage after a Bernie Doherty cross deflected off a defender and into the net. But the visitors got back into the game when after Conor Barrow advanced on the right and crossed for Jack McClean to turn and slot home from ten yards.
Dunree made it 3-1 on 63 minutes when Moran’s free kick was headed home by Dermot Graham.
The Point responded well and a Ross Nicholas free clipped the bar and when the home defence failed to clear a corner Jamie Mclaughlin hammered to the roof of the net.
Both keepers then made superb saves with Burke denying Moran and Adam Harrigan tipping a Nicholas free round the post.
The visitors then got back on terms with Lee Rutherford converting from close range to make it 3-3.
The Point had the momentum now and on the stroke of full time John McCloskey raced clear but Harrigan turned his effort around the post. Then in injury time McClean beat the offside trap and slid the ball past the advancing keeper to clinch what had looked like an unlikely victory.
Buncrana Res 3
Redcastle United 3
Buncrana started this game well and when Michael Doherty was upended in the area Eoin McNamee saw his spot kick saved by Michael McCole. They did take the lead then when Doherty split the defence for Mullan to race onto the ball and superbly lift it over the advancing keeper.
Buncrana increased their lead from another penalty this time Doherty taking the responsibility to fire to the top corner.
But on the stroke of half time Redcastle got back into the game with Cathal Crumlish heading home from a corner.
Redcastle got back on level terms after the restart when Mark Farren raced onto a through ball and finished well past Eoghan O Doherty.
Midway through the half the visitors went ahead after Jack McConalogue converted a penalty to make it 3-2. But the home side rallied and earned a share of the spoils after Cian Downey broke forward from midfield and when his effort came back off the post Liam Duncan was on hand to slot the loose ball home.
Greencastle Youth 0
Carn FC 5
Greencastle hosted newly crowned league Champions Carn FC at the Warren and it was Carn who had the first good chance when a cross from the right was met at the back post by Cade Cooke who volleyed with from five yards.
Carn then took the lead in the 15th minute when a good ball from a Cade Cooke free kick fell to Cian Burke at the back post who drilled it into the net.
Greencastle nearly equalized minutes later when a free kick delivered by Josh Lafferty was partially cleared but Tony McClenaghan dragged his shot wide.
In the 25th minute Carn doubled their lead after a cross from the right was gathered at the back post by Cade Cooke who showed good composure to finish to the bottom corner.
Carn hit the crossbar in the 37th minute when a teasing ball from the left was nearly finished by Cian Burke. Carn scored twice in a matter of moments early in the second half to put the game to bed. The first one coming when a through ball found the runner Chris Diver who ran on and slotted it past Christy Hegerty. Then minutes later a through ball from midfield found Cian Burke making the run in behind who slid it under the advancing Christy Hegerty.
In the 75th minute after several attempts by Greencastle to clear the ball Nathan McConnalogue found space out on the right wing. His deep cross to the back post caught the wind and fooled everyone sneaking in at the far corner of the net.
Aileach Res 1
Clonmany Res 0
In the opening exchanges Keith McColgan for the home side fired just over the bar from twenty yards while at the other end a Steve Harkin effort went narrowly over Dylan Porter’s crossbar.
The deadlock was broken by the home side in the 35th minute when they were awarded a penalty for handball which Anthony Doherty fired high to Tiernan Devine’s left .
On the resumption Clonmany had the first chance when Ben Gill shot just over before the home side went close with Anthony Doherty just off target before Dillon McGrory fired straight at Devine when well placed.
Clonmany finished the game strongly with Raymond McDaid seeing a cross come shot tipped onto the post by Porter and Jake O Donnell firing wide.
Inish Engineering Division Two A
Moville Res 7
Culdaff Res 1
Moville got off to a dream start on 5 minutes after Pearse Doherty cut into the area from the right and fired low past Dermot Callaghan.
Five minutes later Rowan Doherty split the defence for Michael McCarron to race clear and fire low past Callaghan.
The home side were well on top and made it 3-0 then when Mateus Indyka crossed for Michael McCarron to slot home from close range. Culdaff replied and when a Conor Doherty effort was deflected for a corner Niall McLaughlin headed over the bar. Darragh McCormick then ran onto Doherty’s pass but fired straight at Stephen Teles in the home goal.
But the home side added a fourth before the break when Oisin Lynch found Andrew McCarron on the left and his low cross was deflected past Callaghan. Rowan Doherty then added a fifth on the hour mark when he pounced on a loose ball to slot home from the edge of the area.
Culdaff tried to rally and McCormick had one effort rebound off the bar before seeing another saved by Teles.
Moville added their sixth with Danny Murphy sidefooting home from six yards after Andrew Burke crossed before Andrew McCarron ran onto Lynch’s through ball to score the seventh.
Culdaff got a late consolation when McCormick cut into the area on the left hand side and drilled low past Teles.
Cockhill Res 4
Sea Rovers 2
The deadlock was broken as Cockhill made their early pressure count when Connor McDaid headed home a corner from PJ Doherty after 15 minutes.
Shane McLaughlin and Marc Doherty both went close midway through the first half but Sea Rovers keeper Marc McLaughlin produced a few fine saves tipping both efforts on to the post.
Sea Rovers almost equalised on the stroke of half time when Oisin Hasson broke down the right and his cross was headed narrowly over Darragh O’Donnell’s crossbar by Andrew Gallagher.
Cockhill started the second half on the front foot and Shane McLaughlin put Cockhill two up ten minutes into the half, coming in at the back post to get on the end of a Liam Bradley cross.
Andrew Gallagher finished off a fine move with a clever back heel to bring Sea Rovers right back into the match with just under thirty minutes to go.
Liam Bradley then looked to have sealed the points with a quick fire double on 71 and 75 minutes.
Sea Rovers to their credit never gave up and kept the match tight when John Doherty found space down the right, he picked his spot and fired a great shot in off the far post past the outstretched Darragh O’Donnell to set up a tight final 10 minutes.
Cockhill had the best chance in the final few minutes when Connor Allen thundered a header off the underside of the bar and as the ball rebounded back to him he blazed his first time effort over the bar as Cockhill held on for a hard fought win.
Carn Res 2
Illies Res 0
Carn almost took an early lead when some excellent link up play down the Carn right finished with Mark Scott just missing the target. This set the tone for the first half with Carn creating several good chances but unable to find the net.
They did take the lead when Kyron Cantwell cleverly curled a free kick around the wall and into the bottom corner. The second half followed a similar pattern and Carn continued to create chances but the front three of Cantwell, Dion Diver and Conor McLaughlin were all denied by some good Illies defending and goal-keeping.
Illies never gave up and as the second half continued they began to create chances of their own. But Carn finished strongly and a calm finish from Daire Tully ensured they took all three points.
Inish Engineering Division Two B
Rasheney Res 2
QPS Youths 0
The visitors will wonder how they trailed at half time given the number of clear opportunities they squandered.
They had the first chance when Aaron Scott and Josh McLaughlin combined to release Cillian McEleney but he was denied by a superb last ditch Liam Grant tackle.
They were unlucky then on 15 minutes after a Brian McColgan powerful effort crashed off the bar after a fingertip save from Fergal Diver.
In a rare foray forward the home side’s Abdul Al Rasheed headed over from a corner when well placed.
The Point upped the tempo then and after Scott raced clear from halfway a brilliant Kyle Doherty tackle averted the danger as he bore down on goal. McLaughlin , Scott and Eunan Mullan all had efforts off target before McEleney was denied by a good save from Fergal Diver.
The home side took the lead on 42 minutes after a corner was collected by Shane Ward who found Rasheed to outpace a defender and drill the ball low past the advancing Slattery.
There was less action in the second half but the visitors had the first sight of goal after a corner was flicked on for McEleney whose header was saved by Diver. Rashenny replied with a Ryan O Donnell effort saved by Slattery.
The home side then increased their lead when a long range free from Friel dipped over Slattery and under the bar.
The Point spurned a great opportunity to get back into the game when Scott was upended in the area but McLaughlin saw his spot kick saved by Diver.
Glengad Res 6
Carrowmena FC 1
Glengad went in front on 25 minutes when a deep cross from Matthew Mooney found Caolan McColgan at the back post to shoot past Maurice McGeady.
They made it two then when Calvin White intercepted a back pass and shot low to the corner.
By the half hour mark it became 3-0 after McColgan’s cross from the left was volleyed to the roof of the net by Mooney from eight yards.
Carrowmnea rallied and were unlucky after good work by Sean Duffy saw him turn smartly inside the area but saw his effort crash off the post.
On the stroke of half time Glengad made it 4-0 after Ryan McLaughlin won possession and lobbed the retreating McGeady from twenty yards.
Glengad kept the pressure on after the break and increased their lead on the hour mark when Ryan McLaughlin beat a defender and from fifteen yards shot low to the corner.
A McLaughlin free kick was then flicked home at the near post by Patrick McLaughlin to leave it 6-0.
Carrowmena battled to the end and gained a consolation when Sean Diver intercepted a defensive pass and ran through to shoot low past Danny McGonagle in the home goal.
Wednesday 8th March
Ulster Senior Cup Quarter Final
Buncrana Hearts 4
Aileach FC 2
In bitterly cold conditions at Maginn Park this was a lively encounter before a decent crowd.
Buncrana were first to threaten when a Matthew Brown snapshot from the edge of the area flew just past the angle of the post and bar. They opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Kieran McDaid despatched a penalty low to Matthew Gallagher’s left hand side after Jamie McDaid had been barged over in the area. Aileach had a good spell then when a Caoimhin McFeely cross just eluded Aaron Nash in a central position before a Nash cross was volleyed wide by Dermot Doherty.
Their best chance came after a superb through ball from Gavin Doherty split the Hearts defence to Nash whose effort was blocked by the legs of the advancing Rory Kelly.
On the half hour at the other end Jamie McDaid broke on the left and his cross sliced off a defender and wide.
Aileach broke from the resulting corner and a superb move ended with McFeely’s cross finding the unmarked Gavin Doherty who headed over from ten yards.
Buncrana spurned a good chance on the stroke of half time when a John Timlin cross found Christy McKinley who miscued when well placed. Aileach got back on level terms on 53 minutes when the referee adjudged that Kelly had fouled Nash. Darren McMonagle`s spot kick was saved by Kelly but Dermot Doherty was quickest to react and slot home the rebound from five yards.
Buncrana upped the tempo then and just after the hour Kieran McDaid’s well struck free from twenty yards was pushed behind for a corner by Gallagher. Minutes later McDaid beat two defenders before cooly rolling the ball across for McKinley to tap into the empty net from four yards.
They then made it 3-1 immediately after when Brown picked out Jamie McDaid with a crossfield ball which he controlled before firing superbly past Gallagher from the corner of the box.
But Aileach got back into the game when McMonagle picked out Nash who headed past Kelly from six yards. Buncrana then sealed victory when the superb McDaid played a lovely through ball to Bart Wesolowski who cooly slotted past the advancing Gallagher to seal a semi-final spot against local USL rivals Cockhill Celtic .
Inishowen Football League Fixtures
Friday 17th March
Jackie Crossan Premier Division 11am
Buncrana Hearts v Culdaff FC – G McLaughlin
Inish Engineering Division Two A 11am
Culdaff Res v Sea Rovers – E McNamee
Donegal Signs Challenge Cup 11am ET & Pens
Aileach FC v Cockhill Youths
T O’Loughlin assisted by G O Kane & P McElhinney
Sunday 19th March
Donegal Signs Challenge Cup 2pm ET & Pens
QPS v Carn FC
T Moyne assisted by E Doherty & G McLaughlin
Buncrana Hearts v Greencastle FC
M McGonigle assisted by D McLaughlin & W Harvey
Strand Hotel Division One
Greencastle Youth v Clonmany Res 11am – E Doherty
Buncrana Res v Carn FC 11am – D McLaughlin
Inish Engineering Division Two A 11am
Rasheney FC v Carn Res – JJ Lafferty
Cockhill Res v Illies Res – P McElhinney
Inish Engineering Division Two B 11am
Glengad Res v Dunree Res – T Moloney
Redcastle Res v Carrowmena FC – V Armianovskyi
QPS Youths v Aileach Youths – L Porter
