There were only two games on Sunday in the Donegal League – both taking place in the Premier Division – on a weekend when most of the action involved teams from the Saturday League.
The top two in the Saturday League Division One both recorded important victories with Oldtown Celtic continuing to lead the way after a big win over Cappry Rovers.
In the Premier Division on Sunday, third place Rathmullan Celtic crew a blank against Castlefinn Celtic in the game of the day.
Round Up:
Friday, March 17th
Glencar Saturday League Division One
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 4 v 3 Strand Rovers
Kildrum recorded a fine comeback to take all three points on Friday.
Strand were 3-1 up at the break but goals from Clarke and a penalty from Gillen brought the sides level.
Micky Ayton then rifled to the back of the net to secure the win for Kildrum.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 2 v 0 Milford United Reserves
Kilmacrennan started brightly and played some nice football in the first-half. They had the better of the chances and Philip Buchanan made it 1-0 half-way through the half.
The second half was a tighter affair and with ten minutes remaining Kilmacrennan made sure of the points when Rory Mc Grenra made it 2-0 after some good build up play.
Referee: Diego Rainey.
Ballybofey United Reserves 4 v 0 Swilly Rovers Reserves
Ballybofey made it 1-0 in the 15th minute when they broke on the counter attack and played James Lafferty through who then squared it to Leo Mc Aleer who tapped home. It wasn’t long before the dangerous Mc Aleer had his second opportunity but this time his effort was well saved by the Swilly keeper.
Ballybofey started the 2nd half well and should have gone two up but for two good saves from the Swilly keeper. Ballybofey finally got their second when Colin Kearns, who was only on the field two minutes, got in behind the Swilly right-back and finished well.
Shortly after it was 3-0 when McAleer got his second of the day when he finished well coming in off the right wing. Ballybofey got their 4th on the stroke of full-time when Darren Bonner scored direct from a corner.
Saturday, March 18th
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Donegal Town Reserves 0 v 0 Glencar Celtic
(No Report Submitted)
Dunlewey Celtic 3 v 0 Copany Rovers
Dunlewey started the game brightly and created chances early on and went ahead after 10 minutes when Eamonn Mc Bride rounded the Copany keeper and finished well.
Dunlewey pushed on and created more chances but Copany held firm. Eamonn Mc Bride then doubled the lead when he shot from outside the box to beat the Copany keeper.
Brendan McGeady and Conor McMahon were causing a lot of problems down the left side. Copany started the second half well and almost got back into the game when they broke but couldn’t find the finishing touch.
Dunlewey grew back into the game and started creating chances again with Eamonn Mc Bride in the hunt for a hat-trick. Paul Coll and Brian Patton controlled proceedings in the middle of the pitch and had a couple of chances themselves.
Eamonn tried a spectacular overhead kick but narrowly missed.
Dunlewey made a few changes and one of them – Fearghal Delaney -sealed the win with a fine curling effort from 25 yards.
Oldtown Celtic 5 v 1 Cappry Rovers Reserves
Oldtown enjoyed a fine win over an understrength Cappry side at the Letterkenny Community Centre.
Oldtown took an early lead when Luke Friel rolled home after his initial shot was saved. They soon added a second when Gio Peoples finished well after a neat turn in the box.
Oldtown added a 3rd when Kevin Mc Grath fired home after fine work from Anthony Browne down the right. 3-0 half time.
Oldtown got a fast start at the beginning of the 2nd half when Gio Peoples added a 4th and then completed his hat-trick for Oldtown’s 5th with another composed finish in the area. Cappry made a few chances and Michael Gibson in the Oldtown goal pulled off two fine saves before Cappry got a late consolation when the ball was turned home from a corner.
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Fintown Harps AFC 1 v 3 St. Catherines Reserves
St. Catherines went away with all three points in a very competitive battle at Park Acla.
Fintown had the first chance of the afternoon when Stephen Boyle turned inside the box but his shot was straight at the keeper. Just a minute later St. Catherines took the lead when a ball driven across the box was finished by the inrushing Jason Cunningham.
In the 16th minute Fintown were very lucky not to draw level after Ethan O’ Donnell’s header came off the crossbar. Fintown had a shout for a penalty in the 24th minute after Arron Mc Glynn went down in the box, however the referee waved play on.
On 31 minuts, St. Catherines were awarded a penalty after a foul on Calvin Mooney, James Callan made no mistake from the spot. 2-0 to St. Catherines at half-time.
Ten minutes into the second-half Fintown made a change with Shane Mc Devitt coming in for Stephen Boyle. He almost made an immediate impact by shooting just over the bar after some good work on the left. Fintown did pull one back, and it came in the 63rd minute courtesy of an Arron Mc Glynn header.
Fintown had the breeze at their back and pushed hard for an equaliser. They had a chance but Logan Quinn’s header was well saved by Daniel Malarkey in the St. Catherines goal.
Ten minutes from time St. Catherines secured all three points thanks to a second goal from Josh Cunningham after a ball in from a free-kick on the right.
Sunday, March 19th
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Kildrum Tigers 3 v 1 Glenea United
(No Report Submitted)
Rathmullan Celtic 0 v 0 Castlefin Celtic
Eamonn Sheridan’s high flying Hoops welcomed a very resolute Castlefin Celtic side to a rain soaked seaside in a clash that ended in a share of the spoils at the Flagpole.
Sheridan was missing his midfielder Ronan Morris at the heart of the team and in form super striker Oisin Mc Menamin with Castlefin manager Raymond Foy missing a few of his main men. That aside the selected teams gave the big crowd at Flagpole a fine battle with literally nothing separating the sides.
The best chance of the game fell to Hoops’ forward Mark Mc Ateer who dribbled his way past three defenders with his strike going inches wide of the post.
Castlefin battled well but a strong Hoops’ defence, marshalled by man of the match Ephrim McFadden, gave nothing away.
Hoops’ forward Mc Ateer was so unlucky on 82 minutes when his goal-bound header was cleared off the line by Mark Lafferty.
Referee: Mack Lagan.
