The following are all the latest reports from the Inishowen Football League.
Ulster Junior Shield Semi Final
Cockhill Youths
Oldtown Celtic
Seamus Donagheys Cockhill Youths qualified for their first Ulster Junior Shield final with a comprehensive victory over Oldtown Celtic. They started well with Conor Allen running onto a Darragh McDermott pass but fired over the bar. They opened the scoring on 15 v minutes when Connor McDaid released Paul Mullan to shoot low past the advancing keeper Michael Gibson.Midway through the half the home side doubled their advantage with a Dean O’Donnell volley to the top corner from the edge of the area. Oldtown responded and Ciaran Gibson had an effort cleared off the line. A defensive error at the other end allowed Conor Allen the simplest of tasks to slot home and make it three nil. But the visitors pulled a goal back when Kevin McGrath headed over Darragh O’Donnell from eight yards.However on the stroke of half time McDermott rounded the keeper and when his effort came off the bar Mullan was on hand to slot the loose ball home. The opening period of the second half saw little action until the 72nd minute when Mullan fired wide from the edge of the area. Mullan completed his hat trick in the 85th minute slotting home after a McDermott effort was parried. Oldtowns misery was complete when they were reduced to ten men late on.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Cockhill Celtic 3
Illies Celtic 0
Played in Maginn Park in lovely conditions Cockhill had a half chance in the 4th minute after Luke Rudden played a one two with Conor Graham before seeing his effort fly over the bar.There was controversy on 17minutes when a Graham free kick found it’s way to Peter Doherty whose volley looked to have crossed the line off the crossbar but play was waved on .Midway through the half Cockhill free kick was cleared into midfield where Illies Paul Duffy released Paddy Curran but his first time effort was smothered by the advancing Gavin Cullen.After a spell of pressure, Cockhill broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when Garbhan Friel’s cross from the right was half cleared to Luke Rudden who controlled and fired past Johnny Noone from just inside the box.
Cockhill started the second half brightly with Peter Doherty’s cross being headed narrowly wide by Friel.They doubled their lead on 53minutes when Peter Doherty’s through ball found Patrick McLaughlin who had advanced from midfield. His first touch took him around Noone before slotting home with his second.Illies almost halved the deficit on 63minutes when, after capitalising on a loose pass, Shaun McCallion who rattled the post with a low shot.Cockhill made the game safe on 76minutes when good interplay on the left released Luke Rudden. His pass inside was controlled and fired home on the turn by Garbhan Friel.
Strand Hotel First Division
Redcastle United 6
Clonmany Res 2
The home side had an early chance when Gavin Grant fed Darragh McConway who fired just wide before a Darren Kelly header came off the post on 11 minutes. They opened the scoring then after a Gavin Grant cross was misjudged by Killian McCarron in the Clonmany goal. Grant then was off target with another effort before the doubled their advantage when Grant beat a defender and crossed for Darren Kelly to sidefoot home from twelve yards. But Clonmany reduced the deficit after Tiernan McDonadld evaded a tackle and unleashed a shot which Michael McCole parried only for McDonald to follow up and slot home. Redcastle regained their two goal cushion in injury time when McConway superbly chipped McCarron from the edge of the area as the keeper advanced. Redcastle continued to press and on 56 minutes Cahir Mclaughlin fed Marc Bell who was just off target. Clonmany replied midway through the half after Jake O’Donnell advanced through the middle but shoots just past the post. Play swung back to the other end with Andrew McCarron feeding Bell but his effort crashed off the post with keeper McCarron stranded. An error then in the home defence allowed McDonald to fire to the top left hand corner to reduce the deficit to the minimum on 72 minutes. But Redcastle sealed the pointes ten minutes later after a Bell cross fell to Josh McConnellogue who fired to the roof of the net. Clonmany were unlucky then when Jason Devlin cut in from the left and saw his effort crash off the bar.The home side finished the game very well with McConnellogue and McConway adding late goals to make the final score six two .
Greencastle Youths 3
Rashenny FC 2
Greencastle Youths hosted Rashenny at Chapel Lane and it was the hosts who enjoyed the better of possession early on with Benny McClenaghan having the first decent effort of goal saved by Rashenny keeper Gavin McLaughlin.Ten minutes into the first half Rashenny took the lead when a good cross into the box from David Mclaughlin was diverted in to the goal off a Greencastle defender. Greencastle continued to enjoy the better possession but found clear chances hard to come by. Daniel Rowan with a 40 yard effort that went just over the bar. Then Evan Davenport dragged a half chance wide of the post. Greencastle got the equaliser when Benny McClenaghan hit a great shot from outside of the box which was well saved by Gavin McLaughlin, but Evan Davenport was on hand to poke in the loose ball. Rashenny got off to a great start in the second half when they won a penalty. Cormac Dillon stepped up and sent Stephen Teles the wrong way. Greencastle rallied and equalised again midway through the half when a great cross from Benny McClenaghan to the back post was met by Seamy McLaughlin who volleyed it in to the bottom corner. The home side took the lead then after Gavin Rowan went past three men in midfield and released substitute Jamie Coyle who with his first touch provided a great cross for Evan Davenport to finish.Minutes later a cross from Seamy McLaughlin was met by Evan Davenport whose header was saved by Gavin McLaughlin from point blank range in a contender for save of the season. Rashenny pushed men forward in the closing stages but Greencastle held firm with some strong defending for a big win.
Culdaff FC 4
Aileach Res 2
The visitors started this game the better with Stephen Dohertys ball over the top sending Josh Boyle clear but his effort from a tight angle drew a good save from Patrick McLaughlin. They took the lead then on 10 minutes after Boyle beat the offside trap and rounded McLaughlin to finish emphatically with a right footed effort from ten yards. Culdaff got back on terms then in the 19th minute after a good move ended with a Sean O Neill cross sidefooted home by Brendan McLaughlin from close range. A searching cross then from Euan McFeely just eluded Eugene McLaughlin at the back post before the home side suffered a severe blow when Brendan Mclaughlin was forced to retire with a knee injury. Aileach replied and Boyles cross was just missed by Doherty at the back post before they regained the lead on the stroke of half time. Gavin Doherty slipped a pass into Stephen Doherty who finished powerfully from twelve yards. Culdaff started the second period well and a Michael Coyle effort from twenty yards is well held by David McGeady before the home side equalised on 54 minutes when a Jack O’Brien sidefooted effort goes in off the post. Four minutes later the home side took the lead for the first time when Coyles pinpoint cross was headed home from six yards by O’Brien. Culdaff were on top at this stage and McGeady pulled off a brilliant save to divert Aidan Cunninghams powerfully hit effort from the edge of the area. In a quick counter attack Aileach were denied by a good save by McLaughlin from Boyles right footed effort. Almost immediately at the other end the home side made it four two when McFeely’s header over the top was collected by O’Brien who advanced and finished superbly from sixteen yards. McFeely then was unlucky with a superb effort which rattled the crossbar as the home side saw the game out.
Buncrana Res 0
Carn Res 4
The visitors got off to a good start when they opened the scoring after Cade Cooke drove down the left and pulled the ball back for Tiernan Kelly to smash the ball into the top corner.Buncrana responded well and Michael Doherty fired a free kick just over before the same player had an effort sail over from twenty yards.Before the break Keith Elliot had another shot over the bar from outside the area. Carn upped the tempo after the break and doubled their lead when Cooke reacted well to a cut back and volleyed to the right corner of the net. Cooke and Conan Gibbons then spurned chances for the visitors before Gibbons added the third after he drove down the left and sae his cross deflected past the home keeper. They added a fourth then after Cormac McLaughlin fed Kelly on the edge of the area and he curled a superb effort to the top corner. The visitors saw the remainder of the game out against a youthful home side who handed a number of debuts to young players.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A
Aileach Youths 1
Sea Rovers 2
Both sides served up a tightly contested affair in good conditions at Lakeside. Aileach started the brighter but failed to create any clear cut chances in the final third due to a combination of good defending from the Sea Rovers rearguard and poor passes in the final third. Sea Rovers came more into the game after this with Mark Diver and Ryan Doherty getting more of a grip of midfield. It was the host who took the lead on 25 minutes when a through ball released Ryan Wilson who was upended at the edge of the box but the referee played a good advantage as the ball broke to Darren Bradley who slotted into the bottom corner. Andrew Gallagher and Conor McCloskey did find themselves in good positions for the visitors but Darren Gallagher and Cormac Ferguson dealt with the threat. Aileach missed a glorious chance to double their lead just before the break when a Paul Eyre cross found Matthew McDermott at the back post who controlled and shot goalwards but Mark McLaughlin raced from his line to block a certain goal.
Sea Rovers flew out of the blocks at the start of the second half and levelled the scores within minutes when Daniel Gallagher broke clear on the left and his cross was slotted home at the back post by Conor McCloskey. The game entered a scrappy phase for a period before Rovers took the lead with 10 minutes to go when a loose ball was pounced on by Mark Diver who fired a shot from 30 yards into the top corner. The drama was far from over as in injury time Sea Rovers got a penalty but Dylan Clarke in the home goal got down well to save. Almost immediately the ball was cleared to Paul Eyre who beat his man down the right and put an inviting cross into the path of Darren Bradley whose first time shot was saved by the legs of McLaughlin, the rebound fell invitingly into the path of Ryan Wilson who fired just wide of the goal from 15 yards with the goal gaping. Sea Rovers defended stoutly for the remaining minutes to seal the victory and keep their title hopes alive.
Cockhill Res 4
Cockhill Colts 1
Cockhill Reserves took the lead midway through the half after an even competitive opening period avenging an earlier defeat at the hands of their more experienced club rivals.Shay Devlin picked our Caolan Moore on the edge of the box who turned and fired a great shot low past Colts keeper Declan Caldwell. Cockhill Reserves passed up a few good chances after taking the lead and were made to pay on the stroke of half time as Aiden O Donnell equalised after timing his forward run well to finish well past Eoin Colhoun in a one on one situation. Cockhill Colts started the second half well pinning the young Reserve side back but without really testing Colhoun. Gavin Doherty passing up their best chance, blazing over from six yards when well placed. The Reserves grew in to the half and regained the lead when Patrick Sliageris picked out Finn O’Toole who read the ball well to react first and scored with a first time volley in to far corner for his first goal in senior competition. They made it three shortly after when Niall Breslin played in Ethan O’Toole who showed great composure to calmly finish into the far corner from twelve yards.
The young Reserve side completed the scoring with 5 minutes remaining after Tiarnan Moran flighted in a great free kick and Sliageris ghosted in at the back post to head home past the stranded Caldwell for his first goal in senior football.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two B
Dunree Res 1
Moville Res 2
Moville took an early leads after Philip Doherty in the home goal parried a free kick but Marcus Rule was first to react to slot the ball home. Dunree responded and were unfortunate to hit the woodwork on two different occasions. Firstly a Jamie Brosnan effort from twenty yards crashed back off the crossbar. Then after an Evan Doherty ball over the top found Cormac Doherty his volley also came crashing back off the bar. Moville then broke and doubled their lead after James Gillen volleyed to the roof of the net from the edge of the area. Dunree almost replied instantly after Brosnan fed John Moran whose effort shaved the outside of the post. Dunree enjoyed more possession in the second period but found clear chances hard to come by. They did get a goal back on 72 minutes when Luke McClaffertys ball over the top found Paddy Doherty whose initial effort was saved but Doherty followed up to slot home. Despite late pressure from the home side the visitors held on.
