Here are all of the results and match reports for this week’s Inishowen League football action.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Aileach FC 0
Buncrana Hearts 2
This game in Maginn Park on Friday night opened very evenly with neither side creating anything of note. On 18 minutes Buncrana made the breakthrough in somewhat fortuitous fashion when a right wing cross deflected of an Aileach defender and fell kindly for Seanie Bradley who made no mistake from eight yards giving David McGeady no chance. Aileach responded to this setback and Gavin Doherty found Reece McGilloway with a fine cross field ball but the full back’s effort was easily dealt with by Taylor Clarke in the Buncrana goal. The remainder of the half was played out without any chances of note for either side. The second half was barely five minutes old when Buncrana doubled their lead resulting from a right sided corner swung in by Ciaran McDaid which wasn’t dealt with by the Aileach defence and Seanie Bradley bundled the ball over the line from close range for his second goal of the game. On the hour Darren Bradley broke down the right and managed to cut along the bye line before pulling the ball back for Dermot Doherty but his effort from twelve yards was blocked for a corner. With the next attack Aileach should have pulled a goal back when a raking diagonal ball by Thomas McMonagle found Michael McElroy who played a pinpoint pass to the feet of Darren Bradley but the centre forwards effort under pressure was easily gathered by Clarke. Both sides emptied their benches at this stage which disrupted the flow of the game and it petered out into a comfortable three points for Buncrana.
Strand Hotel First Division
Dunree United 4
Aileach Res 0
This was a crucial home win for Dunree who move above Greencastle Youths in their bid to avoid the promotion relegation play off. In blustery conditions at St Egneys Park Dunree opened the scoring on 6 minutes after Cian Moran pulled the ball back for Jamie Brosnan to drive low under Dylan Clarke. On 13 minutes a Liam Baldrick free flew in off the underside of the bar . Aileach then went close after Anthony Doherty just failed to get on the end of a superb cross into the area. Dunree increased their lead in the 26th minute after good play from Tommy Mulhern who laid the ball back into the path of Aaron Harkin to unleash a thunderous effort to the roof of the net from distance. Dunree spurned a gilt edged chance then when Brosnan s spot kick was superbly saved by Clarke. But on 42 minutes Adam Barrett evaded a couple of tackles to run through and fire low past Clarke. Aileach had the final chance of the half with a Josh Boyle effort saved. There were fewer chances in the second half with the wind picking up. Dermot Doherty had an effort for Aileach midway through the half from the edge of the area saved. On 81 minutes Bernard Doherty for the home side ran through rounded Clarke but saw his effort cleared off the line by a defender.
Charlie O Donnell Cup Semi Final
Redcastle United 4
Rashenny FC 0
The first half saw the home side start well with Darragh McConway denied by keeper Sean Friel before a Gavin Grant cross found Mark Farren who shot just wide. Farren was unlucky then in the 18th minute after he ran onto a Shaun Curran through ball and lobbed Friel but the ball came back off the far post. The pressure told in the 25th minute when Stephen Grant broke on the right and crossed for McConway to fire past Friel. The home side doubled their lead when McConway collected possession and with no one closing him down fired a twenty five yards effort to the top corner. McConway then completed his hat trick on 38 minutes after Farren laid the ball back for him to shoot low past Friel. Rashenny threatened first in the second half on 55 minutes after Peter Doherty fed David Mclaughlin whose effort was saved by Michael McCole. Minutes later Abdul Al Rasheed crossed for Cormac Dillon who headed over from a central position.Rashenny kept pressing with John Grant firing narrowly wide when well placed. Redcastle put the game to bed then when Gavin Grant advanced through the middle to slip the ball to Darren Kelly who slotted low past Friel. McConway had the final chance for the home side when he rounded Friel but saw his effort cleared off the line by Ruan Doherty.
Ulster Junior Shield Semi Final
Culdaff FC 2
Keadue Rocers Res 4
Played in sunny but very blustery conditions the visitors opened the scoring in their first attack when Aidan Boyle found space in the home defence before composing himself and finished confidently with his left foot. A minute later the home side were stunned after Daire Gallagher turned and unleashed a superb effort to the top corner after sloppy defending. Culdaff spurned a gilt edged chance to get back into the game after being awarded a penalty for handball but Aiden Cunningham’s effort was well saved by Denys Kostrykin in the Keadue goal. It got worse then for the home side when more poor defending allowed Gallagher to nip in and finish from a tight angle. Culdaff against the wind tried to respond with Brendan McLaughlin’s free crashing off the wall. They missed another great chance after Mc Laughlin laid the ball off for Jack O’Brien who blazed over from six yards. Culdaff went close again on the restart when McLaughlin played O’Brien through but he was denied by the legs of Kostrykin. A right wing cross from Cunningham just eludes Mclaughlin at the back post before the home side pulled one back with an unstoppable effort from McLaughlin from the edge of the area. But Keadue looked to seal the victory on 78 minutes after good work from substitute Conal McEniff found Oisin McKelvey who fired left footed past Patrick McLaughlin from sixteen yards. Culdaff battled to the end and Sean O Neill was just off target with a good effort before the got a consolation when substitute Eugene McLaughlin’s cross was converted by Brendan McLaughlin. While the home side had multiple efforts on goal but resolute defending and poor finishing see Keadue advance to face Cockhill Youths in the final.
Inishowen Engineering Division 2A
Gleneely Colts 3
Cockhill Colts 0
Gleneely Colts rejoined Sea Rovers at the top of the table on fifty three points after a three nil win going into he final game of the season. Played in windy but sunny conditions Gleneely were first to show on 11 minutes when Manus Doherty had a shot from twenty yards that was parried away to safety by Graeme Doherty. A minute later Paul Doherty shot from twenty yards that was heading to the top corner but Graeme Doherty pulled off a fantastic one handed save. Cockhill nearly opened the scoring on the half hour when a mix up in the home defence allowed Gavin Doherty through but he poked wide under pressure. Before the break Mark McGonigle shot wide from 15 yards after good build up play involving Paul Doherty and Tristan McColgan. Cockhill had another chance and again Gavin Doherty poked wide again inside the box. Cockhill started the second half brighter and Declan Kearney’s shot forced Ciaran Gallagher into a smart save low to his right. Gleneely opened the scoring on 52minutes when Shane Diver showed great strength to beat three defenders and slot low passed Graeme Doherty from eight yards. Gleneely were well on top at this stage and got their second midway through the half when good work by Shane Diver again, he fed Manus Doherty and he shot low again to the bottom corner from . Gleneely made it three late on when Matthew Doherty beat the offside trap to shoot low to the bottom corner.
Culdaff Res 6
Aileach Youths 1
The visitors started well with Ryan Wilson having a powerful effort held by Odhran Douglas before Giordain McIntyre evaded two defenders but his effort was again superbly saved by Douglas. Culdaff gradually found their feet with Billy Hume forcing a good save from Aaron C Doherty . The home side opened the scoring on 21 minutes when Hume found space in the area and sidefooted home from ten yards. Six minutes later they doubled their lead when Matthew McGoldrick unleashed a superb effort to the bottom corner from the edge of the area. With the wind creating havoc a Jack Curley long ball over the top deceived the keeper and crossed the line to leave the home side three nil ahead. The visitors got a goal back then in the 40th minute after Benny Hegarty pounced on a misplaced pass in the home defence to fire left footed past Douglas from twelve yards. The visitors finished the half the stronger and Daibhidh Grant s effort from eight yards goes agonisingly wide of the post. Culdaff regained there three goal lead when Curleys rasping free came off the bar for Bryan McCandless to head home from five yards. Aileach substitutes Oisin Kerrigan and Ciaran Bradley then combined with Bradley volleying narrowly wide. But the home side increased their lead again after Niall Mclaughlin played a great pass into the path of McCandless who finished superbly with his right foot. It became six one then with Curley unleashing a powerful effort from twenty yards which went in off the post.
Dunree Res 1
Cockhill Colts 4
Played on Tuesday night this outstanding division two game saw the Colts suffer no hangover from their cup victory on Saturday night. They started well with Declan Kearney firing narrowly wide from fifteen yards was narrowly off target. They made the break through on 15 minutes after a lovely through ball from Liam O’Donnell released Darragh Lyons who slotted home from eight yards. Lyons then doubled their lead with a superb volley from fifteen yards and the same player almost added a third ghosting through the home defence but shooting into the side netting. The Colts made it three nil on the half hour mark after Gavin Doherty won possession on half way and raced clear before drilling home from a tight angle. Philip Doherty in the home goal then saved brilliantly from Lyons before reacting superbly to tip away Alan Fletcher’s follow up. Dunree started the second half better but on 55 minutes fell further behind after Dohertys cross was headed home by the unmarked Fletcher. The home side kept plugging away and got a goal back with Sean McColgan releasing Paddy Doherty and when his effort crashed off the post Paul Jackson was on hand to slot home. Kevin Doherty went close for the home side before McColgan’s snap shot drew a fine save from Declan Caldwell in the Colts goal. In the last action of the game Doherty in the home goal produced a fine save to deny Fletcher from the penalty spot.
