The following are all the reports from the Inishowen League from over the weekend.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Cockhill Celtic 10
Moville Celtic 0
After the euphoria of their brilliant win in Limerick last weekend Cockhill were back to the bread and butter of the league on Thursday night when they faced relegated Moville. Cockhill dominated from the off and took the lead on 7 minutes when Adam Duffy slotted home from close range after Conor Graham’s shot from just inside the box was parried by Ryan Coyle.They doubled their lead on 14minutes when Duffy’s right wing cross found Liam Grant who’s layoff was swept home by Graham from the penalty spot. It was became three in the 35th minute when Brendan McLaughlin’s ball inside the full back found Liam Grant who advanced into the box before finishing low past Coyle.Two quickfire goals soon followed. Firstly Graham’s incisive run down the right was matched by a fine cross, finished first time by Garbhan Friel. Then Graham added a fifth, firing home a Paddy McLaughlin cross from the edge of the six yard box. The first chance of the second half fell to Graham but his first time effort from McLaughlin’s cross flew over. McLaughlin’s willing running was causing problems and, minutes later, his overlap and cross found Duffy but his close range effort was gathered by Coyle. Cockhill made it six on the hour when Luke Rudden robbed a defender before unselfishly squaring for Grant to tap home and then Rudden converted a penalty after he was fouled in the box. Moville fashioned their first chance of note midway through the half when Ruan Doherty’s through ball found Luke McFadden but Harry Doherty was alert to advance and smother the ball. Liam Grant completed his hat-trick on 78minutes when he latched onto Duffy’s through ball to coolly score. Minutes later, Rudden got his second after controlling Corey McBride’s right wing cross before firing home.McFadden had a free kick well held by Doherty before Grant completed the scoring in the last minute when he capitalised on a poor defensive clearance to find the roof of the net.
Strand Hotel First Division
Dunree United 2
Culdaff FC 1
This was a crucial win for the home side as it guarantees them safety in the division for another season. Dunree started well and in the third minute a Bernie Doherty cross found Ryan Bradley whose header crashed back off the post. They broke the deadlock on 5 minutes after Adam Barrett won possession and played a superb ball into the path of Jamie Brosnan to fire low to the corner. But the visitors got back on terms on 18 minutes when Matthew McGoldrick crossed for Niall Gordon to head to the roof of the net.Dunree had another good chance before the break when Barrett found Doherty whose attempted chip was well saved by Patrick McLaughlin. Dunree regained the lead seven minutes after the break when Brosnan played a lovely ball to Doherty who controlled well before drilling low to the corner from fifteen yards. Culdaff responded and a well hit effort from McGoldrick was well saved by Philip Doherty in the home goal. Barrett then had a glorious chance to seal the win when clear in a one on one but Mclaughlin denied him. Culdaff pushed hard in the last ten minutes but the Dunree defence stood firm.
Inishowen Engineering Division 2A
Cockhill Colts 5
Redcastle Res 3
This midweek clash saw a stirring second half comeback from the home side who trailed three one at the break. The home side opened the scoring in the 4th minute after Aiden O’Donnell charged down keeper Oisin Quigleys clearance before squeezing the ball home from a tight angle. But the visitors levelled on 15 minutes when a quick throw found Darragh Harkin to fire past Declan Caldwell from eight yards. Redcastle took the lead midway through the half then when Gary Kelly despatched a superb twenty five yards free to the top corner. Before the break they added a third when Darragh Leith collected a throw in in space and hammered to the top corner from twenty yards.But the home side started the second half in superb fashion getting one back on 47 minutes after Gavin Dohertys cross was finished at the back post by O’Donnell from six yards. Five minutes later thy were level with Alan Fletcher and Gavin Doherty playing a neat one two for Fletcher to slot past Quigley from twelve yards. They completed the comeback midway through the half when O’Donnell curled a twenty two yards free around the wall and into the bottom corner to complete his hat trick. And the home side sealed the points with their fifth goal after Doherty squared the ball for substitute Darragh Lyons to slot home from close range.
Inishowen Football League Reports Sunday 14th April
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Aileach FC 0
Cockhill Celtic 1
The home side gave as good as they got for the opening 20 minutes but Cockhill broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when Luke Rudden got space down the right and crossed for Garbhan Friel to head past Dylan Porter from six yards. On the half hour, Cockhill should have increased their lead when Rudden again got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Friel but his effort from twelve yards was high and wide. With half time approaching, Cockhill carved out another good opportunity after a deep cross from Peter Doherty was headed goalwards by Rudden but Thomas Mc Monagle did well to hook his goal bound effort off the line. The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with Cockhill having the vast majority of possession and Aileach working hard to deny them space in the final third. Some of the younger players for the home side really stood up with Ryan Long, Michael McElroy, Dylan McGrory and Dylan Porter in goals putting in a fine shift throughout. Midway through the half, Cockhill carved out what turned out to be their best chance of the half when Peter Doherty overlapped down the left and pulled the ball across the box for Garbhan Friel who controlled and swivelled but his effort was just off target. As the game progressed, Cockhill were happy to keep possession and see the game out as the home side were offering little going forward. The game petered out for a comfortable enough three points for the visitors who now need one point from their final two games to clinch the league title.
Glengad United 0
Buncrana Hearts 6
Stephen McLaughlin’s under strength side had one eye on the play off next weekend when they faced second placed Buncrana at the Crua . The visitors dominated and broke the deadlock on 21 minutes when Calvin Gallaghers cross from the left found Shaunie Bradley to slot home at the front post past Michael McLaughlin. They doubled their lead on 35 minutes when a Jamie McDaid cross was not cleared by the home defence allowing Bradley to head home. Before the interval they added a third after a Kevin O’Loughlin clearance sent Cian McGarvey clear of the home defence and he slotted past McLaughlin from the edge of the area. Buncrana added a fourth goal on the hour mark when Matthew Browne crossed to Bart Wesolowski whose first time effort was well saved by McLaughlin but the rebound fell kindly for McGarvey to slot home. Glengad held the visitors at bay then until the 85th minute when McDaid and Christopher McKinley combined for the latter to lay the ball back to Wesolowski to fire to the top corner from the edge of the area. Wesolowski added another in the final minute to complete the scoring.
Strand Hotel First Division
Dunree United 1
Greencastle Youths 2
The pressure was off the home side after their win on Thursday night and the visitors secured their place in the division next year with this come from behind victory. After an even opening it was the home side who broke the deadlock on 15 minutes when Bernie Doherty laid the ball off for Adam Barrett to finish low to the corner from the edge of the area. But the visitors levelled within minutes when Shea Doherty headed the ball across the area from a free kick for Conor Gillen to head home from six yards. The visitors went close again after Gillen poked the ball past Ryan Toland in the home goal but Toland recovered to retrieve the ball before it crossed the line. Dunree were on top then to the break with Doherty denied in a one on one by Stephen Teles and a Sean McColgan header causing chaos in the Greencastle defence before they scrambled the ball to safety. Greencastle started the second half well with a Gillen header cleared off the line by Aaron Harkin. At the other end Teles made a superb tip over from a Jamie Brosnan effort from outside the box. Greencastle pushed hard with a Shea Doherty just over before they sealed a crucial win in the 82nd minute when Shea Doherty headed home at the back post to secure their place in the first division next season and condemn Buncrana Res to the play off.
Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O’Gara Cup Quarter Finals
Cockhill Youths 4
Culdaff FC 3
In a hugely entertaining game the home side started well with Paul Mullan firing over the bar after a mason McDaid cross. But Culdaff opened the scoring on 17 minutes after good work by Aidan Cunningham found Brendan Mclaughlin who curled a superb effort into the top corner from sixteen yards past Darragh O’Donnell. Culdaff had another good chance after a low cross from Euan McFeely was parried by O’Donnell but Michael Coyle sidefooted wide from five yards. MvcFeely then headed wide at the back post before O’Donnell saved well from Mclaughlin. Cockhill responded before the break with Liam Bradley seeing a header well saved by Patrick Mclaughlin. Cockhill started the second half the better and got back on terms in the 52nd minute after Darragh McDermott slid the ball through for Mullan who calmly slotted past McLaughlin. Within a minute Culdaff regained the lead after Jack O’Brien pulled the ball back to Brendan Mclaughlin to slide the ball home. But Cockhill levelled four minutes later after McDermott fired home from the edge of the area. Cockhill then went ahead on the hour mark after the visitors defence failed to clear allowing McDermott to head past McLaughlin from eight yards. Christopher Duffy then spurned a gilt edged chance when he raced clear rounded the keeper but inexplicably fired wide . Cockhill increased their lead with six minutes remaining after Mason Mcdaid beat a defender and saw his effort parried to Bradley whose follow up was blocked before McDermott scored with a superb back heel. Culdaff rallied and reduced the deficit on 90 minutes when Noel Mclaughlin headed past O’Donnell but Cockhill saw the game out to advance to a semi final with Rashenny.
Culdaff Res 1
Redcastle United 5
In blustery conditions the home aside started well and took the lead after four minutes when Billy Hume raced onto a ball over the top on the left and a fired low past Michael McCole. But a defensive mix up at the other end allowed Darragh McConway to fire the first division champions back on level terms on 17 minutes. The visitors then took the lead after Mark Farren broke clear of the home defence to slot past Odhran Douglas in the home goal. The home side responded with a Matthew McGoldrick free kick parried by McCole and a defender was alert to clear the danger. They went close again with a fine Jack Curley effort crashing off the bar before the break. After an even start to the second half Redcastle increased their lead in the 63rd minute with a superb twenty yards strike to the top corner from Shaun Curran giving Douglas no chance. Culdaff battled hard but found the visitors defence giving nothing away. The visitors added two late goals then from Gavin Grant and DJ Kelly to seal their place in the semi final.
Cockhill Colts 2
Carn Res 1
Division two Cockhill Colts produced a cup upset at the Charlie O’Donnell sportsground when they defeated first division Carn Res in the quarter finals. The visitors got off to a great start when a Matthew Smith corner eluded all and crept in at he near post in the 10th minute. Cockhill settled and equalised when Gavin Doherty swept the ball past Kyle Harkin from eight yards after a superb Aiden O’Donnell cross. O’Donnell then tried his luck with a snap shot from near the half way line which crashed back off the crossbar. But on the stroke of half time the Colts took the lead when a corner was superbly flicked on by Liam O’Donnell for brother Aiden to slot home at the back post. Carn dominated possession in the second half but failed to really trouble Graham Doherty and the home side were dangerous on the break. In a break on 71 minutes Aiden O’Donnell raced clear but with the keeper to beat Kyle Harkin stood tall to make a superb save. Carn pressed in the closing stages and a mark Scott effort was acrobatically saved by Graham Doherty to ensure the Colts advance to the semi final.
