The following are all the reports and fixtures from the Donegal League over the weekend.
Voodoo Venue Cup
Saturday 7th September
Letterkenny Rovers Reserves 0 v 2 Oldtown Celtic
Oldtown’s Micheal Doherty spurned a good chance after five minutes. After 15 minutes Doherty went one on one with the keeper who made a good save and Luke Neilis put the rebound over the bar. Henry was sent off after two yellow cards which changed the game. Rovers held on to the last minute of the first half when Micheal Doherty made it 1-0 to Oldtown. After half-time there was a lot of midfield possession football. Oldtown had Rovers on the back foot. In the 70th minute Oldtown scored to make it 2-0 which more or less killed the game Both teams created good chances after that. Oldtown had chances to extend their lead but Rovers also created chances to get one back.
Ramelton Mariners 0 v 2 Fanad United Reserves
On a sunny warm day in Rathmullan, Mariners were in action against a good youthful Fanad side. The first 20 minutes were tight with both sides cancelling each other out. After 25 minutes Fanad scored from a free which took a deflection and feel to feet off a Fanad player who slotted home. Fanad then scored a wonderful free-kick on the stroke of half-time, giving Dylan Roulston no chance of saving the effort. The second-half was another tight battle with few chances for either side.
Erne Wanderers 6 v 0 Drumbar F.C.
(No Report Submitted)
Copany Rovers 2 v 0 Fintown Harps AFC
(No Report Submitted)
Dunlewey Celtic 0 v 2 Gweedore Celtic Reserves
Both sides started the game on a solid footing and tried to draw one another out and create spaces. For the first 20 minutes of the game Dunlewey looked the stronger of the two sides. Gweedore kept a good shape and continued to try and play short passes through the midfield. On 29 minutes Gweedore penetrated the Dunlewey defence and Breathnach finished neatly for the visitors to put them ahead. Dunlewey tried to get back into the tie before half time but the visitors held out to hold the advantage at the break. The second half went much the way of the first half with Dunlewey creating a few chances but the final finish just wasn’t there for them. Gweedore looked dangerous on the break with their pace in behind the Dunlewey backline. With Dunlewey pushing for an equaliser, the space opened and they capitalised on this with a quick counter and Cronan McFadden tapped home Gweedore’s second goal with 14 minutes to play. Dunlewey pushed to get back into the game but the visitors held out
Strand Rovers 2 v 0 Cranford United
Two good chances in the first 15 minutes for Strand with an excellent effort from coming off the post and another brilliant free kick from Ethan Mc Caffrey saved by the keeper. What looked to be a sure goal for Cranford, when a lovely ball played over the Strand defence found an inrushing attacker who clipped the all over the Strand keeper only to see it headed off the line by James Mc Cole who was in behind covering his keeper. The rest of the first half saw play mainly stay in the Cranford half with Strand creating chance after chance but none found the net. With only 3 minutes played in the second half it was Ethan Mc Caffrey who got on the score-sheet with an excellent shot from just inside the box. That settled the play a bit and Strand started to play the ball about a take control of the game. 10 minutes later in the 58th minute it was Dylan Boyle who got his first goal of the season as he received a through ball from Ethan Mc Cafferty and he finished it nicely in to the bottom corner. Cranford pushed hard to get off the mark but Strand were the stronger team on the day. Referee: Barry Tourish
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 0 v 6 Kildrum Tigers Reserves
Kildrum advanced to the next round of the Voodoo Venue Cup after a convincing victory in Castlefin. A first-half brace from Aaron O’ Donnell, a goal apiece from Shane and Paul Mc Nulty had the visitors well ahead at the break. Kildrum added to their tally in the second half Shane Mc Nulty grabbing his second and O’ Donnell completing his hat-trick
Bonagee United Reserves 7 v 2 Ballybofey United Reserves
Ultan Mc Monagle scored a hat-trick as Bonagee United hit seven in the Voodoo Venue Cup.
Bonagee overcame Ballybofey United at Dry Arch Park on Wednesday night to move into the next round, spurred by Mc Monagle’s treble. Bonagee hit the front on 10 minutes when Kelvin Anderson’s low cross was turned into his own net by a Ballybofey defender. Ballybofey drew level in the 21st minute. Just seconds after firing over the top, Colin Kearns was presented with a chance by a slip-up in the home defence. Kearns duly obliged with a neat finish. A superb save by Ballybofey ‘keeper Daniel Crawford denied Mc Monagle, but the Bonagee attacker blasted to the net in the 32nd minute. Mc Monagle surged into the box and hammered home to make it 3-1. Caolan Mc Garrigle added a fourth late in the opening half. Mark Griffin pulled a goal back for Ballybofey when he punished an error.
Mc Monagle riffled inches over the crossbar with a chance to complete his hat-trick, but he made no mistake in the 72nd minute. Ronan Buchanan and Marc Casey added late goals for the hosts who have now scored 15 goals in their opening two games.
Brian Mc Cormick Cup
Sunday 8th September
Swilly Rovers A v A Rathmullan Celtic
(No Report Available)
Bonagee United 1 v 3 Letterkenny Rovers
Brian McCormick Cup holders Letterkenny Rovers moved into the area shield final of this season’s competition after a derby win over Bonagee United. Before a big crowd at Dry Arch Park, goals from Adrian Delap, Gareth Doherty and BJ Banda secured a passage through to the next round for Stephen Mc Connell’s Rovers. Bonagee rallied late and Kyle Mc Laughlin did pull a goal back – but it wasn’t enough to peg Rovers back. New signings Joel Bradley-Walsh and Keith Cowan helped to give Rovers a formidable look at the back, where they were joined by another new recruit in Padraic Gilsenan, who spent last season at Bonagee. Andrew Nicholls, the Bonagee goalkeeper, denied Rovers the lead when he beat away a Banda penalty in the 16th minute. Barely a minute later, Rovers took the lead as Banda teed up Delap who fired beyond Nicholls to the far corner. Bonagee forced a series of corners without really troubling visiting ‘keeper Oisin Farrell. Ricky Guntrip did see a dangerous free diverted out for a corner. Guntrip scampered forward to get on the end of a good move involving Gareth Harkin and Deano Larkin, but his effort was wide while Cowan’s intervention halted the march of Gareth Harkin who had scurried through. Late in the first half, Shay Maloney’s shot turned around the post via a deflection. Three minutes into the second half, Doherty pounced on an error in the home defence to slot home the second. Nicholls firmly held onto a powerful Doherty shot on the hour before James Henry curled wide at the other end. Twenty minutes from the end, Doherty turned provider and Banda converted number three. Mc Laughlin got Bonagee off the mark with three minutes to go and, while Farrell palmed a Fintan Hassan free away, the home team couldn’t push their neighbours any further.
Letterbarrow Celtic 1 v 4 St. Catherines
Emerald Park was bathed in sunshine for this local Brian Mc Cormack Cup clash.
Josh Maxwell had just recovered from a heavy tackle and gingerly moved into the box and somehow found the strength to head home a delightful cross from Shaun Kelly on 8 minutes. The home team had a lot of procession but Letterbarrow were defending well until Kyle Mc Geoghan latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box and his sweet left foot strike gave the away keeper no chance, 2-0 to the home team on 30 minutes.
Letterbarrow’s No.9 Darragh Burke looked the most dangerous for the visitors and his exceptional speed saw him steer a through ball past the Saints’ keeper for 2-1 on 43 minutes. The second half started much like the first with the Saints dominating possession but it was a simple ball over the top of the away defence on 55 minutes that caught the Letterbarrow centre half napping and Alex Mc Ginley took one touch to control and one touch to shoot for a 3 – 1 lead. An own-goal finished the tie as a contest on 75 minutes when an outstretched Letterbarrow boot was last to make contact with a whipped cross from the left. Entertaining football from both teams but the home side progress to the next round
Donegal Town 4 v 0 Cappry Rovers
(No Report Submitted)
Kildrum Tigers 6 v 0 Raphoe Town
Three goals either side of half time seen the home side advance to the area final.
Kildrum came out comfortable winners in the end against a very youthful and impressive Raphoe side, Murtagh in particular impressing for the away side. Keelan Gillen’s goal the pick of them for the home side as he curled his effort into the top corner midway through the second half.
Castlefin Celtic 3 v 2 Lagan Harps
Castlefin advanced to the next round of the Brian Mc Cormick Cup after an extra time win over Lagan in Castlefin. Jude Patton put the hosts ahead after breaking through, Phillip Doran got the teams level shortly after. James Tinney rifled home after a Jordan Mc Kinney header came off the post after the break. Oisin Harkin powered home from the edge of the box to level the tie. In an open affair both sides created numerous chances but neither could find a winner in normal time. Halfway through the first half of extra time Dean Kelly found space and rifled home the winner from 25 yards.
Cranford United 6 v 5 Glenea United
Shane Coll and Cathair Sweeney were the heroes as Cranford won a very entertaining match in Cranford Park. A tight game throughout but it was Glenea who took the lead after 20 minutes when a ball was swung in from the left a great volley from the on rushing forward found the net. Cranford responded just before half time when Shane Coll bundled the ball home. Glenea regained their lead 10 minutes in to the second half from a brilliant long range effort. Cranford against showed a never say die attitude and Coll got his second heading home a corner. Glenea took the lead for the third time with 10 minutes to go and looked like it would be the winner but again Cranford pushed hard and earned a penalty from which Shane Coll completed his hat-trick. Glenea took the lead in the 1st half of extra time before Cranford equalised in the second half from Domhnaill Sweeney. Cranford went on to win it on penalties in sudden death as Cathair Sweeney saved two after having to dawn the gloves after an early injury to Jason Hegarty.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 4 v 3 Gweedore Celtic
(No Report Submitted)
RESULTS
Saturday 7th September
Letterkenny Rovers Reserves 0 v 2 Oldtown Celtic
Ramelton Mariners 0 v 2 Fanad United Reserves
Erne Wanderers 6 v 0 Drumbar F.C.
Copany Rovers 2 v 0 Fintown Harps AFC
Dunlewey Celtic 0 v 2 Gweedore Celtic Reserves
Strand Rovers 2 v 0 Cranford United
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 0 v 6 Kildrum Tigers Reserves
Bonagee United Reserves 7 v 2 Ballybofey United Reserves
Brian Mc Cormick Cup
Sunday 8th September
Swilly Rovers A v A Rathmullan Celtic
Bonagee United 1 v 3 Letterkenny Rovers
Letterbarrow Celtic 1 v 4 St. Catherines
Donegal Town 4 v 0 Cappry Rovers
Kildrum Tigers 6 v 0 Raphoe Town
Castlefin Celtic 3 v 2 Lagan Harps
Cranford United 6 v 5 Glenea United
Kilmacrennan Celtic 4 v 3 Gweedore Celtic
