Here are all of the results and match reports from this week’s Donegal League games.
Saturday 4th January 2025
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Arranmore United 0 v 4 Oldtown Celtic
Arranmore welcomed league leaders Oldtown to Rannagh Park in what turned out to be a one-sided victory for the Letterkenny men. The away side opened the scoring 20 minutes into the game through Drew Connolly. On 35 minutes the in-form Sean Cleary got the first of his brace of goals to double the lead. Oldtown looked to further their lead only to be denied on a couple occasions by Arranmore goalkeeper Brendan Green. Kevin Mc Grath then made it 0-3 on the stroke of half time. The second half was tighter affair with Sean Cleary completing the scoring in stoppage time. Referee: Thomas Ferry
Keadue Rovers Reserves 3 v 0 Swilly Rovers Reserves
(No Report, Match Not Played)
Ramelton Mariners 0 v 2 St. Catherine’s Reserves
The Mariners started 2025 with a tough fixture at home to a strong St. Catherine’s. The game was eventful from the start with both sides getting chances to take an early lead but neither side able to capitalise leaving the score at half time 0-0. The second half started much the same with both sides threatening but not able to get register. The opener came when St. Catherine’s broke down the left wing and managed to break the deadlock. The Mariners tried to get back into the game but found chances hard to come by in the later stages. St. Catherine’s got their second after a quick counter attack.
Strand Rovers 1 v 1 Kildrum Tigers Reserves
A very fast paced and hectic first half in which both teams were evenly matched, having a few chances apiece without reward for either. It took Strand a good ten minutes to get into the second half but once they did they were the better team. It wasn’t until late in the second half, in the 78th minute, the home team got in front when sub Ryan Brennan scored from a James Mc Cole long ball up the field. When it looked as though Strand would hold out for a 1-0 win, deep into injury time, a cross come shot from Dominic Keys deceived the Strand Keeper Caelan Bonner to level the sides and left both teams walking away with a point each. Referee: Dessie Mc Laughlin
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Cappry Rovers Reserves 0 v 2 Fintown Harps AFC
Fintown hosted Cappry in a reversed fixture as the weather ruled out Cappry’s home advantage. Fintown got off to a flier with Keelan McGill heading home from a corner to give the Fintown men the perfect start. Cappry thought they levelled but Matthew Wootton was ruled offside. Fintown should have doubled their lead as Kieran Gallagher tested Cappry Goalkeeper Dylan Doherty. Fintown then doubled their lead in the second half through Shane Mc Devitt. Cappry battled hard but Fintown saw it out for a well-deserved win.
Dunlewey Celtic 0 v 8 Letterkenny Rovers Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Glenea United Reserves 5 v 5 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves
It was the home side that started the strongest and took the lead on 5 minutes when, after being played in, Chris Barrett saw his initial effort saved by the keeper but was on hand to knock in the rebound. Glenea continued to press and extended their lead with 2 quick goals from Sean Geaney. Drumoghill pulled a goal back on 20 minutes with a fine strike form Eunan Kelly. Glenea continued to press but failed to capitalise on a number of good chances and were made to pay on 40 minutes when Shane Duffy headed home a corner to reduce the home side’s lead. Glenea regained their 2-goal lead on 44 minutes when Tarlach Coll’s effort from the left sneaked in at the near post. At the start of the 2nd half the home side continued to press for goals but failed to convert a number of chances and it was the away side that scored on the break through Eunan Kelly. Glenea got their 5th goal when Seamus Doogan was fouled in the box and Patrick Doohan converted the penalty. Drumoghill pushed hard to get back into the game, but were leaving themselves open to the counterattack, but Glenea failed to take a number of chances that came their way. Drumoghill pulled a goal back on 80 minutes when Shaun Wogan got onto the end of a free kick. Drumoghill equalised on 88 minutes when Lee Duncan’s effort from the edge of the box found the corner of the net. Best for Glenea were Patrick Doohan and Jamie Hunter, while Eunan Kelly was best for Drumoghill. Referee: Matthew Hull.
Gweedore Celtic Reserves 0 v 4 Erne Wanderers
A more experienced and more physical Erne deservedly got the better of a youthful Gweedore Celtic team in this game played at an Screaban. There was little between the teams up until the midway point of the first half when Erne hit the front with a goal by Gallagher from Weber’s pass. The goal came after Charlie Gallagher had hit the post for Gweedore and from the rebound Erne hit on the breakaway to take the lead. Erne struck twice more before the interval through Roper and Weber to effectively secure the points. An improved performance from the young home team saw them creating several chances the best of which fell to Noa Freel and Micheal Mc Gee. Erne were happy to soak up the pressure and a fast breakaway ended with Roper getting his second of the day. Good performances from Noa Freel, Peter Carragher and Micheal Mc Gee for the home team with Gallagher and Roper shining for Erne. Referee: Gerard Devine
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 2 v 2 Castlefin Celtic Reserves
Junior soccer returned after the Christmas break but it was the home team who were still in a festive mood, handing out late presents to allow Castlefin leave the Letterkenny Community Centre with a share of the spoils. Having started brightly with Owen Browne, Steve Mc Daid and Oisin Harkin all going close Kilmacrennan eventually took the lead when good build up play saw Oran Gallagher release Terence Shields and he finished to the far corner. The home team continued to dominate for the rest of the half but it remained 1 – 0 at the break. The second half was more of the same with Kilmacrennan dominant in possession but the Castlefin rearguard stood firm as the home team went close through Cassidy twice, Harkin and Mc Daid but all failed to hit the target. The 2nd goal duly arrived midway through the half when Kilmacrennan broke from deep, Shields held the ball up in the box before finding Harkin with a perfect pass and the big striker rolled the ball home for what looked like the insurance goal. Castlefin kept battling and as the game entered injury time they forced a corner. Several players attacked the cross and when it dropped on the goal-line Robert Patterson poked home to set up a grandstand finish. Despite the home team almost grabbing a 3rd it was the visitors that finished the scoring, a long ball into the box was blocked by a Kilmacrennan defender but cruelly it ricocheted off a retreating Kilmacrennan player and ended up in the net, much to the delight of the away team whilst the home team were left to rue their missed chances on the day. Referee: Liam Mc Laughlin.
Finn Travel Saturday Division Three
Bonagee United Reserves P v P Ballybofey United Reserves
(No Report, Match Postponed)
Copany Rovers 6 v 2 Milford United Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Fanad United Reserves 1 v 1 Drumkeen United Reserves
Leaders Fanad United dropped their first points of the Finn Travel Donegal League Saturday Division Three as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Drumkeen United Reserves on Saturday. Played in cold but calm conditions, the first half was pretty even throughout. Fanad had the first chance after 4 minutes when Charlie Mc Ateer met a Dylan Mc Glone cross at the near post but his effort went just wide. On 17 minutes, Sean Collum found space in the Fanad box and hit well hit effort produced a decent save from Fanad keeper Aodh Mc Bride. On 20 minutes Adam Carr saw his shot from the edge of the box deflected onto the Drumkeen crossbar. It was Fanad who then made the breakthrough in the 35th minute. The referee adjudged that Charlie Mc Ateer had been fouled in the box and a spot kick was awarded. Darragh O’ Doherty stepped up and slammed the ball home. The second half saw Fanad create several chances without extending their lead. Alan Mc Ateer was the first to try his luck but his pop shot from 30 yards flew just over the bar. Fanad continued to push and in the 75th minute Drumkeen keeper Ben Gallagher produced an excellent point blank save to deny Adam Carr following a corner. Five minutes later Alan Mc Ateer just failed to connect with a Dylan Mc Glone cross. Fanad were made to pay for their missed chances as Drumkeen equalised in the 87th minute. Lee Guthrie showed great strength to hold off his marker before unleashing a superb half volley into the far top corner from the edge of the box. Referee: Mick Lagan
Lagan Harps Reserves 4 v 0 Gweedore United Reserves
Lagan got the new year off to a good start with a win at home to Gweedore United. They got off to a fortunate start with a goal on the first minute. Jack Duncan got in around the back of the Gweedore defence and knocked the ball past the keeper. A defender cleared it off the line but it ricocheted over the line after hitting another defender in the back. Lagan were well on top and it was no surprise when they grabbed a second on twelve minutes when Jack Duncan superbly volleyed home a Cormac Crossan cross. Gweedore began to settle in and went close three times in a couple of minutes. Kai Brown did well to push an Owen Gallagher free over the bar. He then pulled off another great save when Owen connected with the corner. From the resultant corner, Cormac Crossan did well to head a goalbound effort off the line. Lagan went close from a few crosses and corners before Calum Feireatear was just wide for Gweedore. Lagan started well in the second half with Jack Duncan getting over a cross but Damien Mc Fadden’s effort was saved by Eamonn Collum. Drew Dowds was then just wide from another cross from Jack. Lagan went 3-0 up on seventy minutes when a Michael Toner effort was cleared off the line by a defender but rebounded in off Damien Mc Fadden. Gweedore kept going and went close on a couple of occasions. Lagan scored again in the final minute when Michael Toner knocked home a Ross Hamlyn cross. In a good team performance Jack Mc Connell, Ross Hamlyn and Jack Duncan did well for Lagan. Owen Gallagher, Oran Ferry and Stephen Mulhern did well for Gweedore. Referee: Raymond Gallagher.
Sunday 5th January 2025
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Gweedore Celtic 0 v 2 Bonagee United
Bonagee claimed all points in this game but they were made to work hard to keep up their challenge for the Premier Division title. Gweedore started the better of the teams and had their first chance after five minutes when Stephen Mc Fadden, on his debut, headed narrowly wide from Jamie Doherty’s cross. As the game settled down Bonagee gained a foothold in midfield with Harkin and Henry impressive, but they failed to create any clear-cut chances. The nearest they came was when Harkin made a great run behind the home defence but Mc Kelvey was quick off his line to smother the danger. Na Ceiltigh began the second half with more intent and chances fell to Mc Fadden and Darragh Mc Gee but they failed to convert. Nicholls, in goals for Bonagee, made an excellent save from Jamie Doherty’s fiercely struck free kick and shortly afterwards Bonagee hit the front when Jamie Harris got on the end of Mc Loughlin’s cross to score from six yards. Gweedore kept the pressure up but the Bonagee defence of Parke, Coyle, Breslin and Creevey held firm. Efforts from Mc Fadden and Wiggins were blocked and cleared to safety. Bonagee settled the game and the points in the last minute when Parke broke through to beat Mc Kelvey and send his team top of the Division. A good all round showing from the home team with Stephen Mc Fadden impressing along with Fiachra Coyle, Shaun Gallagher and Caolan Laux.
For Bonagee Gareth Harkin and Henry were outstanding. Referee: A. Gourley
Letterkenny Rovers 0 v 0 Kildrum Tigers
Letterkenny Rovers and Kildrum Tigers battled out a scoreless draw for the second time this season as neither side could find a breakthrough goal on a bitterly cold afternoon at Leckview Park. In a largely forgettable first half, chances were few and far between with Rovers’ goalkeeper Mark Anthony Mc Ginley denying Johnny Robb from close range while at the other end BJ Banda was off target with a back-post header. The second half was a livelier affair with Brian Breslin narrowly missing the target for the visitors and Mc Ginley had to be alert to save a low free-kick from Tiernan Brown. On 66 minutes, the home side came closest to scoring when Banda rattled an effort against the underside of the crossbar before the ball was cleared to safety. A darting run from Robb with ten minutes remaining nearly grabbed the points for the Tigers but his effort flashed wide. Referee: Gerald Devine
Rathmullan Celtic 0 v 7 Kilmacrennan Celtic
Kilmacrennan Celtic ran out convincing winners as an understrength Hoops’ side were undone at the Flagpole Field. The Lurgysiders were in front before a minute had elapsed at the Seaside. Rathmullan battled gamely for half an hour and came agonisingly close to levelling through Kevin Doran but the ball somehow bounced over the crossbar from his lobbed effort after a clever pass from Dara Patton. At the other end, Kilmacrennan won a penalty moments later to double their advantage and when it went to 3-0 a few minutes later, the contest was all but over. The home side went on to finish with nine men, Dara Patton hobbling off with a hamstring problem with no subs to enter the fray and Gerard Mc Ateer booked twice in the same incident midway through the second half. Paul Bradley (2), Mathew McLaughlin (pen) and Conor Black scored for Kilmacrennan in the opening half, while Owen Browne, Chris Dillon and Shane Mc Devitt got the goals after the break. The pick of the bunch was a 25-yarder from Browne that flew inside the post as Gerard Mc Granaghan’s side put on a convincing display. Referee: Michael Connolly
St. Catherine’s 2 v 2 Fanad United
A cold Emerald Park was the venue for this mid-table clash but both sides kept the decent crowd warmed and entertained in what can only be described as a gutsy performance from both sets of players. Against the run of play it was the Saints who opened the scoring on 20 minutes. A dangerously whipped free kick from the boot of Mc Clean saw the Fanad defence struggling to clear and after some ping pong football around the box the ball eventually landed on the right boot of Ryan Carr who struck cleanly to the roof of the net. Fanad deservedly got an equaliser on 28 minutes when great work around the edge of the 18-yard line from O’ Reilly saw him slide the ball to Peter Carr who drove low under the body of the home keeper to level the scores. The scores remained at 1 – 1 until the half time break and when Mick Langan blew to restart the second you just knew this was going to be a battle to the end. Fanad were edging the possession stats and this paid off for them on 78 minutes as Carr slotted calmly to the keepers’ right for a priceless 2-1 lead. With 10 minutes left on the clock the Saints’ management threw on some fresh legs and moved Ryan Cunningham from midfield to centre forward. This was to prove a master stroke. On 88 minutes he received a cross from the left and had the ball under his spell in a flash. He struck low from the edge of the box with his weaker right peg and the ball took a wicked deflection which meant the visiting keeper could only observe the ball passing him low to his left and into the net. A massive performance from Odhran Mc Guinness in the middle of the Saints’ defence was pivotal to the home team securing a vital point. Fanad will be unhappy they didn’t hold out for the 3 points while the home side will view this is a vital point after looking dead and buried.
Swilly Rovers 2 v 4 Keadue Rovers
(No Report Submitted)
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Cranford United 0 v 3 Donegal Town
(No Report Submitted)
Gweedore United 2 v 1 Cappry Rovers
Gweedore United snatched all three points after a dramatic late winner from Niall Friel on a bitterly cold day at Carrickboyle. The two teams were largely well marshalled defensively which resulted in chances being restricted for most of the first half. An excellent corner from Fionnan Coyle in the 10th minute almost picked out the advancing Brian Mc Fadden who was just inches from scoring. Daire Quigley found himself free for the visitors in the 6-yard box and forced a good save from Cian Gallagher in the 28th minute. A great free kick from United’s Darren Ferry was headed just over by Fionnan Coyle on the 34th minute. The game was played in a very combative spirit with neither team willing to surrender any possession. The game turned on its head during the 36th minute when Gary Wilson was adjudged to have pulled down Fionnan Coyle just outside the box. This resulted in the away side being reduced to 10 men and subsequently things went from bad to worse for Rovers from the resulting free kick. The Cappry goalkeeper Joe Boyle was powerless against a sublime free kick from Darren Ferry, and the home side drew first blood. Connor Mc Daid’s shot in the 39th minute for the visitors from outside the box went just narrowly over the crossbar. The second half started in similar fashion to the first half as both teams tried to wrestle control of the game. The visitors restored parity on the 55th minute after a majestic finish from Jack Burke Mc Bride from 6 yards out. Both teams were unable to find a breakthrough. Brian Mc Fadden and Tiarnan Misteal had efforts saved by Joe Boyle in the 73rd minute and 81st minutes. Rovers also had a couple of opportunities to find the winner from Jack Long, Michael Carroll in the 75th and 84th respectively. Gweedore United were awarded a free kick in the 92nd minute and Darren Ferry was extremely close to getting the winner, when his shot crashed off the crossbar. The Gweedore men’s persistence paid off however as in the 93rd minute, Niall Friel struck a fantastic shot from outside the box which sailed into the top corner. A cruel blow for the away side who showed great resilience to get back into the game, but perseverance and character from United paid off for them. An impressive outing from the home side’s Darren Ferry and Niall Friel and good performances from the visitors’ Shaun Ryan and Daire Quigley. Referee: Thomas Ferry
Lifford Celtic 0 v 6 Ballybofey United
(No Report Submitted)
Milford United 2 v 2 Glenea United
Milford and Glenea played out an entertaining draw at Moyle View Park which was a fair result on the day. Glenea took the lead on 17 minutes when Blake Mc Garvey pounced in the box to bundle the ball into the net. Caolan Mc Gettigan made two outstanding saves to deny the visitors any chance to double their lead. Milford had great chances with missed opportunities falling to Kyle Black, Corey Lee Mc Conigley and Joey Cullen. Milford began the second half brightly and got a deserved equaliser on 66 minutes following a corner as Niall Murray hit the roof of the net. Five minutes later a great cross from Conor Mc Hugh was met by the head of Lorcan Friel, glancing it to the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance. Glenea pushed for an equaliser and deservedly got it on 81 minutes through Ciaran Coll following great work by Calvin Murray. Referee: Patrick Martin, blew the final whistle and both teams were happy with a share of the spoils.
Donegal Physiotherapy and Performance Centre Division Two
Convoy Arsenal 3 v 1 Raphoe Town
(No Report Submitted)
Drumkeen United 4 v 1 Curragh Athletic
(No Report Submitted)
Letterbarrow Celtic 3 v 3 Deele Harps
Despite the cold conditions, it was a perfect day for a game of football. A minute’s silence was held for the late Annabella Mc Groary. Letterbarrow powered into a 2 – 0 lead thanks to the brilliant Rory Kennedy. Deele capitalised on a defensive mix-up and from a well-worked counter-attack to make it 2-2. A towering header by Kevin Mc Brearty looked to have sealed the points but Deele made sure they went back through the gap with a point.
Whitestrand United 4 v 2 Drumoghill F.C.
For the first game of the second half of the season Whitestrand took on Drumoghill at Mc Garvey Park. Whitestrand started well and Michael Sweeney almost scored twice early on but Drumoghill took an early lead from the penalty-spot. Whitestrand responded well and equalised from a superb strike from Michael Sweeney from distance. The teams went in all square for the interval. The second half started well when Cormac Dunleavy scored from a superb through ball from Paddy Sheridan. Drumoghill equalised from another great goal from distance. Whitestrand responded well and a great cross was knocked down by Michael Sweeney and finished by Cormac Dunleavy. Michael Sweeney got a deserved second when he broke through and slid the ball under the advancing keeper. An excellent performance from Whitestrand to start the second half of the season. Best for Whitestrand were Michael Sweeney, Emmet Kelly and Cian Sweeney.
