Results
Bonagee Utd. 0 1 Cockhill Celtic
Derry City Res. 0 0 Letterkenny Rovers
Drumkeen Utd. 7 2 Fanad Utd.
Swilly Rovers 3 0 Finn Harps Res.
Cockhill Celtic 4 0 Drumkeen Utd
Letterkenny Rovers 1 0 Fanad Utd.
Bonagee Utd. 1 0 Swilly Rovers
Finn Harps Res. 1 2 Derry City Res.
Reports
Cockhill Crush Drumkeen
Cockhill Celtic 4
Drumkeen Utd. 0
The game was played on a carpet like pitch on a perfect evening for football. Cockhill started the brighter and took the game to their opponents from the kick off. Cockhill took the lead after 30 minutes when Liam O’Donnell crossed for his brother Aiden to finish from close range. Cockhill continued to press for a second but could not find the 2nd goal. Half Time 1-0 Cockhill.
Cockhill got a deserved second when Jazza Mc Laughlin blocked an attempted Eunan Kelly clearance and ran from the half way to slot past McCauley in the Drumkeen goal. Cockhill almost got their third but McCauley made 2 great saves from Liam O’Donnell & Kieran Mc Laughlin. Cockhill’s 3rd goal came when a Gerry Gill cross was flicked on by William O Connor and the in rushing Malachy Mc Dermott might have got the faintest of touches to make it 3-0. A few different Cockhill players claimed the goal. At this stage the game was over as a contest and substitute Connor Keddy got a great headed goal from a Derek Doherty cross on 85 minutes. Conor Carlin almost got a consolation goal late on for Drumkeen but big keeper Gavin Cullen saved smartly with his feet. Cockhill’s veteran midfielder Liam O’Donnell gave an outstanding performance in centre midfield using the ball smartly and led by example with a high energy performance.
McElwaine Nets Winner for Rovers
Letterkenny Rovers 1
Fanad Utd. 0
Letterkenny Rovers remain in contention for title honours after making hard work of defeating a well organised and youthful Fanad Utd at Leckview Park on Wednesday evening. Rovers now remain in third position going into the weekend games 6 points behind leaders Cockhill but with a game in hand.
It was a game of two halves in Leckview with the first half devoid of any goalmouth action until the 38th minute. Fanad were dominating midfield and were attacking at ease and won a succession of corners and free kicks. Daire McDaids free was headed on by the lively Brian McVeigh before falling to Kevin Murray 6 yards out but somehow his shot was cleared by the home defence over the bar.. From the resulting corner by McVeigh it was Murray again who almost scored with his header gathered by Jason Quinn in the Rovers goal. Quinn again had to be at his best saving low to his right from a McVeigh free kick on 43 mins before Fanad had a gilt edged chance to take the lead right on half time. Again it was McVeigh who threaded a lovely ball through to Daire McDaid. Amidst cries for offside from the Rovers bench the Termon man ran clear and only had keeper Quinn to beat but he seemed to hurry his effort and his shot went agonisingly wide of the left hand post. Letterkenny never troubled the Fanad keeper at all in the first which would have been worrying for manager Trevor Scanlon.
Fanad started the 2nd half were they had finished the first and Jonathan Minnock did well to block an Adam Serrinha effort after delightful through ball from Caolan McDaid on 50 minutes. However the game seemed to change on the hour mark. A super free kick by Owen Morrison hit the bar before rebounding to Aaron O’Hagan who missed with his header from 6 yards with the goal gaping.. This seemed to galvanise Morrison and Rovers and from then on in they had numerous chances to take the lead. Morrison was the architect behind all of Rovers moves showing some neat touches and vision which created plenty of problems for the Fanad defence. On 66 minutes his perfect weighted ball found Oisin McMenamin and the former Harps man will be wondering how he blazed over from 6 yards out. On 72 minutes Morrison sent Stephen O’Donnell away and his inch perfect cross was met by substitute Matty Harkin whose header was superbly tipped over by young Fanad net minder Shane Graham. Jonathan Minnock then had a free kick narrowly wide after Morrison was fouled as Rovers turned up the heat. Fanad did have a good chance through Daire McDaid on 74 minutes but in the end his tame shot was easily gathered by Quinn.
After another great save by the Fanad keeper from a low Oisin McMenamin shot the goal the home side craved arrived on 84 minutes. Substitute Darren McElwaine’s initial effort was smothered well by the home defence before the ball was crossed in where John Doherty was waiting. His header brought a top notch save again from Graham who did superbly to palm the ball away but this time the ball fell to that man McElwaine and he easily slotted home from 4 yards. Letterkenny did have a late scare when Daire McDaid had a shot from 20 yards on 90 mins which just went wide of the Rovers goal.
Rovers manager Trevor Scanlon may consider this the best result of the season for his side given the circumstances while Fanad manager Michael Deeney will be delighted as to how his side performed especially in the first half and has a lot to build on at Traigh-a-Loch
Letterkenny Rovers: Jason Quinn, Barry O’Donnell, Neil Lloyd, John Doherty, Johnathan Minnock, Glenn Gallagher, Aaron O’Hagan, Oisin McMenamin, Jason Doherty, Owen Morrison, Stephen O’Donnell. Subs; Matty Harkin for Jason Doherty 56, Kieran Doherty for Barry O’Donnell 56, Darren McElwaine for Gallagher 71.
Fanad Utd: Shane Graham, Conor McGonigle, Caolan McDaid, Kevin Murray, Decky Sweeney, Glenn McNulty, Adam Serrinha, Jordan McBride, Oisin Hassett, Brian McVeigh, Daire McDaid. Subs; Ronan Sweeney for McGonigle 66 mins, Conor Matthewson for Caolan McDaid 87, Kyle Burke for Sweeney 87.
Referee: Packie Coll
Challengers In Stalemate
Derry City Res. 0
Letterkenny Rovers 0
Derry City Reserves and Letterkenny Rovers played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in the Ulster Senior League in Buncrana on Sunday afternoon.
After a bright opening, it was City who had the best chance of breaking the deadlock through a long distance strike from Rory Patterson. Rovers had their chances also-Matt Harkin had an effort well saved by Ciaran Gallagher. Conor Harkin had a great chance of scoring in the 55th minute but for an excellent save from Letterkenny Rovers net minder Jason Quinn. Matt Harkin should have done better shorty after with a effort but the best chance of the game came in the last minute of the 90 when Oisin McMemamin rounded Derry City keeper Gallagher but he somehow blazed the ball high and wide over the crossbar.
Derry City Reserves: Ciaran Galagher, Caolan McLaughlin,Conor Barr, Dean Jarvis, Ryan Harkin, Conor McDermott, Paul Ramsey, Aaron McCauley, Rory Patterson, Conor Harkin, Mark Timlin.
Letterkenny Rovers: Jason Quinn, Kieran Doherty, Neill Lloyd, John Minnock, John Doherty, Glen Gallagher, Matt Harkin, Aaron O’Hagan, Darren McElwaine, Oisin McMenamin, Owen Morrison.
Referee. S.Toner
Cockhill Squeeze Past Bonagee
Bonagee Utd. 0
Cockhill Celtic 1
With their two nearest challengers, Derry City & Letterkenny Rovers, pairing off against one another in Buncrana, Cockhill Celtic knew a victory was of the utmost importance yesterday in Bonagee, and they did indeed gain all three points but they were made work for it by a well organised home side who will feel aggrieved at the manner of defeat. The reigning champions started the game very well, with the pace of both Conor Keddy and Jimmy Bradley causing the Bonagee defence all sorts of problems. Cockhill Celtic scored the only goal of the game in the 11th minute, when a mistake by Daryl McDermott from a Keddy cross was thumped home by Liam O’Donnell from inside the area. Bonagee almost equalised ten minutes later when Anthony Appiah raced into the area to force Gavin Cullen to make a great double save, and the same player again was just inches wide when he connected with a Kevin Barr header across the face of the goal. Chances were scarce for both sides for the remainder of the match, the only ones of note were a long range effort from Mal McDermott for the visitors and a Noel O’Donnell chance near the end of the game. Team performances from both sides. Ref Tommy McAree.
Bonagee Utd: Darren Smyth, Gareth Breslin, Declan Lynch, Darek Frankowski, Daryl McDermott, Greg Magee (Noel O’Donnell), Jamie Lynagh, Frankie McBrearty, Kevin Barr, Anthony Appiah, Aidan McLaughlin (Sam Murphy).
Cockhill Celtic: Gavin Cullen, Keiran McLaughlin, Peter Doherty, Johnny Havlin, William O’Connor, Conor Keddy, Liam O’Donnell, Mal McDermott, Mark Moran (Aidan O’Donnell), Gerard McLaughlin (Paul McKinney), James Bradley.
Drumkeen Get Big Win
Drumkeen Utd. 7
Fanad Utd. 2
Drumkeen got their biggest win of the season so far against Fanad on Sunday at St Patricks Park. There were dark skies overhead at times but thankfully the only shower of rain was at half time, Drumkeen created a few early chances with Philip Whyte heading wide and Cassidy having an effort saved by Shane Graham and Conor Carlin also shooing wide, Fanad took the lead on fifteen minutes when Brian McVeigh headed home from a free kick out near left corner flag, The lead was short lived as the home team equalised almost immediately when Gary Patton fired home a Darren Cassidy cross, Drumkeen had further opportunities in the first half with Kelly heading over the bar and Carlin having a couple of efforts, Fanad also had a chance near the end of the half when Adam Ferrina shot wide when he was played in by Oisin Hassett after beating the Drumkeen off side trap. Drumkeen started the second half well and went ahead on forty seven minutes when Darren Cassidy fired home from the edge of the box despite the keeper getting a hand to it it still went in at the bottom of the post. Drumkeen were on top now and got a third when Carlin got the goal his overall play deserved, Drumkeen’s fourth goal was a controversial one, Darren McCready took a quick free kick from outside the box which went in, Fanad claimed they were not ready as the referee had not blown the whistle to take the kick but referee Vincent McLaughlin allowed the goal much to the annoyance of the Fanad contingent. Cassidy got his second and Drumkeen’s fifth goal after a great move involving several players, Fanad pulled one back from the penalty spot when McVeigh got his second of the game, Gary Patton got his second when he finished well after a pass from Carlin, Darren Cassidy completed his hat trick with another well worked goal involving several players. There were no more goals in the last few minutes, this was a good display by the home team and they played some nice football, to their credit this young Fanad team kept playing right to the end, DRUMKEEN: Paul McAuley, Justin Deasley, Benny Bonner, Mickey Carroll, Eunan Kelly, Philip Whyte, Darren Cassidy, Darren McCready. Gary patton, Conor Carlin, Brian McGrory,SUBS Peter McNamee on for McGrory 73 mins. Jordan Duffy,
FANAD Shane Graham, Conor McGonigle, Conor Blaney, Declan Sweeney, Ronan Sweeney, Johnny Logue, Adam Ferrinna, James McCahill, Oisin Hassett, Brian Mc Veigh, David Edwards, Subs: Shay Durning on for Edwards 75 mins, Dean McGarry on for Mc Monnigle 75 mins, Connor Matthewson,
Ref Vincent Mc Laughlin,
Swilly Get Second Win
Swilly Rovers 3
Finn Harps Res. 0
Fixtures
Wednesday, May 21st at 7:45pm in Buncrana
Derry City Res. v Swilly Rovers Ref. V. McLaughlin
Thursday, May 22nd at 7:30pm
Fanad Utd. v Bonagee Utd. Ref. P. Duddy
Letterkenny Rovers v Drumkeen Utd. Ref. T. McAree
Sunday, May 25th at 2pm
Finn Harps Res. v Cockhill Celtic Ref. S. Toner
Wednesday, May 28th at 7pm
Four Lanterns USL
Finn Harps Res. v Swilly Rovers Ref. S. Toner
Letterkenny Rovers v Derry City Res. Ref. P. Coll
Donegal News League Cup Group A at 7:30pm
Drumkeen Utd. v Cockhill Celtic Ref. P. Duddy
4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League Table 18.05.14
Team P W D L For Against + / – Pts.
Cockhill Celtic 8 7 1 0 21 5 16 22
Derry City Res. 7 5 2 0 16 8 8 17
Letterkenny Rovers 7 4 2 1 8 4 4 14
Drumkeen Utd. 8 3 2 3 18 17 1 11
Swilly Rovers 7 2 2 3 10 12 -2 8
Bonagee Utd. 8 2 0 6 11 12 -1 6
Finn Harps Res. 7 2 0 5 7 13 -6 6
Fanad Utd. 8 0 1 7 6 26 -20 1
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