USL Results & Reports – 4 Lanterns USL Results
Letterkenny Rovers 3-3 Drumkeen Utd 
Finn Harps Res. 0-1 Cockhill Celtic
Derry City Res. 4-2 Swilly Rovers
Fanad Utd. 1-2 Bonagee Utd
Drumkeen Comeback Stuns Rovers
Letterkenny Rovers 3 Drumkeen Utd 3
Letterkenny Rovers threw away a 3 goal lead against neighbours Drumkeen in an enthralling game played in ideal conditions at Leckview Park on Thursday evening. In what many suggested was a must win game for Rovers in order to stay in title contention it was the Cathedral town men who dominated the first half. It was Drumkeen who almost opened the scoring though after only 2 minutes. Johnathan Minnock slipped while trying to clear a Benny Bonner cross and the ball fell to Ronan Coyle and his strike from 12 yards brought a great save from Jason Quinn low to his left. From then on in the first 45 minutes it was all Rovers who played their best football of the season. Owen Morrison had an audacious 35 yard lob just go over the Drumkeen crossbar while Oisin McMenamin should have scored after latching onto some hesitancy by Drumkeen before racing clear and rounding Drumkeen net minder Paul McCauley. With an open net looming McMenamin hit the post from an acute angle. Darren McElwaine came close with a header from a Matt Harkin cross while McMenamin had a couple more chances which went narrowly wide. On 42 minutes the best move of the half came when Owen Morrison fed McMenamin and his neat back heel found substitute Kevin McGrath and his shot was hit straight at the goalkeeper with the goals looming large. Oisin McMenamin spurned another opportunity right on 45 minutes when his low shot from the left just went wide with McCauley beaten. Rovers manager Trevor Scanlon would have been disappointed going into the break still scoreless but his team hit the ground running in the 2nd half and got the goal their display deserved on 49 minutes. Some neat play by McGrath in midfield sent Matty Harkin away and he found McMenamin on the left and his cross to the far side of the box found Darren McElwaine and the big Convoy man made no mistake heading across Paul McCauley in the Drumkeen goal to put Rovers ahead. Letterkenny were rampant at this stage and following good efforts from McGrath and McMenamin Rovers went 2 up on 65 minutes. Owen Morrison played a neat through ball to McMenamin down the right hand side and his cross found McElwaine who had the simplest tasks of finishing from 6 yards. Rovers went 3 up just two minutes later when Kevin McGrath played a good pass from the edge of his own box into space to set Oisin McMenamin away and this time the Newtowncunningham man found the back of the net to give Rovers what you would have thought was an unassailable lead. But Drumkeen were thrown a lifeline on 69 minutes. A quick free kick caught Rovers napping and Darren McCreadie’s deflected shot flew into the roof of the net. This seemed to inspire the visitors who had nothing to lose and they pushed David Shovlin into a central midfield role and it was Shovlin who was instrumental in the comeback. Eunan Kelly’s cross found Shovlin free in the box and his header sailed past Quinn on 74 minutes. By now the game was all about Drumkeen who were mounting wave upon wave of attack and the equaliser arrived on 79 minutes. Again Shovlin was pivotal when his mazy run through the heart of the Rovers defence led to him playing a jinked pass to Ronan Coyle and he had no difficulty slotting past Jason Quinn into the bottom corner. From then on it was all Drumkeen and the Letterkenny goal led a charmed existence with Conor Carlin and Darren Cassidy twice coming close before Eunan Kelly had the best chance right on 90 minutes to win it but his shot went narrowly wide Letterkennys title ambitions have taken a serious dent with this draw while Drumkeen manager Micky Rodgers will be happy with the fight shown by his team after being totally outplayed in the first 67 minutes. Letterkenny Rovers; Jason Quinn, Kieran Doherty, Neil Lloyd, John Doherty, Johnathan Minnock, Glenn Gallagher, Aaron O’Hagan, Matt Harkin, Darren McElwaine, Oisin McMenamin, Owen Morrison. Subs; Kevin McGrath for Lloyd 30 min, Steve Okakpu for Harkin 87 mins. Drumkeen; Paul McCauley, Justin Deasley, Benny Bonner, David Shovlin, Eunan Kelly, Philip Whyte, Darren Cassidy, Darren McCreadie, Conor Carlin, Ronan Coyle, Brian McGroary. Subs: Raymond Sweeney for Deasley 8 mins. Referee; Tommy McAree Cockhill Get Late Winner
Finn Harps Res. 0 Cockhill Celtic 1
Cockhill made a bright start with Conor Winn making a good save from Malachy McDermott. Liam O’Donnell, Mark Moran and Johnny Havlin all had good chances for Cockhill as they started to get a grip on the game and putting some pressure on the Harps defence. Harps then responded with Matthew Henry making space for himself and forced a good save from Gavin Cullen in the Cockhill goal. Mark Moran had another chance as he got on the end of a Gerard McLaughlin flick on and put it past Winn’s far post under pressure from Harps defender Aaron Scanlon. Carel Tiofack put a great ball in to box and it was met by “Skinny” Bonner who met it perfectly and Cullen pulled off a great save to deny the Harps man. On the stroke of half time, Jimmy Bradley had a chance that he pulled just wide, it was then followed by a Derek Doherty effort when he was straight through on goal and somehow put it past the post. The second half started in the same pattern the first half ended as Cockhill piled the pressure on again with Malachy McDermott having two efforts saved by Winn. Substitute Garbhán Friel then had two chances to put Cockhill in front but Winn made a quick double save to keep him at bay and keep the score at 0-0. Conor McBride had a chance for Harps on 70mins as his long range effort was well gathered by Cullen. Garbhán Friel then had a goal ruled out for offside as Cockhill through everything at Harps in search of a goal. The pressure paid off as on 82mins, Friel crossed for the on rushing Jimmy Bradley who headed past the diving Winn to give Cockhill a deserved 1-0 lead. Cockhill were comfortable and saw the last few minutes out to hold on for the 3points.
Derry Reserves Win Again
Derry City Res. 4 Swilly Rovers 2
Derry City Reserves cut Cockhill Celtics lead at the top of the Ulster Senior League to two points after coming from 2 goals down to get the better of Swilly Rovers in a 6 goal thriller played at Maginn Park on Wednesday evening. For the first time this season Derry City did not play any of their first team squad and it was the visitors who were unchnged form their 3-0 victory over Finn Harps on sunday who settled better. Swilly should have gone ahead when the normally reliable Lawrence Toland shot wide when well positioned following an exquisite throughball from David Fisher after only 7 minutes. For the remainder of the first half defences were predominantly on top with neither keeper having a save of note to make although Toland again had a super chance on 40 minutes after Marty McDaid did well to thread an inch perfect pass through but he somehow shot straight at the keeper. If the first half was devoid of much goalmouth action then the second half was anything but and Swilly took the lead on 49 minutes. A free kick won by Lawrence Toland 20 yards out was superbly hit by Calvin Mooney and his low shot beat Derry keeper Michael Lynch at the near post to earn the Swilly man his 8th goal in the League this season. Swilly doubled their lead on 62 minutes. David Fisher released substitute Darren Dunworth down the right and he squared it beautifully to the inrushing Marty McDaid and he slotted home with ease from 10 yards. Swilly who let go a 3-1 lead against Drumkeen a couple of weeks ago would have been wary of a Derry comeback and they didn’t have to wait long. From the kick off former Swilly player Ronan Curtis broke free and he passed to Michael Barr and his low shot somehow beat Gareth Wade to bring his side back into the game. Unbelievably Derry were level just 2 minutes later. Curtis did well to win a corner which was taken by the always lively Conor McDermott and he found the head of Georgie Kelly and he made no mistake heading home from 3 yards out. Momemtum was with the Candystripes at this stage and after half chances again to Curtis and Michael Barr they went ahead from the penalty spot on 79 minutes. Following a handball in the area by a Swilly defender referee Vincent McLaughlin awarded the penalty and Georgie Kelly had no problem beating Wade with ease. To be fair Swilly pressed hard for an equaliser and Derry net minder Michael Lynch pulled off the save of the game from Marty McDaid on 83 minutes when his shot looked goal bound. Any hopes of the Ramelton men salvaging a point were finished on 85 minutes when Paul Ramsay set up Michael Barr for his second of the night and Derrys fourth and his cool finish past Wade wrapped up the points for John Quiggs side. Wednesday games for both sides next week when Swilly play Finn Harps Reserves whilst Derry travel to Letterkenny Rovers. Derry City Res: Michel Lynch, Ryan Harkin, Ryan Doherty, Dylan McCallion, Caolan McLaughlin, Conor Harkin, Aiden McCauley, Paul Ramsay, Georgie Kelly, Conor McDermott, Michael Barr. Subs: Ronan Curtis for McCallion 60, Rory Holden for McDermott 80mins. Swilly Rovers; Gareth Wade, Duncan Patteron, Gareth Colhoun, Marty Boyce, Dylan Hegarty, Ryan Shiels, Jordan Toland, Marty McDaid, Calvin Mooney, Lawrence Toland, David Fisher. Subs; Darren Dunworth for Shiels 30, Michael McHugh for Fisher 70, Ryan McDaid for Dunworth 89mins. Ref; Vincent McLaughlin
Bonagee Claim Double Over Fanad
Fanad Utd. 1 Bonagee Utd. 2
Bonagee United came out on top in this clash of the bottom 2. The game took time to get going as both teams tried to adapt to the swirling wind. The first chance to fell to Aaron Harkin whose shot was well saved by Shane Graham in the Fanad net. Fanad grew into the game and in the 20th minute Oisin Hasset had his shot blocked by Declan Lynch. Fanad almost took the lead from the resulting corner when Daire McDaid’s in swinger hit the bar. In the 29th minute Bonagee had keeper Darren Smyth to thank when he made a good save from Caolan McDaid after he was put in by an excellent pass from James McCahill. Bonagee broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Aaron Harkin split the Fanad defence with a pass to Mark Harkin who finished into the bottom corner. Left back Caolan McDaid had another chance in the 43rd minute but shot over after Oisin Hasset put him through. Bonagee started the 2nd half strongly and in the 46th minute Anthony Appiah’s corner struck the post. Brian McVeigh then seen a header fly wide after a Daire McDaid corner. Bonagee extended their lead in the 50th minute when Mark Harkin’s cross was met at the near post by Aidan McLaughlin who bundled the ball in. The game went into a bit of a lull then until Fanad pulled a goal back in the 79th minute. Brian McVeigh’s through ball was met by Adam Serrinha who finished at the 2nd attempt after his initial shot was blocked. Fanad continued to press without creating any clear cut chances. Undoubtedly the clash of the match was between Glenn McNulty and Anthony Appiah with neither of these 2 young players giving to other an inch. Best fro Fanad were Glenn McNulty, Brian McVeigh and James McCahill. Best for Bonagee were Anthony Appiah, Mark Harkin and Aidan McLaughlin. Fanad United: Shane Graham, Ronan Sweeney, Caolan McDaid, Kevin Murray, Glenn McNulty, Jordan McBride, James McCahill (Conor Blaney 81), Daire McDaid (David Edwards 75), Oisin Hasset, Brian McVeigh, Adam Serrinha (Dean McCarry 85) Bonagee United: Darren Smyth, Gareth Breslin, Daryl Brown, Declan Lynch, Daryl McDermott, Frank McBrearty, Kevin Barr, Aaron Harkin, Aidan McLaughlin (Sam Murphy 76), AnthonyAppiah, MarkHarkin (Jamie Lynagh 81mins) Ref: Joe McHugh
Fixtures Wednesday, May 28th at 7:30pm 4 Lanterns USL
Letterkenny Rovers v Derry City Res. Ref. P. Coll; Assts. TBC
Donegal News League Cup at 7:30pm
Group A Drumkeen Utd. v Cockhill Celtic Ref. P. Duddy Sunday, June 1st at 2pm
Donegal News League Cup Group A Swilly Rovers v Drumkeen Utd. Group B Derry City Res. v Fanad Utd
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