Cockhill Celtic 5 Derry City Reserves 1
CHAMPIONS COCKHILL Celtic showed their mettle and muscle all in one go as they defeated Derry City Reserves at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds.
Gerard McLaughlin netted a hat-trick for Gavin Cullen’s men who were much too strong for a youthful Derry outfit.
Shane McNamee’s peach of an equaliser cancelled out McLaughlin’s opener, but when the Cockhill striker restored the lead within a minute, Cockhill were on their way for a real statement win.
Gerry Gill and Paul McDermott also got in on the act with goals on a day when Cockhill really outlined their credentials.
After early chances for Ronan Doherty and Mark Moran narrowly missed the target, McLaughlin put them into the lead on 11 minutes, superbly flicking a header beyond Mark McElhinney from Gill’s free-kick.
McNamee, younger brother of Derry’s Barry and Finn Harps’ Tony, delightfully leveled it in the 23rd minute, curling the sweetest of strikes to the top corner of the Cockhill net.
However, Cockhill hit back instantly and McLaughlin turned home from close range.
Conor Keddy, who was to the fore for Cockhill in a dominant display, did well to hold off Jack Blake to carve a chance late in the first half, while Moran rounded McElhinney, but shot into the side-netting.
Just before half-time, Cockhill stretched their advantage. Keddy made the goal after getting in behind and cut back for Gill, who showed all his guile to find the bottom corner.
Ten minutes into the second half, full-back McDermott converted from a tight angle, after Gill clipped over the crossbar with a teasing free.
McLaughlin coolly slotted home his third and Cockhill’s fifth and the hosts might have had more, but McElhinney saved from Gill and sub Daniel Martin Doherty, after a fine solo run, was denied.
Late in the game, Keddy’s dipping effort fell a fraction too late and Darren Coyle couldn’t get the necessary conviction on his shot, while Doherty also hit the top of the crossbar.
It was a day when, in front of the watching Ollie Horgan, when Cockhill issued a big message to challengers for their title.
Cockhill Celtic: Harry Doherty, Paul McDermott, Jason Breslin, Peter Doherty, Oisin McColgan, James Bradley, Conor Keddy, Gerry Gill, Gerard McLaughlin, Mark Moran, Ronan Doherty. Subs: Daniel Martin Doherty for McLaughlin, Ryan Varma for Moran, Darren Coyle for Gill.
Derry City Reserves: Mark McElhinney, Adrian Delap, Matt Doherty, Jack Blake, Cristian Castelles, Dean Power, Shane McNamee, Stephen Duffy, Sean Toland, Sean McBride, Cathal Farren. Subs: Reece McDermott for Farren, Max Duffy for Toland, Paul Doherty for M.Doherty.
Referee: Vincent McLoughlin.
Letterkenny Rovers 0 Bonagee United 1
BONAGEE UNITED go joint top of the Ulster Senior League tonight with Cockhill Celtic when getting the better of ten man Letterkenny Rovers 1-0 at Leckview Park on Sunday.
Games between the two derby rivals have always been keenly fought encounters and the touchpaper was lit in this one when Peter Moran’s men went ahead on 7 minutes when Francesco Crisci did well to latch onto a Gareth Breslin throughball and he did well before squaring for Aidan McLaughlin who fired past Rory Kelly.
Rovers were shocked at such an early concession but came roaring back and created a number of good chances with Steve Okakpo-Emeka twice forcing Gareth Wade into good stops before Paul McVeigh also saw one cleared off the line on 19 minutes.
Eamon McConigleys men thought they had levelled on 21 minutes but saw McVeighs header ruled out for offside rather harshly according to them and that frustration was added too when McVeigh had a gilt edged chance on the half hour mark but he chose to shoot when maybe other options could have yielded better results and that turned out to be a real turning point so early in the game as those frustrations at not taking his chances eventually boiled over and McVeigh saw red for an off-the-ball incident on 35 minutes.
That rocked Rovers back and Bonagee went for a second before the break and came close through a Chris Moran free and a McLaughlin header.
Rovers came out in the second half rejuvenated and tried to take the game to 11 man Bonagee but chances were at a premium although Ryan Lonergan shot straight at Gareth Wade on 50 minutes while sub David Shovlin also shot straight at Wade after latching onto a throughball from midfield, while Bonagee sub Gavin McBrearty forced a good save form Rory Kelly on 70.
With Rovers pushing forward Aidan McLaughlin almost added number two with the best chance of the second period but Kelly made a good save to deny him what would have been the insurance goal on 83 minutes.
A resilient and well organised Bonagee saw out the game comfortably enough and were in no mood to give away any easy chances and they now go joint top with reigning champions Cockhill although Cockhill will go top on their own if they can win at Swilly Rovers next week as Bonagee have a free weekend while Rovers will regroup ahead of a tough trip to play Fanad.
Letterkenny Rovers; Rory Kelly, Ryan Lonergan. Chris Flanagan, Ryan Gildea, Declan O’Donnell, Kevin McGrath, Daragh Black, Brian McVeigh. Paul McVeigh, Christy Connaghan, Steve Okakpo-Emeka. Subs: David Shovlin for Lonergan (70), Odhran McMacken for Okakpo-Emeka (72), Paddy Diver for Brian McVeigh (75).
Bonagee United: Gareth Wade, Jamie Lynagh, Taylor Russell, Gareth Breslin, Darek Frankowski, Chris moran, Evan McCrory, Aidan McCauley, aidan McLaughlin, Francesco Crisci, Shane O’Doherty Sub: Gavin McBrearty for O’Doherty (70)
Referee: Marty McGarrigle.
Fanad United 4 Finn Harps Reserves 0
FANAD United secured their first victory of the season when they recorded a 4-0 victory over Finn Harps Reserves at Traigh-a-Loch on Sunday afternoon
The game started even enough with BJ Banda having the first chance of note in the 8th minute but his shot was saved by Shane Graham.
However it only took Fanad another minute to open the scoring. After some good work by Killian Gallagher, he laid the ball back to Oisin Langan who’s cross to the back post was met by Davitt Walsh who headed past Gallagher.
Banda was continuing to cause the Fanad defence problems and his snap shot in the 13th minute certainly had Fanad worried.
Fanad extended their lead on the half hour in somewhat spectacular fashion. Right back Oisin Langan, playing his first game of the season after recovering from an arm injury, showed some great skill to burst through the Harps midfield and, when the ball bounced up to him 25 yards out, he unleashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner of the net.
Two minutes later Daire McDaid seen his right footed shot go just wide. Fanad further extended their lead on the stroke of half time when McDaid’s corner was met by Shaun McElwaine who headed home.
The start of the second half was a more tepid affair with not many clear chances created by either side.
Two minutes in Conor Blaney went on a good run and his cross from the left was met by John McGarvey but his shot was wide of the mark. In the 63rd minute persistence by Keelin McElwaine led to him having a shot but it went just wide.
Two minutes later Harps were offered a gilt edged chance to get on the score sheet.
When Conor Blaney was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, referee Marty Quinn pointed to the spot.
Banda stepped up to take the spot kick but his effort flew high over the bar. There was little goal mouth action from there on in until the 88th minute when Fanad completed the scoring.
After John McGarvey held the ball up well, he played in Eoghan Rafferty who showed some great composure to slot the ball past Gallagher. Best for Fanad were Oisin Langan, Conor Blaney and Shaun McElwaine.
Best for Finn Harps were Paul Ferry, James Carolan and BJ Banda
Fanad United: Shane Graham, Oisin Langan, Conor Blaney, Kieran Gorman, Shaun McElwaine (Garry Gorman 85), Matthew Crossan, Michael Devine (Keelin McElwaine 45), Daire McDaid, John McGarvey, Davitt Walsh, Killian Gallagher(Eoghan Rafferty 75)
Finn Harps Reserves: Tiernan Gallagher, Paul Ferry, Peadar Nogan, Ciaran Kelly, Daniel Doran (Shaun Rodgers 63), Keelan McDermott, Luke Nelis, Aaron McCready, James Carolan, BJ Banda, Liam Walsh.
Referee: Marty Quinn
RESULTS
Cockhill Celtic 5 Derry City Reserves 1
Fanad United 4 Finn Harps Reserves 0
Letterkenny Rovers 0 Bonagee United 1
Fixtures
Sunday November 6, 2pm
Fanad United v Letterkenny Rovers
Swilly Rovers v Cockhill Celtic
Monday November 7, 7.30pm
Finn Harps Reserves v Derry City Reserves
RESCHEDULED GAME
The Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League game between Finn Harps Reserves and Derry City Reserves scheduled for Sunday November 6 will now take place on Monday November 7 at Finn Park, kick-off 7.30pm.
CUP DRAW
The names of Cockhill Celtic and Bonagee United will be in the pot when the draw for the next round of the FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup is conducted. The draw will be made on Tuesday, November 1, at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown.
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