Swilly Rovers 2 Cockhill Celtic 5
Cockhill Celtic, the holders, eases past Swilly Rovers to make it into the second round of the 2017 Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup.
Garbhan Friel netted a hat-trick as the Inishowen men recorded a fine win at Swilly Park.
Friel scored his first with only 8 minutes played after ball fell to him from a goalkeeper clearance that hit a Swilly defender and the Cockhill forward chipped Caolan Bolton from 20 yards.
Bolton made an outstanding save from a Jimmy Bradley header on 12 minutes, but three minutes later Damien Friel was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Friel got his second with a neat finish from the spot.
The heavy pitch was making passing difficult and on 18 minutes Ryan Varna made it 3-0 with a clinical finish from outside the box.
The second half started well for Swilly and they started to gain a foothold in the game with opening 10-15 minutes all going one direction – towards the Cockhill goal.
But up popped again Friel with a superb shot from 12 yards to make it 4-0 and complete his hat-trick.
On 65 minutes Bradley made it 5-0 after a counter attack left him with a handy side foot finish.
Swilly rallied well and got goals from Jordan Toland after a sublime chip and the hard-working Brandon Toye.
Cockhill Celtic: Gavin Cullen, Derek Doherty, Chris Duffy, Fran Devenney, Oisin McColgan, Gerard McLaughlin, Gerry Gill, Ryan Varma, Garbhan Friel, Jimmy Bradley, Ronan Doherty.
Swilly Rovers: Caolan Bolton, Dylan Hegarty, Paul Bradley, Damien Friel, Brandon Toye, Shay Durning, Ryan Toland, Jordan Toland, Barry Mooney, Laurence Toland, Tony McNamee.
Drumoghill FC 2 Bonagee United 1 (after extra time)
For the second year in a row, Drumoghill FC claimed an Ulster Senior League scalp after a dramatic extra-time win over nine-man Bonagee at The Moss.
Following last season’s win over Letterkenny Rovers at the same venue, Michael Lynch’s men dumped out Peter Moran’s side, who saw Chris Moran and Gareth Breslin sent off.
In classic Cup stuff, Drumoghill goalkeeper Paul McCauley saved a last-ditch penalty by Aidan McCauley to send his side through to the next round.
The Drumoghill goalkeeper’s day began in agony as he let a speculative long ball from Breslin creep in at the near post, when he appeared to believe the ball was flying wide.
There was barely a minute on the watch at that stage.
Drumoghill, the reigning Donegal League champions, drew level on 33 minutes.
Pajo Rafferty got onto the end of a through ball and, after the advancing Gareth Wade committed himself, the striker clipped home the equaliser.
McCauley turned away a shot from Aidan McLaughlin and the Drumoghill netminder saved from Dean Larkin.
Bonagee were rocked when, 12 minutes into the second half, Moran was given his second yellow card and an accompanying red.
Rafferty had a chance to put Drumoghill in front, but he prodded wide as Drumoghill probed in search of a match winner while Richard Moore was also denied by Wade.
After Breslin was given his early bath, for a foul on Gerard McGranaghan, Moore’s free was beaten away by Wade.
The task was always going to be a tough one for Bonagee’s nine men and, after an eventless opening period of extra time, the winner duly arrived as Liam O’Donnell, after being fed by Rafferty, made no mistake to fire home.
There was still time for a high octane finish and, with the chance to earn penalties, one McCauley was denied by the other, Drumkeen advance and Bonagee return to the drawing board.
QPS 0 Derry City Reserves 1
Sean McBride popped up with a last-gasp winner for Derry City Reserves in a tight struggle with QPS at Muff on Sunday. McBride netted the only goal of the game just as extra-time was looming.
The Ballybofey man steered home to send the Candystripes into the next round with a tidy finish to break the hearts of the Inishowen League side.
RESULTS
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup, First Round
Drumoghill FC 2-1 Bonagee United (after extra time)
Swilly Rovers 2-5 Cockhill Celtic
QPS 0-1 Derry City Reserves
Greencastle FC 5-0 Monaghan Town
Glengad United v Clones Town (Glengad get walkover as Clones didn’t field)
* The Fanad United-Letterkenny Rovers Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup tie will be played on Wednesday, February 22nd
FIXTURES
Donegal News USL Cup, Group B
Thursday, February 16, 7.30pm
Fanad United v Derry City Reserves
*The semi-finals of the Donegal News USL Cup will take place next Sunday with the pairings to be confirmed following the Fanad-Derry game on Thursday night
