Goals by Ross Porter and Jack Mahon saw Lifford Celtic come from behind to defeat Deele Harps in today’s play-off at The Curragh and win promotion into Division One of the Donegal League.
Lifford Celtic 2 Deele Harps 1
By Charlie Collins at The New Camp Complex
The sides were level 1-1 at the break. Lifford Celtic had the benefit of the strong wind it the opening half and enjoyed most of the possession without creating too much.
Deele looked dangerous on the break and took the lead in the 22nd minute when Jordan Duffy collected the ball outside the box and cracked a super drive past Paul Given.
Just when it looked they would take that lead into the half-time break Lifford hit back with the clock in injury time.
Ross Porter was fouled 25 yards out, Kevin McBrearty struck a super free-kick against the underside of the Deele crossbar and young Jack Mahon slammed the rebound into the roof of the net for the equaliser.
Deele Harps
Deele had the better of things in the opening twenty minutes of the second-Half with Given turning away a Paul Lynch curling shot and Shane Gallagher bending his shot just wide.
However it was Lifford who the lead when Kevin McBrearty and James McNulty combined down the left and the latter’s super cross was driven home by the inrushing Ross Porter from 6 yards.
Deele responded well and went close several times, their best chance when Gary Crawford failed to get a touch with his free header from Paul Lynch’s corner.
Both teams kept the efforts going to the end and Deele had a big shout for a penalty in final minute of injury time when a Lifford defender handled the ball but referee Con McLaughlin deemed he had been pushed into the ball and awarded a free-kick much to the annoyance of the Deele men.
The final whistle brought things to an end and joy for Lifford Celtic who are Promoted back to Division One while Deele Harps make the drop to Division Two.
Deele Harps: Christy Roulston, Kevin Lynch, Paul Lynch, Tom Mullen, Gary Crawford, Eddie Connolly, Cathal McCarron, Gavin Gallagher, Brandon Connolly (Seamus Gallagher 78 )Shane Gallagher, Jordan Duffy.
Lifford Celtic: Paul Given, Mark McNulty, Stuart Carlin, Marcus McDonnell, Jack Mahon, James McNulty, Daniel Lyndsey, Mark Carlin (Johnny Mahon 67) Jason McBrearty, Ross Porter, Kevin McBrearty.
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