There was another hefty scheduled to play out in the Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division, with plenty of goals providing entertainment throughout the county.
Kildrum Tigers 3 Castlefin Celtic 2
Damien Crossan had his shot after only five minutes well saved by the visiting goalkeeper. Gary Crossan then failed to score on nine minutes when well positioned inside the box. Castlefin went ahead on 29 minutes through JP Malley.
Damien Crossan got Kildrum level four minutes later when he finished off a good move involving Conor Matthewson and Gareth Colhoun.
Corey Lee Bogan and Malley both had attempts at re-establishing the Castlefin advantage. Chris o’ Donnell then saved from Oran Higgins as Kildrum threatened. Crossan sent a warning when his long-range shot crashed off the Castlefin Crossbar.
Matthew Crossan then fed William Lynch who scored after battling through a few defenders. Ethan Coll made it 3-1 shortly after. On 87 minutes Raymond Foy scored to reduce the deficit to one but Kildrum held on for what could become three very valuable points. Best for Kildrum were Matthewson and William Lynch while Raymond Foy was Castlefin’s top performer on the day.
Donegal Town 4 Glenea United 1
Donegal ended up comfortable winners over Glenea United on what was a perfect day for football at the Hospital Field.
The game was far from comfortable however for long periods as Glenea went in at half-time a goal to the good. Ciaran McFadden finished neatly inside the area after a slight mix up in the Town defence.
In the second half, Donegal came out much stronger and levelled things almost straight away with David Graham nodding home Nathan Ward’s superb delivery.
Graham then put the Town in front when he fired home after great work from Ronan McHugh. Joe McIntyre made it 3-1 on the hour mark when he finished well from inside the area.
Graham then sealed his hat-trick as Donegal took total control with fifteen minutes left on the clock. Graham and McHugh were best for Donegal with a team performance from the visitors.
Referee: Paddy Duffy
Rathmullan Celtic 2 Keadue Rovers 2
A late penalty strike from Jay Dee Asouyah insured a crucial point for Rathmullan Celtic in the top flight against in-form Keadue Rover at a sun-kissed Seaside Flagpole Field after a class double strike from Rover’s talismanic sharpshooter Aidan McHugh with a Dara Gunnar Sølskjaer strike for the Hoops lit up the first half.
It was the visiting Rovers, enjoying a remarkable run of form in both League and Cup duties, who took the early advantage on 25 minutes when a superb Pat Bonner header was saved well by Hoops shot stopper Shaun Gallagher but McHugh was on hand to tap in the rebound from inside the area.
The Hoops got back into contention on 32 minutes after their left winger Asouyah had a free kick from 20 yards out tipped onto the crossbar from Rovers keeper John Doherty but Hoops striker Patton was on hand to tap in the rebound and level proceedings.
Just before the break Keadue’s star man McHugh scored possibly the Goal of the Season with a thunderbolt drive from the right wing 30 yards out into the top corner of Gallagher’s goal which drew the plaudits of the Seaside faithful before Seamie Gavaghan’s soup and Anne Sheridan’s triangular sandwiches gave renewed hope to the Hoops.
It was Rovers though who pressed hard to extend their lead and rue such missed opportunities when on 48 minutes McHugh had a header saved by Gallagher from a corner with the rebound from Bonner cleared off the line superbly by fullback Shea McCallum-McFadden.
Deja vu struck again for the Rovers on 52 minutes when again from a corner their centre-half Pat Cassidy had a header cleared off the line once again with McCallum-McFadden in the right place on the goal line to clear the danger for an under pressure Hoops side.
Rover’s corners continued to cause problems throughout the half but credit to Alan Boal who had a stormer at centre-half partnered by a cool calm and collected Eamonn Sheridan who soaked up much of the pressure with class.
The Hoops through wizard winger Ryan Connolly kept pressing for the equaliser and the starlet was denied on 77 minutes when his strike was saved by the feet of Doherty with a quick reaction save.
The equaliser eventually came on 79 minutes when Hoops keeper Gallagher, who kicked superbly all afternoon, unleashed a goal kick up front which Patton controlled but was fouled by Doherty and referee Paddy Martin awarded a penalty.
Asouyah made no mistake from the spot kick to give the Hoops a fine point in a game that Rovers will certainly feel they should have won with those missed opportunities at the start of the second half sorely rued.
Best for Keadue was Aidan McHugh with a class brace while Hoops’ Alan Boal epitomised the fight and heart of the Seasiders all afternoon with a class performance at centre-half under constant Rovers’ pressure.
Referee: Paddy Martin
Other results:
Milford United 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic 4
(No Report Submitted)
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