Glencar Celtic and Donegal Town share the points.

Glencar Celtic 0 v 0 Donegal Town.                                                                                 A hard fought game and a hard earned point for both teams in this top of the table clash at Flagpole Park in Rathmullan. Glencar Celtic had slightly the better in terms of possession and half-chances but Donegal Town worked hard for their share of the spoils.                                                                                                                    The first-Half showed why these sides were so evenly matched in terms of points and goals scored and conceded on the league table. Defenses very much dominated proceedings with clear goal scoring chances very difficult to create. In fact the highlight of the half came as early as the fifth minute when Glencar keeper Dom Friel produced a incredible save to deny Town’s Ciaran O Reilly’s cracking volley from 12 yards after John Paul Byrne had headed down a free-kick into his path, Quinn somehow got a hand to it to psh it onto the crossbar, Glencar certainly had more of the ball in that opening half but never really troubled visiting keeper John Leonard as central defenders Byrne and Noel Gavaghan impressed. Just before the break Glencar full back Rory Gallagher’s shot just flew over with Leonard at full stretch and then the keeper had to be alert at the near post to deny Paddy Collins .                                                                                                      Charlie Collins was at Flagpole Park.                                                                           Early in the second-Half Glencar’s Liam Doherty should have done better with a free header as the game followed a similar pattern to the first. In the 13th minute the lively James Kerrigan shot just over but two minutes later Glencar could and maybe should have gone ahead , Shane Hilley did well in the box and his excellent low cross eluded two teammates near the goal line with Graham Cullen very close to getting a touch at the far post.                                                    The visitors had a chance in the 67th minute when Gary Ward’s cross found Joe Campbell but he couldn’t control his shot . Two minutes later an even better chance as the home side lost possession outside their box and James Kerrigan reacted quickest but keeper Quinn raced out to make a good save at his feet.         As the daylight faded in the 75th minute it became a case of could either side produce a vital match winning goal. Shane Hilley was just wide with a shot from 20 yards but clear-cut chances remained difficult to find.                                      In the final minute of added time the home side almost clinched all three points but Graham Cullen’s back post header was just outside the far post and the points were shared.                                                                                                          The game was never lacking in effort from either side and both will certainly remain in contention for the league title as this result sees both level on 16 points, a point behind new leaders Strand Rovers who beat Oldtown Celtic 1-2 in Drumkeen to go top going into the Christmas/ New Year break.                              Glencar Celtic; Dom Friel, Ray Quinn, Rory Gallagher, Mark Graham , Liam Doherty , Graham Cullen, Garvan Grieve ( Joe Baker 80mins ), Martin Brogan , Paddy Collins, Shane Hilley , Joe Friel ( Eddie McLaughlin 67mins ).             Donegal Town ; John Leonard , David Bustard, Shaun Kennedy, Noel Gavaghan , John Paul Byrne, Ryan Hegarty, Gary Ward , Ciaran O Reilly , James Kerrigan, Adrian Ward , Joe Campbell.                                                                                    Referee; Michael Mc Fadden.