There were fourteen games played over the week in the Donegal Junior League.
You can read some of the reports submitted, below:
Brian McCormick Cup-Area Shields
Donegal Area
Ballybofey United 0 v 3 Cappry Rovers
These two sides came into this match at Dreenan following very different weekend results. Cappry were flying high after defeating St. Catherines 4-1 while Ballybofey had lost against Drumkeen 5-2 in their season opener. The opening quarter was a very evenly matched affair with play frantic as neither side settled. Cappry made the breakthrough just before the Water-Break when Paddy Mc Nulty raced away from the home defence and slid the ball past PJ Browne in the Ballybofey net. Dean O’ Donnell extended the Cappry lead early in the second-half. Ballybofey were still in the match however and created several chances but didn’t trouble Joe Boyle in the Cappry net. Twice Boyle might have had to react quickly but for the unfortunate Ballybofey strikers been foiled by their own players as they tried in unison to get a goal back. The tie was put to bed when Aaron Kelly got Cappry’s third from the penalty spot following a hand-ball decision that looked harsh but that’s the way it goes. Cappry will now be looking to lift the Area Shield while Ballybofey will probably be looking to continue their rebuilding process and be ready for the League kick-off. Referee: Colm Mc Conigley.
Drumkeen United 3 v 2 Curragh Athletic
(No Report Submitted)
Dunkineely Celtic 2 v 5 Donegal Town
(No Report Submitted)
St. Catherines 1 v 0 Letterbarrow Celtic
The football unfortunately in the first 45 minutes did not match the beautiful sunny evening at Emerald Park. Neither keeper had a save to make as the football was mainly played in the middle of the park with the home side shading the better of the early exchanges but they couldn’t get a decent strike on target.
The best effort was from Paul Murrin on 36 minutes with only the keeper to beat he was unlucky to see his strike come off the upright and away from danger. George Clinton blew for half-time with the sides evenly balanced at 0-0. Letterbarrow meant businesses at the start of the second-half and made some penetrating moves through the Saints’ defence but once again they failed to test the keeper. Daniel Meehan was strong up front for the visitors but never really got a clear-cut chance. The breakthrough came on 75minutes when a mix-up between the Letterbarrow centre-half and keeper meant a high cannoned off the approaching Josh Maxwell and ended up running into the visitors’ net. The home team seemed to have more energy and ideas for the last 15 minutes and held on for the narrow victory. Colin Mooney again had an excellent game when he came on for the second-half. Barry Burke and John Keeney were steady in defence and were unlucky to go away with nothing from this encounter.
Gweedore Area
Glenea United A v A Glenree United
Glenea set the pace from the kick-off and were rewarded in the 10th minute when good link-up play between Blake Mc Garvey and Mark Harley set up Darren Mc Geever at the edge of the box. His low powerful drive left the keeper with no chance. Four minutes later Glenea added their second, a Conor Coyle corner wasn’t dealt with by the Glenree defence and John Mc Fadden picked his spot from 20 yards.
Glenea scored their third in the 18th minute with a well worked individual goal from Blake Mc Garvey. Glenea should have added another five minutes later, Remi Moran split the defence with a 40 yard pass landing at the feet of John Mc Fadden but his effort went wide. Darren Mc Geever scored his second in the 27th minute, Luke Mc Carry done the hard work and set up Mc Geever who beat his man and went for the low drive to the corner to make it 4 for Glenea. On the half-hour the game was abandoned when a Glenree player suffered a bad injury following a tackle and Glenea would like to wish him a speedy recovery.
Gweedore Celtic 1 v 1 Gweedore United (No Report Submitted)
Kilmacrennan Celtic 3 v 1 Keadue Rovers
Keadue started this one the brighter with some good play between Mark Forker and former Kilmacrennan man Christy Conaghan in the middle of the park. The deadlock however wasn’t to be broken until the 40th minute when Phillip Buchanan slipped a lovely ball through to Terrence Shields who didn’t hesitate to rattle the back of the net. It was 1-0 at the break. Keadue got straight back into it on 50 minutes when Barry Curran levelled from inside the box. The evergreen Shields popped up with his second of the evening soon afterwards to make it 2-1. On 70 minutes Aidan Simmons brought down Ridha Abdulla in the area giving away a penalty and receiving his second yellow of the game, Michael Mc Laughlin stood up to take the penalty which was well saved by the stand-in goalkeeper but Terrence Shields put away the rebound.
Letterkenny Area
Bonagee United 0 v 0 Rathmullan Celtic
On four minutes the home side were awarded a free on the edge of the box but Daniel Stolarcky saw his strike go wide of the post. On twelve minutes Darragh Patton for the visitors saw his strike from twenty yards go just over the bar. On Seventeen minutes a cross from the right by Gerard Mc Ateer found Kevin Doran on the edge of the box but he fired wide. Duncan Patterson headed wide two minutes later for the home side from a corner-kick. Darragh Patton should have scored on twenty-seven minutes when the ball fell to his feet just ten yards from goal but he shot wide. On forty minutes Daniel Stolarcky saw his shot from twenty yards go wide of the post. The visitors started the second-half on top and had a good Niall Carruthers strike on goal from the edge of the box saved by Carr in the Bonagee goal on fifth minutes. Kevin Doran saw his shot on fifty-eight minutes from a Gerard Mc Ateer cross go over the bar from twelve yards. Barry Mulligan saw his header from a Kevin Doran cross go over the bar from ten yards on the hour. Niall Mc Crossan who just came on for the home side had a great strike from the edge of the box well saved by Gallagher in the visitor’s goal. Eamon Cannon for Bonagee then saw his strike from twenty-five yards deflected wide on seventy-six minutes. The visitors had half-chances for Niall Carruthers, Kevin Doran and Darragh Patton but nothing to worry Carr in the home goal. The home side hit the post on eighth five minutes when Peter Carr turned the defender inside the box. Referee: Mick Lagan.
Fanad United 3 v 2 Swilly Rovers
Old rivals Fanad United and Swilly Rovers played out a highly entertaining clash at Traigh-a-Loch with a late Eddie O’Reilly strike securing the win for Fanad. The game started out even enough with both sides having a few half chances. It was Swilly however who took the lead in the 10th minute. When a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, Shay During fired into the top corner from 20 yards. The lead lasted 10 minutes as Fanad equalised. Dylan Dorrian sent a long free-kick into the box and Kyle Mc Garvey rose highest to head home. Fanad then took the lead on the half hour mark. Eddie O’Reilly’s free kick from 25 yards was parried by Swilly keeper Jamie-Lee Blaney and Dylan Dorrian was quickest to react and headed the ball home. In the 37th minute Blaney produced a full length save to deny Cian Sweeney. Swill started to apply pressure and equalised on the stroke of half-time. When Tyler During was fouled in the box a penalty was awarded and Kyle Black made no mistake slotting into the bottom corner. Seven minutes into the 2nd half Swilly missed a golden opportunity to take the lead. When Kyle Black was fouled in the box a second penalty was awarded. This time however Fanad keeper Mark Mc Conigley produced a brilliant save to deny Black. In the 57th minute Dylan Dorrian set up Eddie O’Reilly and his shot produced a fine finger-tip save from Blaney. On the hour mark Patrick Moffit produced a brilliant block on the line to deny a sure Swilly goal. With 20 minutes to go, Paddy Sheridan saw his well hit free-kick saved by Mc Conigley. Fanad then got the winner with seven minutes remaining. After some mis-communication between the Swilly defence and goal keeper, Eddie O’Reilly pounced to score from a tight angle.
Milford United 2 v 1 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. (No Report Submitted)
Whitestrand United 0 v 2 Letterkenny Rovers
A midweek trip to Mc Garvey Park awaited Letterkenny Rovers in the second leg of the Brian McCormick Cup. It all started off with both teams feeling their way into the match. Whitestrand had the first real chance when they hit the bar from a header from a corner. Shortly after Letterkenny scored their first goal which was neatly tucked away by Matthew Mc Laughlin. The second goal followed in quick succession when Nathan Plumb scored. Letterkenny largely dominated the second-half and they had a goal ruled out for offside but they had a lot of the ball without creating too many chances. Whitestrand threatened on occasion going forward on the break but the game petered out and Letterkenny went home with the win
Lifford Area
Deele Harps 3 v 7 Convoy Arsenal
This fixture was reversed to Convoy and it was the hosts who proved too strong for Deele as they started fast and raced into a two-goal lead after 10 minutes. Deele’s young defence conceded another two goals to leave it 4-0 at half-time. JP Malley with two, Joe McGill and Mark Griffin were the first half goal-scorers. Deele finally got going in the second-half and with a Jordan Duffy brace and Aidy Gallagher finding the net brought Deele right back into the game at 4-3. But further goals from JP Malley(2) and a disputed penalty from Joe McGill sealed victory for Convoy.
Lagan Harps 2 v 4 Castlefin Celtic
Lagan and Castlefin served up a rousing encounter in Orchard Park. Lagan turned in their best performance of the season so far as they hung in the game throughout. Castlefin had the opportunity to take the lead on eight minutes when they were awarded a penalty. Frank Carberry saved Emmett White’s effort. Minutes later Kieran Friel headed narrowly wide. Lagan’s Ciaran Cunningham gave early warning of his threat from free-kicks when he hit the crossbar on fifteen minutes. Castlefin were awarded a penalty for handball on thirty-five minutes and Corey Lee Bogan drilled this one home. Lagan responded immediately with Ciaran Cunningham’s free from wide on the left going all the way through to nestle in the far corner. Lagan then suffered a blow losing Barney Meehan to injury. Castlefin came quickly out of the blocks at the start of the second-half with Jordan Mc Kinney firing just over. They took the lead again on fifty-six minutes when Emmett White was left free at the back post and he finished well. Lagan responded with Ciaran Cunningham again scoring with a free from the left which went through a crowded goalmouth to finish in the corner. Castlefin pressed but the youthful Lagan defence held firm. Lagan almost took the lead on seventy-five minutes when a one-two between Jack Canning and Shay Harkin saw Shay break into the area but his effort came back off the crossbar. Castlefin regained the lead on eighty-two minutes when they were awarded a third penalty and Corey Lee Bogan again fired home. With Lagan throwing players forward Castlefin hit on the counter-attack. In injury time Anthon Bogle finished well. A great game with Lagan giving a great account of themselves against one of the strongest Donegal League sides. For Lagan Emmett Tourish, Ciaran Quinn and Ciaran Cunningham stood out. For Castlefin Aaron O’ Hagan was solid at the back with Corey Lee Bogan and Emmett White also standing out. Referee: Con Mc Laughlin.
Raphoe Town 0 v 0 Drumoghill F.C. (In Drumoghill) (No Report Submitted)
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