Here are the results and match reports from this week’s Inishowen League and Ulster Junior Cup matches.
Ulster Junior Cup Semi Final
Cockhill Celtic 0
Buncrana Hearts 0 (Buncrana win 4v2 on penalties)
As expected the opening half was a close hard fought affair with few chances at either end and the game punctuated by stoppages. The first chance of note came to the home side with a Brendan McLaughlin effort tipped around the post by Taylor Clarke. Buncrana responded on 40 minutes after an Adam Curran free found Aaron McDaid at the back post but he mistimed his header and the ball went wide. On the stroke of half time Cockhill’s McLaughlin saw his corner headed across by Oisin McColgan but there no takers. Buncrana were first to threaten after the break with Shaunie Bradley heading over following a free kick. At the other end on 59 minutes after a corner was kept alive at the back post Garbhan Friel headed just wide. Defences were well on top then until the 85th minute with a superb cross field pass from Luke Rudden finding Jay Bradley who over ran the ball attempting to round Clarke. Extra time ensued and an inswinging Mclaughlin corner was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Clarke. At the other end Jamie McDaid was impeded by keeper Harry Doherty outside the area but the free kick was cleared to safety. The game ended scoreless and so the shootout ensued with the holders Buncrana Hearts advancing on a four two penalty shootout win.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Illies Celtic 2
Glengad United 2
Illies began this game well with Shaun McCallion advancing into the area but shooting wide before the same player flashed a ball across the face of goal but there were no takers.At the other end a Christy Mclaughlin effort was gathered at the second attempt by Johnathan Noone. Illies broke the deadlock on the half hour after McCallion broke clear and cut the ball back for Liam Doherty to smash it home from twelve yards. Within a minute the visitors got back on terms after Christy Mclaughlin advanced into the area past two defenders and squared for Joe Doherty to tap home from close range. Glengad had the final chance when a Terence Doherty shot was tipped onto the post by Noone before the defence cleared. Glengad took the lead on 57 minutes when a superb Christy Mclaughlin pass through the home defence was stabbed home by Matthew Mooney from ten yards. But the home side equalised midway through the half after Patrick Curran dispossessed a defender and raced clear to shoot low past Zach Conlon. The home side were reduced to ten men then with Adrian Donaghey-Doherty red carded after a clash. Both defences stood firm in the later stages as the points were shared.
Aileach FC 2
Carn FC 1
Aileach grabbed the lead on 10 minutes when Gavin Doherty got on the end of a Reece Mc Gilloway corner from the right and headed powerfully passed Daniel McDaid from five yards. Within five minutes, Carn were level, again from a corner swung from the right, Sheagan Doherty rising unmarked at the back post to head home. On the half hour, the away side could have taken the lead but Dillon Porter in the home goal did well to deny Cade Cooke blocking the forwards effort at the edge of the box. The home side opened the second half brightly and on 55 minutes they had a good chance to re take the lead when a corner wasn’t properly cleared and fell to Gavin Doherty twelve yards out but his goal bound effort was somehow turned around the post by McDaid. Carn looked most dangerous from set pieces but Darren Gallagher and Michael Mc Elroy marshalled the home defence well, denying any clear cut opportunities. On 70 minutes, Darren Bradley latched onto Dermott Doherty’s through ball and raced clear but his final touch just got away from him and the chance was gone. On 80 minutes Gavin Doherty picked the ball up in midfield and after a quick one two with Caoimhin McFeely released his brother Dermot but the winger was unlucky to see his effort from the edge of the box clip the outside of McDaids right hand post. With time almost up, Aileach finally made their pressure tell when Dermot Doherty again wriggled clear at the edge of the box and his cross shot was turned home at the back post by substitute Cormac Ferguson.
Greencastle FC 2
Moville Celtic 0
Greencastle dominated the opening half and had numerous chances but found Ryan Coyle in superlative form. Seamus Mclaughlin had the first chance but was denied by Coyle before the same player dragged an effort wide when well placed. The home side took the lead on 8 minutes after James henry fed Nigel McMonagle who squared for Michael Henry to hammer the ball past Coyle from eight yards. Coyle then denied both McMonagle and Seamy Mclaughlin with his legs before tipping a Ruairi O Donnell effort over the bar. The home side continued to press and Coyle made a point blank save to deny McMonagle whose follow up was cleared off the line by Daniel McFadden. The against the run of play on the stroke of half time Moville fashioned a clear chance to equalise. Conor Radcliffe threaded a ball through for Michael McCarron to beat the offside trap but he as denied by Keelan McGrory. The pattern continued in the second half with McMonagle firing over , substitute Kyle Harkin denied by Coyle who also somehow dispossessed McMonagle as he looked certain to score. Nathan Harkin then saw a deep cross glance off the crossbar . Moville substitute Jack lee then saw a speculative lob from thirty five yards go just over the bar. The home side sealed the points when James Henry went past a couple of defenders before poking the ball to the top corner.
Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O Gara Cup
Culdaff Res 2
Sea Rovers 1
Culdaff avenged a recent league defeat at the hands of Rovers in a close hard fought clash before a big crowd at Caratra Park.They took the lead midway through the first half when Tiernan McGeoghaghan fed Billy Hume on the left and he cut inside into the area before shooting low across Mark McLaughlin and in off the far post. Rovers responded and got back on terms before the interval after Andrew Gallagher converted a penalty awarded after he had been fouled past Odhran Douglas. Ten minutes into the second half the home side were awarded a penalty after Hume was taken down and veteran defender Dermot Diver converted low to the keepers left. Again Rovers tried to respond and Gallagher fired wide at the back post. At the other end Hume found himself in a good position but failed to hit the target. Rovers pushed hard in the final stages of the game in a bid to force extra time but the home defence with Sonny Bonner and Diver in superb form repelled all dangers.
Carn Res 1
Clonmany Res 0 AET
The first 10 minutes began evenly with the home side enjoying most of the possession without really troubling Killian McCarron in the Clonmany goal. The first chance fell to Carn’s Mark Scott’s whose header was parried by the keeper. Ten minutes before halftime Carn striker Dayton Cooke flashed an effort wide of McCarron’s post. There was very little in the game as the half time whistle blew. The second half started much like the first with Carn in control but Clonmany defending comfortably. Carn thought they got themselves ahead when a goalmouth scramble ended in Mark Scott flicking the ball into the net from close range but he was adjudged to be offside. Clonmany looked to catch Carn on the break when Mark Doherty played the ball through to Jake O’Donnell but his effort was dragged wide. Shay McDaid on the Carn right threatened throughout the game and some good link up play between him and Dayton Cooke saw Carn spurn another half chance. With the game scoreless after 90 minutes extra time was needed. With just two minutes of the first half of extra time left Carn took the lead. An in swinging cross was bundled over the line by Matthew Smith from close range. Clonmany threatened in the second half and almost took the game to penalties but Jake O’Donnell’s lofted effort was well saved by Ben Miller.
Cockhill Colts 12
Moville Res 1
The experience of Cockhill Colts proved far too much for an under strength Moville Res . The home side raced into a five one half time lead and totally dominated the second half. Gavin Doherty with a four goal salvo was too hot for the Moville defence and Jude O’Donnell grabbed a hat trick . An own goal added to Moville misery and further goals followed from Karl Kelly, Darragh Lyons and a brace from Kieran McLaughlin. Marcus Rule got the consolation score for the visitors.
Rashenny FC 4
Aileach Res 2 AET
The home side spurned a great chance in the opening minutes after a Damien Friel effort was parried by David McGeady to David McLaughlin who some how blazed the ball over the bar. At the other end Aileach had an equally good opening when the ball fell to Stephen Doherty whose effort trickled past the post. Rashenny took the lead on 15 minutes after McLaughlin’s effort crashed off the bar and Cormac Dillon forced the ball home at the second attempt. The home side increased their lead on 27 minutes when McLaughlin advanced on the right and unleashed a superb diagonal effort across McGeady to the far corner. They continued to press with Aaron Cregan feeding Dillon whose shot on the run flashed wide . Aileach got a lifeline back into the game before the break when Emmet McCarron hammered a free kick from distance low into the corner past Gavin McLaughlin. Aileach started the second half well with Stephen Doherty finding Dylan McGrory whose effort was parried by McLaughlin before Doherty had another effort saved. At the other end Anthony Doherty saw a shot take a deflection and loop just over the bar with McGeady stranded. Aileach then got back on level terms after Doherty was upended inside the area and James Wallace converted from the spot.They spurned a glorious chance to take the lead when Caoimhin Lavery broke and pulled the cross behind the inrushing Stephen O’Donnell with the goal gaping. In the closing minutes Rashenny substitute Declan McLaughlin advanced on the left and saw his cross parried away by McGeady as the game went to extra time. The home side regained the lead in the first period of extra time when Declan McLaughlin fed David McLaughlin whose cross found the totally unmarked Gareth McKeever to slam the ball home. The visitors tried to hit back with an effort from McGrory parried by McLaughlin. Rashenny sealed the tie in the second period when Anthone Doherty fed Declan McLaughlin who beat two men and crossed for John McLaughlin to hook the ball home.
QPS 0
Redcastle United 5
Redcastle dominated this local derby and opened the scoring in the 20th minute after the home defence failed to clear allowing Darragh McConway to slot home from six yards. Five minutes later they added a second goal after Josh McConnelogue rose highest to head home from a corner. The home side responded before the break with a Ross Nicholas effort well saved by Michael McCole in the visitors goal. After an even start to the second half the visitors put the game to bed with McConway added two quick goals to complete his hat trick and leave his side four nil ahead. Mark Farren then added a fifth with a neat finish to seal the tie.
Culdaff FC 3
Gleneely Colts 2
The home side got off to a dream start in this local derby and took an early lead with an unfortunate own goal from a Gleneely defender. They added a second then with a fine finish from Jack O’Brien after a through ball from Michael Coyle to fire past Adrian Duffy and the home side looked to be in control. But the visitors rallied and reduced the deficit with Emmet O’Brien slipping the ball through for Shane Diver to beat the offside trap and round Patrick McLaughlin to slot home. Culdaff had the first chance of the second half but Brendan McLaughlin’s effort sailed over the bar. Gleneely responded and a superb cross from manus Doherty was met with a fine header from Billy McCann which which was brilliantly tipped over by McLaughlin from close range. Culdaff then broke to the other end and O’Brien flashed a low shot just past the post. The home side then made it three one after a brilliant inswinging corner from Aiden Cunningham was glanced home from close range by Brendan McLaughlin. The home side were unlucky then to see a Keith Norris volley crash off the post and into the grateful arms of keeper Duffy. Gleneely replied and Diver had an effort deflected wide. From the corner they were awarded a penalty but Divers well struck penalty was brilliantly saved by McLaughlin. Gleneely got a very late consolation goal on the stroke of full time when Tristan McColgan crossed for substitute Corey O’Brien to convert at the second attempt.
Dunree United 2
Cockhill Youths 4
After an even opening ten minutes the visitors broke the deadlock when they won possession in midfield and when Darragh McDermotts effort was well saved by Adam Harrigan the loose ball was pounced on by Mason McDaid. Midway though the half the visitors added as second goal with McDermott firing home from outside the area. Dunree tried to get back into the game but found the Cockhill defence a tough nut to crack and failed to create anything before the break with Cockhill always dangerous at the other end. Dunree started the second half the better and went close with a good effort from Bernie Doherty. But Cockhill increased their lead after 59 minutes when the home defence failed to clear and Liam Bradley reacted quickest to slot home. The home side rallied and Doherty was again narrowly off target before they got a goal back when Cormac Doherty crossed for Marc Doherty who scored with an excellent finish. Jamie Brosnan then reduced the deficit to the minimum when he fired home a free kick from the edge of the area. With Dunree pushing for an equalizer the visitors broke and Paul Mullan raced clear to fire past Harrigan and make the final score four two.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two A
Redcastle Res 5
Aileach Youths 4
The home side had the first opportunity but Darren Harkin fired just past Dylan Clarke’s left hand post. Aileach replied with Keelan Doherty finding Charlie Campbell but he was off target. The visitors opened the scoring midway through the half when an Eddie McIntyre lofted pass was controlled by Kevin Boyle before he fired low past Clarke from the edge of the area. Redcastle equalised five minutes later when Shay Sweeney challenged a defender for the ball and it broke kindly for Harkin to slot low under Clarke. Redcastle then took the lead on 34 minutes after a Gary Kelly free came off the wall to Kelly who volleyed into the bottom corner from twenty yards. On the stroke of half time the home side made it three one when Kelly released Oisin Sweeney on the right and when he crossed Kelly was on hand to slot home. Kelly then completed his hat trick in the 55th minute after Harkin intercepted and Aileach throw in and squared for Kelly who sidestepped a defender and slotted home. From the kick off the ball was played to Eddie McIntyre who from his own half lobbed the home keeper to make it four two. But again the home side hit back and when Harkin fed Kelly he lobbed Clarke from twenty five yards to leave the home side five two ahead. Aileach rallied and Paul Eyre drove down the left and crossed for Aaron Doherty to fire to the top corner. With the last kick of the game Aileach reduced the deficit to the minimum after Noah Edwards cross was converted by Campbell.
Inishowen Engineering Division Two B
Illies Res 4
Rashenny Rovers 0
Illies kept their title hopes on track and go into their final game knowing a win will clinch it. Rashenny had the first chance in the 10th minute after a David Doherty cross found Tyler McEleney whose goal bound header was cleared off the line by Michael Grant. Illies settled and gradually got on top. They broke the deadlock on the half hour when after a poor clearance Caelan Whoriskey drove to the roof of the net past Roger McGilloway. Before the break Whoriskey crossed for Shane Devlin but his effort was well saved. Illies dominated the second half but had to wait until the 70th minute to add to their tally. Devlin sidestepped a defender on the edge of the area before firing to the roof of the net. They added a third goal when the rovers defence failed to clear and Liam O’Connor drove through a crowd of players to the corner. O’Connor added a fourth goal late on after Rovers failed to clear a corner.
Rashenny RES 1
Carrowmena FC 9
The visitors produced their best performance of the season and showed the home side no mercy. Rashenny had the first chance after a Kyle Cooke cross just eluded the inrushing Shane Ward. Carrowmena responded with both Adam Harkin and Ruairi Dougal denied by saves from Sam Coyle in the home goal.The visitors opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Gerard Gill and Samuel Bredin combined and when Bredin crossed Gill was on hand to slot home from twelve yards. Rashenny had their best spell of the game then with Caylum Long and Shea Grant seeing efforts saved by Michael Noone before Eoin Fowley fired a free kick over the bar.But the visitors upped the tempo and added a second goal when Cathal Crumlish released Gill whose low cross found Pearse Doherty who controlled turned and shot low to the corner. Minutes later a mishit Adam Harkin effort looped up and fell kindly for Ciaran Bonner to drill home.On 37 minutes they made it four nil after Ryan McDermott found Crumlish who unleashed a well struck effort from the edge of the area to the bottom corner. On the stroke of half time Crumlish added his second of the game with a neat finish from closer range. Within minutes of the restart Crumlish completed his hat trick pouncing to slot home after Coyle had parried Gills effort. Rashenny then got a goal back on 54 minutes with Caylum Long dispatching a twenty two yards free to the bottom corner but it was a mere consolation. Gill converted a Pearse Doherty cross to make it seven before Doherty’s free found Crumlish to score his fourth of the game with a firm downward header. Doherty then got on the scoresheet when he cut in from the edge of the area before drilling a low shot across Coyle to the far corner.
Inishowen League, Ulster Junior Cup, Fr O’Gara Cup- all this week’s results and reports was last modified: February 25th, 2024 by