Donegal League reports: Kilmacrennan's loss to Castlefin means Fanad go four clear

Fanad United are four points clear at the top of the Donegal League Premier Division with second-placed Kilmacrennan going down at Castlefin Celtic.

Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1-3 Castlefin Celtic
Kilmacrennan took the lead on 50 minutes after Glen McNulty was fouled in the box and Daire Mc Daid scored the resulting penalty. Castlefin equalised on 55 minutes when Jordan Duffy scored a header from a corner at the back post. On 65 minutes Castlefin took the lead when Gareth Sweeney scored another header from a great ball in from a Castlefin free kick. Castlefin had man sent off on 70 minutes for two yellow cards and Kilmacrennan pushed hard but couldn't find an equaliser. On 80 minutes Aaron O’Hagan scored a penalty and Castlefin held on for three points.

Kildrum Tigers 2-3 Fanad United

Rathmullan Celtic 3-1 Cappry Rovers

Keadue Rovers 4-2 Glenea United
Keadue Rovers put their recent poor run behind them with this important win over local rivals Glenea United at a wet and bitterly cold Central Park.
The opening goal came on 21 minutes, when Proctor picked up the ball on the edge of the area and hit a shot which took a big deflection on its way to the net. They went two goals up on the hour when Aidan McHugh took advantage of a slip by the Glenea defence and tucked neatly past the keeper to widen the gap.
This was when Glenea came alive and unbelievably within five minutes were level. Firstly, a shot was blocked down and Kevin Mulhern was quickest to react, tapping in for 2-1. Two minutes later, a good Glenea move was finished off with John Mc Fadden slotting home for 2-2.
Within two minutes Keadue were once again ahead after Peter McGee was upended in the box and Brian Proctor hammered home the spot kick. Back came the visitors and they had a glorious chance when their striker's shot was saved brilliantly on the double by Shane O'Gara. That proved to be the turning point as Keadue went up the field and Peter Mc Gee slammed home from 20 yards for 4-2. That wasn't the end of the drama though as Glenea in the last ten minutes were awarded a penalty but after a slight delay O'Gara was once again the hero, stopping the shot to his right and in the end Keadue saw out the last five minutes to gain a very valuable three points.

St. Catherines P-P Bonagee United

Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Letterbarrow Celtic A-A Kerrykeel ’71 F.C.

Donegal League game ends prematurely after just 53 minutes

Letterbarrow Celtic were leading Kerrykeel 71 when referee George Clinton called time, 'for his own safety' leaving both sets of players and officials frustrated

Letterkenny Rovers 3-4 Gweedore Celtic
Gweedore Celtic maintained their promotion hopes with a 4-3 win away to Letterkenny Rovers with all seven goals coming in a frenetic first half.
Indeed, Rovers led on three occasions only for the visitors to respond each time before going on to take all three points. Chris Malseed opened the scoring with a looping header on nine minutes but it was a lead that lasted only 60 seconds as Gweedore went straight up the other end and drew level with a crisp strike from Cian Mc Bride.
The hosts restored their lead with a brilliantly taken free-kick from Caolan McConnell on 23 minutes but again the lead was short lived as some generous defending from Rovers allowed Tomás Diver to capitalise and he set up McBride who scored again to make it 2-2. Rovers were back in front again just short of the half hour mark when Malseed grabbed his second goal of the game, steering home from close range following a low cross by Conor O'Donnell.
Gweedore came back a third time with a glancing header from Diver to restore parity before the pendulum really swung in their favour a few minutes before the break with Diver pouncing inside the box to put them 4-3 ahead at the break. The second half was a less eventful affair with few chances as Gweedore held firm for the victory.

Milford United 1-0 Drumkeen United

Raphoe Town 1-4 Donegal Town

Swilly Rovers 6-0 Convoy Arsenal
Swilly Rovers defeated Convoy Arsenal 6-0 in a match that began with a moment of silence in memory of Patsy Boyce, a beloved member of the community who passed away over the weekend. The home side took the lead in the sixth minute when Kyle Black scored from the spot after a foul on Corey Mc Cahill. Conor Gormley, David Craig, and Kyle Black all tested Convoy keeper Luke Mc Gee, who made some excellent saves to keep the score at 1-0 at halftime. In the second half Shane Mc Namee set up goals for Kyle Black and Corey Mc Cahill to give Swilly the upper hand. Two powerful headers from Jordan Mc Daid and Ciaran Kelly, both from Mc Namee corners, put Swilly in control. Near the end, Shane Mc Namee scored a superb goal to round off a solid performance from the home side. In the final minutes, Darren Gibson of Convoy saw his penalty saved by Dane Dunworth in the Swilly goal.

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Dunkineely Celtic 0-8 Drumoghill F.C.

Gweedore United 4-2 Deele Harps
This game played in wet conditions saw the home side get back to winning ways. In the eighth minute Ethan Harkin put the home side one up after a good run and finish. Deele scored in the 10th minute when Jack Mc Beth finished well past Cian Gallagher.
The visitors took the lead in the 22nd minute when Lewis McGurn tapped home from close range after the United's defence couldn't clear the ball following a free kick by Gary Heeney. David Arthur kept the score at 2-1 until the 52nd minute with some brilliant saves. United equalised in the 52nd minute when Ciaran Mc Fadden ran through to finish well after a good pass from Stephen Doyle Mc Fadden. United took a deserved lead in the 79th minute when Mc Fadden again finishing well to get his 10th of the season. Stephen Doyle Mc Fadden got a fourth for United in the 90th minute to secure a vital three points for the Carrickboyle side.

Lagan Harps 3-1 Curragh Athletic
Lagan continued their push for promotion with a win over Curragh in difficult conditions. Playing with the aid of the strong wind, Lagan got off to a dream start. Ciaran Quinn volleyed home when a corner broke to him on three minutes.
Curragh continued to play some good football with Oisin Mc Caul and Cormac Callaghan playing well. Lagan went 2-0 up on 30 minutes when Ross Hamlyn burst through. Chris Burns did well to block his initial shot but he headed home the rebound. Lagan almost made it 3-0 minutes later when Kenny Doran lobbed Burns but Gary Doherty made a fantastic goal-line clearance, despite crashing into the post. Fortunately he was able to continue.
Curragh would have hoped, with the aid of the breeze, to start on top in the second half. However Lagan started really well and began to dominate possession. They increased their lead on 55 minutes when Joe McCarron sent Philip Doran through and he finished well. Matthew Doran, when introduced, began to cause Curragh a lot of problems down the left. Curragh pulled a goal back in the final minutes when Cormac Callaghan finished well.

Lifford Celtic 2-5 Cranford United

Whitestrand United 2-4 Ballybofey United
Whitestrand played Ballybofey in their opening home match of 2023 at Mc Garvey Park.
As the match wore on into the half, Ballybofey’s grip on the game grew and they took the lead when a ball was flashed across the box and it inadvertently bounced in off a Whitestrand defender. Ballybofey doubled their lead when a cross came in from the right and Niall Mc Closkey headed home. Whitestrand forced their way back into the match when a Free-Kick from Daibhid Lynch was spilled by the keeper and Michael Sweeney pounced on the rebound. The second half started with Whitestrand on the front foot and Garth Ferry found the net at the back post from a cross to make the game 2-2. However, Ballybofey became the stronger team as the weather conditions worsened and scored two goals in the final quarter of the game to seal the victory.

Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Cappry Rovers Reserves 2-2 Glenea United Reserves
In the game reversed to Glenea it was Glenea who started with the advantage of the wind in the first half and took the lead through Calvin Murray. It was all Glenea and they doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Calvin Murray scored again. Cappry started the second half well and pressed to get a goal back. Cappry did eventually get a goal back when Dylan Ramsey finished well from inside the box. Cappry pressed to get level but couldn’t find a way through. In the dying minutes of the game Cappry did get the point they deserved when Eoghan Wright found the net from 25 yards.

Oldtown Celtic 3-0 Keadue Rovers Reserves
Oldtown won a tough contest on a wet and windy day at the Letterkenny Community Centre. Keadue started brightly but Oldtown took the lead after 7 minutes when Luke Friel fired home from the edge of the area. The game was back and forth for the rest of the half with the better chances falling to Keadue but Oldtown Keeper Paul Mc Cauley did well to keep the score at 1-0. The 2nd half began with an early Oldtown penalty which Sean Cleary dispatched. Oldtown kicked on from that point and added a third when Luke Nelis fired home after a Gerard Patton header hit the bar. Keadue threw caution to the wind but the Oldtown defence stood firm to hold on for a 3-0 victory.

Donegal Town Reserves 4-2 Arranmore United

Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 1-1 Kildrum Tigers Reserves

Dunlewey Celtic P-P Copany Rovers

Glencar Celtic 5-1 Strand Rovers

Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Ballybofey United Reserves 1-3 Ramelton Mariners

Castlefin Celtic Reserves 0-8 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves
Kilmacrennan Reserves secured all three points after a comfortable victory on Saturday afternoon.
A hat trick from Michael Mc Laughlin, a brace from Cain Paige and a goal apiece from Phillip Buchannan, Connor Gibson and Phil Brennan told the story of a one-sided contest

Cranford United Reserves 1-1 Drumbar United
This game was switched to Tri a lough and it was as windy as ever. Cranford started the game against the strong wind in the first half and had to work very hard. They battled well and restricted Drumbar to very few chances in the first half, it was 0-0 at half time. Cranford started the second half at a frantic pace and nearly scored through Paddy McGeever but the keeper saved the one on one chance. Shortly afterwards Dale Mc Fadden scored at the back post after Dylan Mc Bride’s corner was flicked on at the front post. The lead only lasted five minutes as Drumbar broke down the right wing with a quick counter attack that caught Cranford sleeping. The right winger made no mistake with his finish to make it 1-1.

Fintown Harps AFC 1-1 Swilly Rovers Reserves
Fintown took the lead with Dermot Gallier finding the net from close range after a great shot from Steve Boyle was parried into his path. Swilly pushed hard but Fintown went in 1-0 up at half time. During the second half Swilly were on top and got their just reward on 60 minutes when Christopher Mc Laughlin got onto a ball and put it past Karl O’ Brien in the Fintown net.

Gweedore Celtic Reserves 1-2 Milford United Reserves
An injury time goal by Shane Mc Fadden handed Milford all three points in a game which was reversed to Gweedore. 
Gweedore struck first after 15 minutes when Damien O'Sullivan gave the home team the lead. Colin Ferry hit the post shortly after and Neil Doran also had a chance to extend the home team's lead while Corey Lee was denied three times by Joe Mc Gee in the Gweedore goals. Within two minutes of the second half Darren Mc Loughlin pounced on a loose ball following a free kick to equalise for Milford. They got the winner in injury time when Mc Fadden struck following a corner which the Gweedore defence failed to clear and there was no time for Na Ceiltigh to hit back.