Donegal Junior League: Bonagee United turn screw on St Catherine's

Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division

St. Catherine’s  0-1 Bonagee United

This mid to bottom of the table encounter had a real sense of importance for both teams as both are located precariously towards the wrong end of the Premier Division Table.  

All the early chances were falling to the home side and the away Keeper, John Carr, pulled off a string of excellent saves to keep Bonagee on level terms. 

Aaron Wasson had the only real half-chance for Bonagee in the first half as he latched on to a ball that beat all the centre halves from St Catherines but he saw his shot blaze over the bar. 

Liam Mc Laughlin blew to get the restart under way with the game still deadlocked and at this stage it felt like one goal could win it. 

That duly arrived on 70 minutes when the excellent Lee Mc Monagle tried his luck from 21 yards with a low hard right foot strike that bounced awkwardly in front of the Saints’ keeper for the all-important goal.  

The Saints kept pushing but anxiety in their play once again saw a lot of chances squandered and the equaliser remained elusive. It just wasn’t to be the home team’s day as the visitors held out for a massive three points.  The home crowd dispersed finding it hard to believe that they got nothing from the game. 

Kildrum Tigers 2-0 Castlefin Celtic

Goals either side of half-time gave Kildrum an all-important three points at Station Road.

A tense game with few chances throughout saw Kildrum take the lead on 37 minutes, Jacob Mc Daid headed home from close range. Aaron O’Hagan went close for the visitors and Barry Tourish was unlucky with a fine effort. 

However, it was Kildrum who got the all-important second when Keelan Gillen took advantage of a poor mistake by the Castlefin net-minder to seal all three points for the Tigers.

Brian McCormick Cup

Gweedore Area Shield Final
Glenea United 1-3 Kilmacrennan Celtic

Glenea played with the breeze in the first half and settled well, two efforts from Calvin Murray and Darren Mc Geever narrowly missed the target. 

The first goal of the game went to Kilmacrennan. After two good saves from Joe Coll, the ball was squeezed over the line. Shortly after the restart Kilmacrennan were down to ten men when a last man challenge on Cathal Mc Geever left Vincent Mc Laughlin with no choice. 

Kilmacrennan got their second when a clearance from Kilmacrennan gathered pace in the air with the strong breeze and ended up in the net. Glenea did pull one back when Kevin Mulhern got on the end of a Cathal Mc Geever corner to give a bit of hope to the home side. 

With Glenea battling hard for an equaliser a direct ball from Kilmacrennan into the Glenea box looked to be going over the end line however a coming together in the box resulted in a penalty which the visitors converted to leave for home with the Area Shield in the possession. Best for Glenea was Ciaran Coll. Referee: Vincent Mc Laughlin.

Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two

Deele Harps 2-3 Cranford United

Deele welcomed Cranford to Deele College for the final game of the season. 

On a fine day for football the home side started brightly and took the lead on 23 minutes when Conor Breslin cut inside and his deflected shot found the net. 

Cranford found their feet and equalised on 34 minutes when Dale Mc Fadden poked home from the edge of the box. Deele regained the lead on 45 before Dale Mc Fadden rifled home his second of the day on 72 minutes. 

Deele were punished again on 75 minutes when Dale Mc Fadden's blocked shot fell to Paddy Shields who finished well. Team Performances from Deele and Dale Mc Fadden was best for Cranford. Referee: George Clinton. 

Whitestrand United 3-1 Lagan Harps

Whitestrand welcomed newly crowned Division Two Champions Lagan Harps to Mc Garvey Park for the final home game of the ‘22/’23 season. 

The game started off very nip and tuck with no team in the ascendancy. Whitestrand took the lead when Paddy Walshe crossed to Michael Sweeney who controlled, turned and smashed the ball home. It was an excellent finish from the centre forward.

Lagan showed their resilience as champions and equalised when Kenny Doran headed home from a corner to equalise. The teams went in all square at half time after an even first half.

Lagan started the second half searching for the goal to take the lead but Whitestrand were dangerous on the break. 

They were restricted to mostly shots from distance and when they did get through Declan Broughman was there to thwart them in the Whitestrand goal. 

Whitestrand closed the game out when Daibhid Lynch score from a cross from James Tourish and then Lynch turned provider when he slipped Sweeney through who made no mistake. Excellent result to end the season and hopefully shows positive signs for the new season.

Glencar Inn Saturday Division One

Kildrum Tigers Reserves 5-1 Keadue Rovers Reserves

In a tight first 15 minutes Keadue came closest through Brian Procter. Kildrum then won a free-kick just inside the Keadue half which Brian Coll delivered to the head of Matt Crossan who put the home side ahead. 

With a few minutes to go in the first half Frank Mc Brearty found Keelan Gillen at the back post to make it 2-0 at half time to the home side. For the second-half Kildrum came out strong with Oisin mc Fadden finding Gareth Colhoun at the back post to make it 3-0. 

Five minutes later a great through ball from James Mc Nulty found Gillen who rounded the keeper to make it four for the home side. Kildrum were then awarded a penalty for a handball in the box and man of the match Keelan Gillen made no mistake to complete his hat-trick. Keadue kept pressing and got their reward five minutes from the end but it ended 5-1 to the home side. 

Oldtown Celtic 2-1 Glencar Celtic

Oldtown had to earn this victory in a hard-fought local derby at the Letterkenny Community Centre. 

The game started with both teams on edge and defending well with no real clear-cut chances until Kevin Mc Grath turned in the box and fired home to give Oldtown the lead. 

This spurred Oldtown on and they had a few more chances to add to their lead but were unable to take advantage. Glencar stayed in the game and started to create chances of their own and just before the break Peter Doherty fired home the leveller to make it 1-1 at half time. 

Glencar showed early initiative to begin the 2nd half and Oldtown had Shea O' Donnell to thank for a goal-line clearance to stop Glencar going in front. Oldtown made a few changes to take the game to Glencar and were rewarded when Chick Mc Laughlin fired home after a corner wasn't cleared. 

Glencar pushed for a leveller again while Oldtown had chances to put the game to bed but were unable to convert. Team performances from both sides in a great game of football.

Old Orchard Saturday Division Two

Ballybofey United Reserves 3-2 Castlefin Celtic Reserves

Ballybofey got off to the best possible start when Barrie Mc Ghee scored a lovely free kick from 20 yards. 

Castlefin looked dangerous at times but Gavin Doherty and Darren Bonner dealt with their attacking exploits. On 15 minutes Castlefin levelled when they were given too much space at the edge of the Ballybofey box and they found the home net.

That’s how it stood at the interval, 1-1. Ballybofey made an upbeat start to the second half with some nice football being played by Barrie McGhee, Karlos Reuka and Colin Kearns. Castlefin had a great chance to take the lead when their winger found himself with space but his effort was well saved. 

United started to create good opportunities and were rewarded when Gavin Doherty got on the end of an Aaron Mc Auley corner, finishing from close range at the back post. There were further opportunities to extend the lead but Mc Ghee and Oran Gallen couldn't find the target. 

Castlefin had a great opportunity to level the game when an inswinging cross was headed towards goal but the home keeper, at full stretch, made a fine save. 

United then got their third goal when a great Reuka free kick was turned into his own net by a Castlefin defender. Castlefin pulled one back with the last kick of the game. An enjoyable mid-week battle in East Donegal. 

Gweedore Celtic Reserves 2-5 Fintown Harps AFC

Despite taking the lead in the first minute the home team found themselves in arrears at half time thanks to the goalscoring exploits of Ethan O' Donnell who finished the game with four of the away team's tally of five. 

The youthful Gweedore team got the perfect start when Cronan Mc Fadden's low cross was deflected in off a Harps’ defender in the first minute. The home team could have stretched their lead further when Neil Doran supplied two crosses into the box but no one capitalised on these deliveries. 

Fintown then responded in ten minutes with three goals, two from O'Donnell and one Logan Quinn before O'Donnell completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half time. 

Facing an uphill battle in the second half Na Ceiltigh never gave up and despite conceding a fifth, again courtesy of O' Donnell, they created chances of their own through Padraig Hagney, Liam Breathnach and Evan Doherty but their more experienced opponents made sure of the points in their chase for promotion along with St.Catherines. 

Na Ceiltigh did score the goal of the night when Ciaran Mc Hugh's effort from thirty yards beat the Harp’s keeper. Man of the Match goes to Ethan O' Donnell for his four goals. For Gweedore, Padraig Gallagher, Caolan Laux and Cronan Mc Fadden were the best.

Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 2-1 St. Catherine’s Reserves

Kilmacrennan remain in the hunt for promotion after a well-deserved 2-1 victory over league leaders St Catherines. 

The young Kilmacrennan side showed great spirit and attitude to take the three points in the last few minutes of a tight game. Kilmacrennan took lead on 70 minutes after a great passing exchange from defence to attack ended when Eoghan Quinn slotted home from edge box, latching on to a Ben Cassidy cross. 

St Catherines drew level on 80 minutes when Christopher Murrin tapped in from close range. Kilmacrennan pressed hard for victory and were rewarded on 87 minutes when Ruairi Mc Grenra calmly blasted home from inside the box. 

Best for Kilmacrennan were Cian Mc Menamin and Conor Gibson. Referee: Con Mc Laughlin

Swilly Rovers Reserves 4-2 Ramelton Mariners

Swilly came out on top today in the Ramelton Derby in front of a big crowd in Swilly Park. Swilly took the lead after Adrian Toland delivered a peach of a ball to find Damien Friel free in the box who headed home.

The Mariners levelled on 30 minutes from the penalty spot, the home side reduced in number by two in the incident. It was stand-in Keeper Brandon Wilkie who came up the pitch and scored the penalty. The nine men of Swilly took the lead again just before half time when Adrian Toland’s long range shot came off the crossbar and Christopher Mc Laughlin finished from close range. 

The start of the second half saw Swilly try to keep the ball with the Mariners pressing and getting a few chances but they were unable to take them. 

Swilly extended the lead again after four corners in a row, Diarmuid Coyle’s corner found the head of Tony Gallagher who saw his header come off the crossbar and bounce back to his feet and he slotted home. 

The Mariners reacted quickly when they broke down the right and the ball came to Fionn Robinson’s feet and he found the top corner from close range. 

Swilly got their fourth with 20 minutes remaining when Jordan Mc Daid went on an amazing solo run from the halfway line and slotted home with composure. The Mariners pushed to get back into the tie but the nine men of Swilly stood firm.