Illies Celtic defeat Carn to land Donegal Signs Challenge Cup title  

Carn FC 0 Illies Celtic 3

Illies Celtic claimed the inaugural Donegal Signs Challenge Cup at a rain soaked Maginn Park before a big crowd on Saturday evening. 

A torrential downpour from just before kick off which prevailed for most of the first half ensured a slick surface at HQ. Illies started well forcing the first division side on the back foot but their first real attempt on goal arrived in the 22nd minute after a powerful Brendan Doherty snapshot from twenty five yards cannoned off the post.

Carn replied and from a corner kick on the right Kyran Cantwell's goal bound header was cleared off the line by Frankie O Connor. Illies then broke the deadlock in fortuitous fashion on the half hour. 

Man of the Match Kevin McGonagle collected possession twenty five yards from goal and although his effort was very well hit it took a huge deflection  on its way past Kyle Harkin to the bottom right hand corner. 

Illies then forced a corner which was played short to O Connor whose cross from the left was headed over by Patrick Curran under pressure from a defender. 

The premier division side then doubled their lead before the interval after the Carn defence cleared a cross to the edge of the area where Dominic Coyle hammered  the ball to the top right hand corner for a superb goal. Illies had the first chance of the second half also when Liam Doherty cut the ball back to McGonagle on the edge of the area  but he fired wide.

At the other end Cade Cooke  found space  but could not keep his effort on target. In the 57th minute Illies effectively sealed the tie when they added a third goal. 

After good build up the ball fell to captain Paul Doherty on the edge of the area and he scored with a sublime chip over the back tracking Harkin. 

Captain Doherty then crossed for brother Liam whose close range header was superbly parried away by Harkin before Dohertys corner  was headed wide at the back post  by Brendan Doherty. Carn kept pressing to the end and after a  free was punched clear by Noone the ball fell to Ross Farren who could not keep his effort down.

Carn manager Gerard Crossan knows his young side are better than they showed on the day  and Ross Farren, Cian Burke and Kyran Cantwell showed glimpses throughout. For the winners Adrian Donaghey-Doherty, Dominic Coyle and Paul  Doherty were excellent but the award goes to Kevin McGonagle who  constantly drove Illies forward, scored the crucial opening goal  and was excellent in breaking down Carn attacks as Illies claimed their first top flight trophy since 2004.

Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O'Gara Cup Final

Carn FC 1  Res  Dunree United 0

Carn Res caused an upset when they defeated Division One Dunree United in excellent conditions before a big crowd in Maginn Park. 

Dunree made all the early running with Mark Moran firing one effort over before seeing another deflected wide. Carn responded and  Dylan Cooke saw his well struck effort from the edge of the area also deflected wide. 

Dunree regained control and Jamie Brosnan’s long range effort dipped over before Moran fired an effort just past Daniel McDaids right hand post. 

On the stroke of half time Liam Baldrick evaded a challenge on the edge of the box but leaning back his effort flew over the bar.Carn came more into the game on the restart and Ciaran O Kane  saw a header from a corner stopped on the line by Adam Harrigan  who also comfortably held a Mark Scott free. 

At the other end Bernie Doherty cut in from the left and saw his left footed effort tipped over by the back tracking McDaid. The division two side broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when Scott fired a superb twenty yards free to the top left hand  corner from twenty yards for a superb goal.

Dunree had a chance minutes later when Sean McColgan intercepted on half way charged forward and released Moran on the right whose shot from a tight angle rolled agonisingly past the far post. 

A minute later at the other end a long ball broke off a Dunree defender to Scott whose effort beat Harrigan but was brilliantly cleared off the line by Brosnan. Harrigan then saved well from point blank range after a corenr fell to Christy Doherty at the back post. 

Dunree threw everything forward in the final stages and had a chance when Berne Doherty found space inside the area on the right and his shot was parried away at full stretch by McDaid.

Dunree will be disappointed with their performance on the day  but  Adam Harrigan, Sean McColgan and Neil Moran stood out for them. For the winners  Daniel McDaid, Ciaran O Kane and Tiernan Doherty were very good but the award goes to centre half Billy Dempsey who was a tower of strength at the back constantly thwarting Dunree attacks and making numerous tackles and aerial interventions.

Inish Engineering Division 2B     

Glengad Res 0 QPS 2

QPS clinched the division Two B title with this hard earned win at the Crua on Sunday morning.  Despite starting well and bossing possession they failed to trouble Michael McLaughlin in the opening quarter. 

Midway through the half they broke the deadlock when Josh McLaughlin sent John McCloskey away on the right and he advanced to drill low past the advancing McLaughlin. 

Glengad replied and both PJ McDaid and Caolan McColgan had half chances but failed to hit the target. On the stroke of half time the visitors  doubled their lead when  Cillian McEleney fed Josh McLaughlin who controlled well and unleashed an unstoppable effort which went in off the post. 

The second half saw the home side try to force the visitors back but the point were content to absorb the pressure and hit them on the break. 

The visitors went close midway through the half after McEleneys snapshot was turned round the post  by McLaughlin. The remainder of the game saw the home side press but the visitors defence stood firm to claim the victory they needed.