Donegal Junior League: More hardship for Gweedore Celtic as they fight relegation

Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division 

Kilmacrennan Celtic 3-0 Gweedore Celtic  

Kilmacrennan ran out comfortable winners in the end with a good 3-0 victory at Letterkenny Community Centre on Saturday evening.  

The home side took lead on 40 minutes when Chris Flanagan headed home from a Caolan Curran cross from the right.  

In the 46th minute Paul Bradley made it 2-0 when he got on the end of a great cross from James Doherty. Then on 70 minutes Chris Flanagan got his second after great work from Conor Black and Paul Johnson. Gweedore Celtic had few great chances in the last 20 minutes but failed to convert.  

Fanad United 2-0 St Catherine’s 

Fanad United gave their chances of back-to-back Donegal League Premier Division titles a huge boost as they overcame league leaders St Catherine's 2-0 at Traigh-a-Loch on Sunday.   

Played in front of a large crowd, it was a highly entertaining game from start to finish with both sides playing good football without creating too many clear chances.   

Fanad had the first half-chance in the fifth minute when Darren McElwaine's effort from outside the box was saved by the St Catherine's keeper with his feet, and when the ball broke Fanad were unable to capitalise.  

Fanad then took the lead in the 37th minute. Peter Carr done brilliantly down the right and when his layback fell to Darren McElwaine on the edge of the box his shot found the bottom corner via a slight deflection.  Fanad missed a good chance to extend their lead in the opening minute of the second half when Keelin McElwaine controlled the ball in the box, but he was unable to keep his shot down.  

Fanad then got their second goal on the hour mark. Oisin Langan hit a deep free kick to the back post and when Paddy Carr headed the ball back, Eddie O'Reilly was on hand to finish from close range.

Keadue Rovers 3-1 Milford United 

Keadue Rovers got back to winning ways after a long layoff with their first game in five weeks, defeating a dogged Milford side at Central Park.  

Played in tricky, blustery conditions, it was a pretty scrappy opening 15 minutes, with Milford probably edging the play and forcing Keadue back. It was almost the half-hour mark before play really got flowing with Brendan McCafferty with the first real chance when his cross came off the underside of the crossbar. Two minutes later though Keadue were ahead when some good footwork from Peter McGee led to him smashing home a top-class effort from the edge of the area to the corner of the net.  

Despite the lead, play remained scrappy with the home side content with a 1-0 lead at the break. The second half began in a more open fashion and the intensity increased from both sides.  

Keadue were more direct and forced Caolan McGettigan into a few saves. On the hour mark, a quick move and shot by Barry Curran was blocked by McGettigan but up stepped Chris Greene to poke home on the line for 2-0.  

However, the two-goal lead was short lived and from a Killian Mc Bride effort, which deceived the Keadue keeper, it was 2-1 within three minutes. With the help of a few subs and positional changes, Keadue regained a two-goal lead when Aidan Brennan was alert to a ball over the top and managed to hold off the defender before blasting home for 3-1 on 70 minutes. 

Rathmullan Celtic 2-1 Swilly Rovers 

At The Flagpole Field the large crowd was served up the kind of full-blooded, fairly contested derby that the late, great Terry Leyden loved so well.  

Both teams stormed out of the blocks with early chance exchanges, but Swilly made it count on seven minutes when an Ian Ward cross was met at the front post by Kyle Black who looped his header over the helpless Shay Mc Bride.   

The score remained the same until half time, but a different Rathmullan side entered the arena for the second half. The introduction of David Edwards and Charlie McAteer injected drive and pace that rattled the formerly stalwart Swilly defence.  

This pressure told on 49 minutes when Cathal Devlin handled the ball in the area with the resultant penalty dispatched by Man of the Match Kevin Doran.  

Doran repeated the trick on 56 minutes when another surging run by David Edwards was unceremoniously blocked by Brad Patterson. The match petered out with the evergreen Dara Patton directing traffic in the dying minutes to ensure all three points remained at the seaside. 

Temple Domestic Appliances Division One 

Bonagee United 5-0 Lagan Harps  

The home side almost took the lead on two minutes when a Jordan Armstrong corner was headed goalwards by Aiden McLaughlin but a defender cleared it off the line.  

McLaughin saw his strike from 10 yards come off the defender and over the bar on 13 minutes and from the corner kick the ball fell to him and he hammered home from six yards.  

The second goal came on 19 minutes when a great pass from Michael Funston found McLaughin just inside the box and he laid the ball off to Ricky Guntrip who fired home from fifteen yards.  

The visitors’ first attack on goal came on 26 minutes when the ball fell to Anthony Gallagher on the edge of the box and his strike on goal went just wide of the post.  

The home team were awarded a free kick just outside the box and substitute Fintan Hassan, with his first touch of the game, hammered the ball past the wall and into the bottom corner of the net on 65 minutes.  

The fourth goal came 10 minutes later when Mark Toland robbed the ball off the defender and broke clear and placed the ball past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box. The fifth goal was a great strike from Fintan Hassan from fifteen yards on 86 minutes.  

Donegal Town 2-0 Glenea United 

Played in the Hospital Field, there was very little between the sides in a cagey first half. John Doc came to the Town’s rescue when he cleared a certain goal off the line while Seán Coll made a point-blank clearance from a certain David Graham effort.  

Joe Coll saved another Graham certainly leaving it 0-0 at half-time.  

In the econd half the Town took control and Decy Duignan finished expertly to leave it 1-0 to the home side. The same player was put though by Glen Harron and his goal-bound shot was turned into the Glenea net. Joe Coll made several fine saves for Glenea but the Town were the better team on the day. 

Letterbarrow Celtic 1-1 Cranford United 

Both teams started strong looking to end the season on a high.   

Cranford caught the home side slacking from a free kick and took the lead going into half time.   

Letterbarrow started the second half much stronger and scored a well worked goal after Eoin McHugh finished off a rebound that deflected off the bar from McBrearty’s effort.  They almost took the lead when James McGroary’s free kick struck the bar but were happy to take a point after Cranford failed to score from two late penalties. 

Donegal Physiotherapy and Performance Centre Division Two 

Curragh Athletic 2-2 Raphoe Town 

This was a very entertaining game played in trying conditions at times while there were chances at both ends.  

Curragh broke the deadlock on 30 minutes when a throw-in was flicked on to John Chambers to tuck away at the back post. The lead lasted 10 minutes when Raphoe linked well down the right for Ryan Kildea to slot home.   

The second half started the same as the first with plenty of opportunities. Curragh retook the lead on 70 minutes with a break down the right, the cross made its way to the back post for Yahye to cut back inside and finish off the post.  

Raphoe pressed and got the equaliser on 85 minutes when a shot from Jay Hamilton took a wicked deflection and looped over the Curragh keeper for 2-2. Curragh pushed for a winner with the Raphoe keeper pulling off two great saves to keep it level. 

Deele Harps 1-5 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C.  

Deele surrendered their unbeaten run at Marty Duffy Park to a well drilled Kerrykeel side. The away team took the lead on 7 minutes when Johnny Friel headed home from a corner.  

The away side extended their lead on 28 minutes, again from a corner. The game was over as a contest on 43 minutes when Kevin Loughrey poked home from close range following yet more hesitant defending by Deele following a corner.  

Deele pulled a goal on 50 minutes when the returning Scott Macbeth powered home a header from a Mannox Roberts corner. But any hopes of a Deele comeback were extinguished on 65 minutes when Kevin Loughrey grabbed his second goal.  

Kerrykeel wrapped up a fine performance on 82 minutes when he punished yet more schoolboy defending from Deele.  

Drumoghill F.C 5-1 Drumkeen United 

Drumoghill secured a deserved victory against an under-strength Drumkeen United to maintain their promotion hopes.  

Two goals each from Karlos Rodgers and Dylan Mc Elhinney, either side of a Liam O’Donnell strike were the difference on the day before former Drumoghill defender Benny Bonner pulled one back for the visitors.  

Drumoghill started the stronger and opted to play with the elements in their favour during the opening half.  

They dominated the opening 20 minutes but had nothing to show for it with Jack Patton denying them with several terrific saves during a frantic opening. Drumoghill though eventually broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when Karlos Rodgers finished well after being set up by Gareth Hamilton. Shortly afterwards it was 2-0 and again it was Rodgers, this time finishing well from a narrow angle after evading the challenges of Shane Laverty and Johnny Black.  

Liam O’Donnell added another just before half time to give his side a healthy 3-0 advantage at the interval.  

The visitors started the second half knowing that one goal might unsettle the Reds and forged several spirited attacks through Rory Craig and Caolan Bonner, but Rory Mc Crossan and Dylan McElhinney were proving to be obstacles that were too tough to break down. In fact, it was McElhinney who would soon put the game beyond any doubt when he tapped home on 51 minutes to make it 4-0.  

He repeated the trick moments later when a corner fell conveniently, and he made no mistake from 5 yards to hammer into the net. From then on it was a case of keep-ball for Drumoghill as they saw the game out. However, it was to be the visitors that would claim the best goal of the day when Benny Bonner produced a superb dipping effort from fully 35 yards beyond the reach of Lockhart.  

Whitestrand United 0-1 Ballybofey United 

The match started with Ballybofey doing much of the early running which was to be expected given their league position.  

Whitestrand were dangerous on the counter, but Ballybofey found the breakthrough in the 25th minute when they headed in a corner. After this, rather than Ballybofey pushing for a second Whitestrand began finding their feet in the game and the game went in at half-time 1-0.  

The second half started the way the first finished with Whitestrand making much of the running but coming up against a very well marshalled Ballybofey defence.  

Neither team made many clear-cut chances, and the game went the way of the visitors. There were some good performances from the home side with Kevin McCarry and Paddy Sheridan doing some great defensive work. 

Glencar Inn Saturday Division One 

Arranmore United 1-6 Strand Rovers 

Strand Rovers were ahead with the first attack of the game. The ball found its way to Cian McGee who finished past the home keeper.  

On 10 minutes a long throw-in fell to McGee who got his and Strand's second goal. Five minutes later Damian Weber got a goal back for Arranmore when he placed the ball into the bottom corner.  

Arranmore settled into the game after this but a long-range strike from David Mc Carron meant the away side went in at half time 3-1 up.  

Shortly after the break Strand went 4-1 ahead through Ryan Brennan after a defensive mistake. Cian McGee tapped home his hat-trick after Michael Curran squared the ball to him from the right-hand side. New signing Aaron Ward completed the scoring for Strand Rovers who went back to Maghery with the three points. 

Glencar Celtic 3-2 Kildrum Tigers Reserves 

Glencar took five minutes to settle into the game and start playing their normal football and they got in front when Liam Doherty didn’t give up down the wing and passed it through to Pajo who then set up Paddy Collins for a great finish to make it 1-0.  

Glencar then made it 2-0 with more great football and this time it was finished off with Tarlach O’Boyle.  

Into the second half and Glencar came flying out of the traps and made it 3-0 when Jack Dwyer rounded the keeper.  

Kildrum got one back when they worked the ball well down the left side and played a cross into the box to be slotted in at the back post by Connor Friel.  

Kildrum put the pressure on and got it back to 3-2 when Dominick Keys scored. Kildrum kept the pressure on but couldn’t complete the comeback and Glencar held on in the end to win. 

Oldtown Celtic 6-0 Donegal Town Reserves 

Oldtown ran out comfortable winners on a fine day for football at Letterkenny Community Centre.  

Donegal Town started the game with positive intent and controlled the early possession, but they were unable to find the breakthrough. Oldtown took the lead when Mickey Hawe headed home a Micheal Doherty corner.  

Kevin McGrath added a second from the penalty spot and added his second and Oldtown's third with a neat finish following a nice passing move between Tommy McLaughlin and Micheal Doherty.   

McGrath completed his hat-trick when he turned home the rebound after McLaughlin's initial shot was saved by the Donegal Town keeper Enda Kenny.  

Oldtown added a fifth when McGrath fired home from the edge of the area after good work from Lennon Kisawa and Drew Connolly.  

McGrath added the final goal of the game when he fired home from 12 yards after McLaughlin's shot was blocked and fell nicely to him.   

St Catherine’s Reserves 1-3 Fintown Harps AFC 

Fintown Harps got the better of St Catherines in a hard-fought contest in Emerald Park.  

The visitors went in front on 20 minutes when Aaron Mc Glynn latched on to a through ball to shoot home from 10 yards. The home side responded ten minutes later when Barry Cannon scored from 20 yards after being set up by Dermot Cunningham.  

Fintown responded quickly and both Aaron Mc Glynn and Shane Mc Devitt had efforts on target just before half time.  

St Catherine’s made a strong start to the second half with both Daniel Meehan and Jamie Elliott going close.  

At the hour mark James Lett hit the bar with a fine shot and from the resultant breakaway substitute Joe Smith finished off a fine move to put Fintown ahead again.  

The home side piled on the pressure with Daniel Meehan heading against the bar and Caolan Beirne hitting the post with a free kick. That was as good as it got for the Saints and Fintown made sure of the points when Logan Quinn scored from the penalty spot with three minutes to go. 

Keadue Rovers Reserves 4-2 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 

Keadue Reserves maintained their good run of form with this rather fortunate win on Saturday.  

The visitors had a great chance on fifteen minutes but Aaron McCafferty in goals produced a good save. After twenty minutes Keadue came more into it creating a few openings.  

On 30 minutes the home side went close when Daire Gallagher’s shot was saved after a through ball from Matthew Comiskey.  

They did take the lead on 37 minutes when Liam Boyle worked a good ball through to Oran Fallon who drilled home right footed for 1-0.  

Kilmacrennan levelled on 55 minutes when Oisin Harkin found himself in space and unleashed a superb volley from long distance. Back came Keadue as the game opened up and some fine footwork by Oisin McKelvey laid off the ball to Daire Gallagher who rifled home for 2-1. Back came Kilmacrennan three minutes later, on 65 minutes when a penalty was awarded for a foul in the box and up stepped Oisin Harkin to fire home.  

The drama didn't end there and just two minutes later Oisin McKelvey was fouled and up went Oran Fallon to take the penalty, dispatching for a 3-2 lead. After that Keadue remained solid defensively despite Kilmacrennan forcing several corners. However, in the final few minutes, Keadue made sure of the points as Aaron Neely nipped in at the back post to steer home a free kick.