Inishowen League: Cockhill Celtic edge closer to the Premier Division

Jackie Crossan Premier Division  

Aileach FC 0-1 Cockhill Celtic 

The home side gave as good as they got for the opening 20 minutes but Cockhill broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when Luke Rudden got space down the right and crossed for Garbhan Friel to head past Dylan Porter from six yards.  

On the half hour, Cockhill should have increased their lead when Rudden again got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Friel but his effort from twelve yards was high and wide. With half time approaching, Cockhill carved out another good opportunity after a deep cross from Peter Doherty was headed goalwards by Rudden, but Thomas McMonagle did well to hook his goal bound effort off the line.  

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with Cockhill having the vast majority of possession and Aileach working hard to deny them space in the final third.  

As the game progressed, Cockhill were happy to keep possession and see the game out as the home side were offering little going forward. The game petered out for a comfortable enough three points for the visitors who now need one point from their final two games to clinch the league title. 

Glengad United 0-6 Buncrana Hearts  

Stephen McLaughlin’s under-strength side had one eye on the play-off next weekend when they faced second-placed Buncrana at the Crua.  

The visitors dominated and broke the deadlock on 21 minutes when Calvin Gallaghers cross from the left found Shaunie Bradley to slot home at the front post past Michael McLaughlin. They doubled their lead on 35 minutes when a Jamie McDaid cross was not cleared by the home defence allowing Bradley to head home.  

Before the interval they added a third after a Kevin O’Loughlin clearance sent Cian McGarvey clear of the home defence and he slotted past McLaughlin from the edge of the area.  

Buncrana added a fourth goal on the hour mark when Matthew Browne crossed to Bart Wesolowski whose first-time effort was well saved by McLaughlin, but the rebound fell kindly for McGarvey to slot home.  

Glengad held the visitors at bay then until the 85th minute when McDaid and Christopher McKinley combined for the latter to lay the ball back to Wesolowski to fire to the top corner from the edge of the area. Wesolowski added another in the final minute to complete the scoring. 

Strand Hotel First Division 

Dunree United 1-2 Greencastle Youths 

The pressure was off the home side after their win on Thursday night and the visitors secured their place in the division next year with this come from behind victory.  

After an even opening it was the home side who broke the deadlock on 15 minutes when Bernie Doherty laid the ball off for Adam Barrett to finish low to the corner from the edge of the area.  

But the visitors levelled within minutes when Shea Doherty headed the ball across the area from a free kick for Conor Gillen to head home from six yards. The visitors went close again after Gillen poked the ball past Ryan Toland in the home goal but Toland recovered to retrieve the ball before it crossed the line.  

Dunree were on top then to the break with Doherty denied in a one-on-one by Stephen Teles and a Sean McColgan header causing chaos in the Greencastle defence before they scrambled the ball to safety.  

Greencastle started the second half well with a Gillen header cleared off the line by Aaron Harkin. At the other end Teles made a superb tip over from a Jamie Brosnan effort from outside the box. Greencastle sealed a crucial win in the 82nd minute when Shea Doherty headed home at the back post to secure their place in the first division next season and condemn Buncrana Res to the play-off. 

Hannon Greene Insurances Fr O’Gara Cup Quarter Finals  

Cockhill Youths 4-3 Culdaff FC  

In a hugely entertaining game the home side started well with Paul Mullan firing over the bar after a Mason McDaid cross.  

But Culdaff opened the scoring on 17 minutes after good work by Aidan Cunningham who found Brendan Mclaughlin who curled a superb effort into the top corner from sixteen yards past Darragh O’Donnell.  

Culdaff had another good chance after a low cross from Euan McFeely was parried by O’Donnell but Michael Coyle sidefooted wide from five yards. McFeely then headed wide at the back post before O’Donnell saved well from Mclaughlin.  

Cockhill responded before the break with Liam Bradley seeing a header well saved by Patrick Mclaughlin. Cockhill started the second half better and got back on terms in the 52nd minute after Darragh McDermott slid the ball through for Mullan who calmly slotted past McLaughlin.  

Within a minute Culdaff regained the lead after Jack O’Brien pulled the ball back to Brendan McLaughlin to slide the ball home. But Cockhill levelled four minutes later after McDermott fired home from the edge of the area.  

Cockhill then went ahead on the hour mark after the visitors' defence failed to clear allowing McDermott to head past McLaughlin from eight yards.  

Christopher Duffy then spurned a gilt-edged chance when he raced clear, rounded the keeper but inexplicably fired wide. Cockhill increased their lead with six minutes remaining after Mason McDaid beat a defender and saw his effort parried to Bradley whose follow up was blocked before McDermott scored with a superb back heel.  

Culdaff rallied and reduced the deficit on 90 minutes when Noel McLaughlin headed past O’Donnell, but Cockhill saw the game out to advance to a semifinal. 

Culdaff Res 1-5 Redcastle United  

In blustery conditions the home side started well and took the lead after four minutes when Billy Hume raced onto a ball over the top on the left and a fired low past Michael McCole. But a defensive mix up at the other end allowed Darragh McConway to fire the first division champions back on level terms on 17 minutes.  

The visitors then took the lead after Mark Farren broke clear of the home defence to slot past Odhran Douglas in the home goal. The home side responded with a Matthew McGoldrick free kick parried by McCole and a defender was alert to clear the danger. They went close again with a fine Jack Curley effort crashing off the bar before the break.  

After an even start to the second half Redcastle increased their lead in the 63rd minute with a superb 20-yard strike to the top corner from Shaun Curran giving Douglas no chance.  

Culdaff battled hard but found the visitors' defence giving nothing away. The visitors added two late goals then from Gavin Grant and DJ Kelly to seal their place in the semi-final. 

Cockhill Colts 2-1 Carn Res  

Division 2 Cockhill Colts produced a cup upset at the Charlie O’Donnell Sportsground when they defeated first division Carn Res in the quarter finals.  

The visitors got off to a great start when a Matthew Smith corner eluded all and crept in at the near post on the 10th minute.  

Cockhill settled and equalised when Gavin Doherty swept the ball past Kyle Harkin from eight yards after a superb Aiden O’Donnell cross. O’Donnell then tried his luck with a snapshot from near the halfway line which crashed back off the crossbar.  

But on the stroke of half time the Colts took the lead when a corner was superbly flicked on by Liam O’Donnell for brother Aiden to slot home at the back post.  

Carn dominated possession in the second half but failed to really trouble Graham Doherty and the home side were dangerous on the break.  

On 71 minutes Aiden O’Donnell raced clear but with the keeper to beat, Kyle Harkin stood tall to make a superb save.  

Carn pressed in the closing stages and a mark Scott effort was acrobatically saved by Graham Doherty to ensure the Colts advance to the semifinal.