Fanad United start title defence with victory at home over St Catherine's

Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division 

Fanad United 1-0 St Catherine’s 

Fanad United began their defence of their Donegal League Premier Division Title with a narrow 1-0 victory over St Catherine's at Traigh-a-Loch on Sunday.   

For long periods of last season Fanad and St Catherine's went head-to-head for the title and there was very little between the sides in this game.  

With 10 minutes gone St Catherine's had the first clear chance of the game. Matthew O'Rourke won possession in midfield and he drove forward but his shot from just inside the box produced a fine save from Mark McConigley.  

St Catherine's produced a few more half chances before Fanad created their first on the half hour mark. Darren McElwaine collected a Liam McGrenaghan free kick into the box, whose shot from 18 yards was deflected just wide.  

Fanad played with the breeze in the second half and started to create more chances. The only goal of the game came in the 52nd minute when a Darren McElwaine corner was flicked on by James Gallagher and Shaun Carr's shot found the net via a deflection off an unlucky St Catherine's defender.  

With five minutes left on the clock, St Catherine's missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise. When a free into the box fell to Josh Maxwell, he headed wide from seven yards. 

Bonagee United 5-1 Gweedore Celtic 

The home side almost took the lead on two minutes when a cross into the box by Jamie Harris was met by the head of Dean Larkin but the keeper saved well from 15 yards.  

The visitors came close to scoring on six minutes when Thomas Diver turned on the edge of the box and his strike was headed to the bottom corner of the net only for Nicholls in the home goal got a hand on it and turned the ball round the post.  

The visitors took the lead on 10 minutes when a good through ball from Diver to Ryan Doherty who rounded the keeper on the edge of the box and shot home.  

Dan O’Donnell had a great strike on goal on twenty minutes well saved by McKelvey in the visitor’s goal. The home side were level on thirty-five minutes when Fintan Hassan hammered home from the edge of the box.  

The home side took the lead on forty-six minutes when a great ball over the top from Jack Parke found Jamie Harris and he hammered home from the edge of the box.  

It was three one on sixty-two minutes when a great through ball from James Henry from midfield to Shay Maloney and he shot home from fifteen yards. Jamie Doherty for the visitors saw his shot from the edge of the box on sixty-seven minutes turned over the bar by Nicholls in the home goal.  

It was goal number four on seventy-eight minutes when Jamie Harris won the ball in midfield, he passed three defenders before hammering home to the bottom corner of the net from twenty yards. 

 The final goal of the game came on eighty-two minutes when a Buchanan cross into the box fell to Jamie Harris and his shot was saved by the goalkeeper but the ball rebounded to Kyle Mc Laughlin and he shot home from six yards. 

Keadue Rovers 7-1 Swilly Rovers 

Keadue started their premier division campaign with an emphatic and deserved win over Swilly at a breezy Central Park.  

Playing against the wind, the home team settled well into the game, moving the ball at good pace with half chances falling to Paul Yank Boyle and Aidan Brennan but Barry Gallagher in the Swilly nets was alert to the threat.  

After fifteen minutes, Swilly did settle a little but we're mostly dependent on set pieces and all the while, openings fell Keadue's way through Paul Boyle and Peter Mc Gee.  

After the half hour, Keadue deservedly took the lead after good work from Paul Boyle who flicked on a Mark Forker free kick and Peter Mc Gee blasted home.  

Swilly did create a chance on thirty-seven minutes but a bicycle kick from their midfielder went over the top.  

Swilly were grateful to keeper Barry Gallagher who was pulling off some good saved from Keadue attacks but on the stroke of half time, another knock down by Paul Yank was taken by Aida Brennan who knocked it to Peter McGee who thumped home with a left foot close range for 2-0 at half time.  

At the start of the second half Keadue went for the jugular and Brian Proctor was played through by an excellent ball from Oisin McKelvey and he made no mistake for 3-0. On fifty-nine minutes Paul Yank made it safe when rounding the keeper.  

The home team kept playing some fine football and Aidan Brennan shot home on sixty-five minutes. Keadue and Swilly both made several subs but this didn't disrupt the home side and Paul Yank got his second with a volley for number six.  

Swilly got a consolation seven minutes from time when Thomas Mohan rose highest to claim one at the far post. Soon after this Swilly hit the crossbar but in the final few minutes, Keadue made it seven when Paul Yank Boyle got a touch ahead of the keeper to make it 7-1 and a great start for Keadue.  

Kildrum Tigers 0-0 Letterkenny Rovers 

Kildrum Tigers welcomed Letterkenny Rovers to Station Road for the first league encounter.  

Jonny Robb nearly put Kildrum ahead on eight minutes but his lob just went over the crossbar. BJ Banda then flashed one around the post after 12 minutes.  

Brian Breslin then landed onto a layback which nearly nestled in the top corner. The second half started with a frantic pace but both teams cancelled each other out. Gaps started to appear as the half went on.  

Jonny Robb broke through on 72 minutes and seemed to be brought down in the box but the ref waved play on.   

Kildrum struck the woodwork twice within the last 10 minutes, firstly when a Rovers player nearly put one in his one net and then when Jonny Robb rounded the keeper but his effort clipped the post from a tight angle.  

Kilmacrennan Celtic 3-0 Rathmullan Celtic 

Kilmacrennan got the season off to a winning start at Letterkenny Community Centre against a hard-working Rathmullan side.

They took the lead on 25 minutes when Shane Mc Namee whipped in a super ball to Sam Harvey who finished well from inside the box.  

On 72 minutes Shane McNamee scored from a cross from Matty Mc Laughlin after a great ball from Stephen Black to make it 2-0.  

On 85 minutes James Doherty crossed and Chris Dillon headed home to make it 3-0.  

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Ballybofey United 1-2 Lifford Celtic 

The away side stuck first on a windy day in Dreenan when Shay Lindsay found himself one-on-one with Odhran Bonar and slipped it under the out-rushing keeper to put Lifford one up.  

From then on, the home side dominated and bombarded Lifford’s goal with efforts from Kieran Thompson, Ryan Mc Ghee and Daithí McMahon. Later in the half Damien Glackin headed the ball against the crossbar, with the follow up shot from Wizzy well saved.   

United started the second half like they finished the first, on the front foot, and with Lifford parked in their own defence Ballybofey were unlucky not to equalise on two occasions when both Wizzy & Daithí’s efforts crashed off the bar.  

With 68 minutes on the clock, Daithí Mc Mahon played in Damien Glackin who's shot from outside the box found the corner of the net to level the game at one a piece.  

Shortly after, a long ball into the Ballybofey defence created a mix-up and it was Shay Lindsay again with the easy finish. Glackin had a late effort well saved at the front post, but Lifford saw the game out to take the win.     

Donegal Town 6-0 Cranford United 

Donegal Town took home the spoils with a big victory over a gallant Cranford. Two goals in the first half were followed by a further four in the second half.  

Mark Jordan, Ben Sweeney, Eoin Slevin, Joe Leape, and Declan Duignan were the scorers. McKenna, Jordan and Slevin stood out for Town. 

Glenea United 0-1 Milford United 

Glenea welcomed Milford to Pairc Joe for the opening league game of the season. The home side started well and had the first shot on target from Shane Coll but his effort fell short of the target.  

Glenea had the ball in the net on the 17th minute from a Kevin Mulhern header, however, it was blown up for offside by referee Ryan Carlin. Both teams had spells of dominance as the half progressed but there was nothing that troubled either keeper too much and 0-0 was the score at the break.  

The second half again saw both teams with good spells of possession but neither could find the final ball needed to take the lead. Just when it looked like it was going to be a share of the spoils, Milford found themselves in the Glenea box and a failed clearance and a ricochet between defenders and attackers resulted in the ball in the net and Milford led 1-0 with three minutes left on the clock. Glenea pushed hard to find the equaliser and had a massive penalty decision waved away. Milford held on for the win.  

Lagan Harps 1-4 Castlefin Celtic 

Castlefin went away with the points after a strong performance in Manor. Lagan took the lead with a good finish from Kyle Martin on five minutes. Castlefin took advantage of a bad back-pass on nine minutes with Corrie Lee Bogan scoring.  

They took the lead on nineteen minutes when a good run from Emmet White saw him find Jordan McKinney to score. Corrie Lee Bogan extended Castlefin's lead on fifty-two minutes with another good finish. Lagan tried but couldn’t get a foothold in the game. Substitute Sean Kennedy wrapped up the scoring on eighty minutes. 

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Curragh Athletic 2-3 Drumkeen United 

Curragh started their campaign away to Drumkeen in a reversed fixture. Curragh took the lead when through Shea McMenamin after a scramble in the box on 24 minutes.  

Drumkeen got the equaliser on 35 minutes when Niall Howley scored from the spot. Robert McShane put Curragh back into the lead on 42 minutes with a great header. Drumkeen levelled on 70 minutes when Curragh failed to clear their lines and Conor Bonner tapped home.  

Drumkeen found the winner on 84 minutes. Curragh were denied the equaliser when Bernard Lafferty’s stunning strike was well saved by Luke Russell on the last minute.  

Drumoghill 1-1 Whitestrand United 

It ended all square as Drumoghill and Whitestrand shared the spoils at The Moss. Although both sides had chances to win the game, a draw was a fair result.  

Drumoghill did get off to the perfect start when Liam O'Donnell raced away to give his side the lead inside 30 seconds. There appeared little danger until Colm Gardiner opened the Whitestrand defence with a perfect pass into O'Donnell's path and the striker made no mistake.  

The visitors though responded well and took advantage of a mix up in the Drumoghill defence that allowed Cormac Dunleavy the chance to score and the striker made no mistake. Both sides had chances to win the game in the second half as both had eyes on all three points but Roy Duffy and Declan Broughan in goal at either end were equal to anything thrown at them and the game ended all square. 

Kerrykeel ’71 5-1 Dunkineely Celtic 

The ‘71 got their league campaign off to a great start with a win over Dunkineely Celtic. Rabs Park was in great shape and Mark Friel got the first on three minutes after a great Patsy Friel ball.  

It was two minutes later when Shaun Kerr headed home a great corner from his brother James. Kerrykeel kept pushing and Jamie McAteer made it three on 39 minutes, firing home from close range after great work from Bernard McGettigan.  

Dunkineely, to their credit, kept working but just couldn’t get past a strong ‘71 defence. Mark Friel got his second on 60 minutes to seal the win. Aron Byrne got a goal for Dunkineely on 80 minutes but the goal of the game came just seconds later when Marty Mc Ateer scored directly from the kick off with a fantastic strike.