Inishowen League: Buncrana advance in Ulster Junior Cup with win over Shamrocks

Inishowen Football League 

Ulster Junior Cup 

Clonmany Shamrocks 1-4 Buncrana Hearts  

In difficult conditions, there were few chances in the opening stages of the game with defences on top. But midway through the half the visitors were awarded a penalty after a handball and Calvin Gallagher scored sending Zach Conlon the wrong way.

But a tangle in the box at the other end minutes later saw the home side also awarded a penalty which Alex McFadden converted low to Taylor Clarkes right-hand side despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball.  

Clarke then had to be alert to tip an Aaron Porter free kick just over the bar. Buncrana regained the lead then in the 38th minute when a Liam Quigley cross caused confusion in the home defence and Matthew Brown was left with the simplest of tasks to slot home.  

The Shamrocks were dealt a blow before halftime when Paddy Doherty picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed.  

Buncrana were on top in the second half and just before the hour a Zach McFadden free found Quigley whose downward header was saved on the line by Conlon. They increased their lead in the 77th minute when Bart Wesolowski collected the ball on the ‘D’ swiveled and fired a superb effort to the bottom corner.  

Further indecision in the home defence then presented Aaron McDaid with a gilt-edged chance and he fully availed of the opportunity to make it 4-1 and seal their passage to the next round. 

Glenea United 5-3 Aileach FC (AET)  

After 8 minutes, the home side took the lead playing with a strong breeze. The ball fell to Calvin Murray who fired a drive from the edge of the box which went in off Conan Doherty’s right-hand post.  

Aileach equalised on 15 minutes when Darren McMonagle broke down the right and crossed for Shane McMonagle to drive home from eight yards past keeper Matthew Ryder.  

Glenea restored their lead minutes later after Murray again turned sharply and fired low past Doherty from fifteen yards.  

As half-time approached, Aileach got back on terms again when Darren and Shane McMonagle combined for the latter to race through and slide the ball past Ryder from ten yards. But Glenea regained their lead on 55 minutes when an error in the Aileach defence allowed Murray to race through and complete his hattrick with a fine finish from ten yards.  

Playing with the wind, Aileach put almost constant pressure on the Glenea defence but a combination of poor finishing and some gallant defending by the centre-half pair of Sean Coll and Stephen Doke kept them at bay.  

With almost the last set piece of the game, Aileach grabbed the equaliser after a corner from the left was headed home by Darren McMonagle from six yards.  

Aileach playing with the wind in extra time grabbed two quick fire goals. The first resulted from Darren Bradley racing down the wing and crossing for Darren McMonagle to finish at the back post from close in.  

The second was a good turn inside the box by Caoimhin McFeeley before beating Ryder from twelve yards. This knocked the fight out of a very game Glenea side and the visitors saw it out fairly comfortably.  

Carn FC 0-4 Kildrum 

Kildrum started out the strongest and got the first goal on 8 minutes when Johnny Robb broke on the right wing rounded the defender and squared it for Kealan Gillen who shot low to the right corner of the net from fifteen yards.  

Carn had a chance to level on 15 minutes after Callum Kelly advanced on the left and crossed it for Mark Doherty who shot high to the top right corner of the net but was well saved by Kildrum keeper Michael Lynch.  

Kildrum had a chance to double their lead midway through the half when Frank McBrearty found Johnny Robb who fed Brian Breslin who failed to hit the target from inside the area.   

Carn had another chance to equalize after Ryan Kelly crossed for Ross Farren who laid it off to Cade Cooke who shot wide from fifteen yards.  

Kildrum then doubled their lead when Kealan Gillen crossed from the left for Brian Breslin who shot high to the top corner of the net from twelve yards.  

Kildrum made it three-nil just before the break when Luke Toland made a great run on the right wing and crossed for James McNulty who drove a powerful shot to the top of the net from outside the area.  

Carn tried to get one back when sub Liam McWeeney squared it for Ross Farren who shot high to the right and wide from 15 yards. Kildrum completed the scoring late on when Tiernan Brown dispossessed the defender and went on a run on the right and drove a powerful shot from twenty-five yards to the top right corner of the net. 

Cockhill Celtic 5-0 Gweedore Celtic  

With a stiff breeze behind them, Cockhill dominated proceedings early on. Their first effort in goal was a well-struck Christy McLaughlin shot well gathered by the keeper Michael McKelvey.  

The home side then hit the front on 5 minutes when McLaughlin picked out Stephen Duffy who lifted the ball over the advancing keeper from just inside the box.  

The home side doubled their lead then after Duffy showed great close control on the inside left channel before squaring for Garbhan Friel who sidefooted home from fifteen yards.  

Gweedore almost got a goal back when a long free kick caused problems with the ball dropping to Tomas Diver who shot wide. They were made to pay almost immediately when Friel got his second and Cockhill's third, with a back post finish from a searching cross from the right from Duffy.   

Minutes later it was four when a great turn and cross from Friel down the right was turned home on the half-volley by Jack Mullan from twelve yards.  

Cockhill continued to dominate possession but Gweedore steadily grew into the game restricting clear chances. On 35 minutes a precise cross from Brendan McLaughlin was chested into Corey McBride's path but his goalbound effort was blocked away.   

It was five before the break when Oisin McColgan's long-range strike was well saved by McKelvey but Duffy reacted first to control and score from close range. 

The second half was a more even affair. On the hour McBride's cross from the right after a driving run found Liam Grant but the keeper smothered his effort.   

Then a Conor Graham cross found Luke Rudden but his scuffed finish was parried by McKelvey. Rudden went close on 85 minutes when he controlled a Brendan McLaughlin cross before sidestepping a defender but dragged his shot narrowly wide. 

Jackie Crossan Premier Division  

Greencastle FC 1-4 Redcastle United  

There was plenty of action in the first half with the visitors Darragh McConway breaking forward but his effort was deflected wide. At the other end, a Nathan Harkin free was punched clear by Seamus Houghton.  

Redcastle had another chance then with Eamon Donnelly feeding Stephen Grant who cut into his left but his low effort was saved by Brendan McClenaghan. Greencastle had a good spell then with Conor Gillen heading a Ben Doherty corner wide, Charlie McGinley seeing an effort blocked and Gillen having another effort just wide.  

But the visitors had a spell with long-range Shaun Curran effort saved by McClenaghan before Curran unmarked at the back post headed Grants cross wide in the best chance of the half.  

Redcastle broke the deadlock in the 50th minute after Darragh McConway and Grant played a one-two for McConway to slot home from six yards.  

Mark Farren with an effort off target and McConway then headed over the bar for the visitors. Greencastle tried to reply and Shea Mclaughlin shot narrowly over the bar before Bradley had one effort blocked and another saved by Houghton who also saved an effort from Gillen.  

But Redcastle doubled their lead in the 68th minute after McConway split the home defence with a superb pass into the path of Caillou O Kane who drilled low to the bottom corner from the edge of the area.  

The home side rallied and got a goal back then with Anton Browne finding Bradley inside the area and he controlled before firing to the top corner from twelve yards.  

They made it three one on 77 minutes when McConway raced onto a long ball and drilled low past McClenaghan from just inside the area.  

The home side battled well and Harkin was denied by a brilliant save from Houghton before the keeper denied the same player blocking his effort with his legs.  

Redcastle completed the scoring late on after substitute DJ Kelly drilled home after a scramble in the area. 

HML Plant Hire Division One  

Aileach Res 2-2 Carn Youths  

In an entertaining encounter the home side got off to a dream start in the third minute after Stephen O Donnell squared the ball across for Stephen Doherty to slot past Jack O Brien in the visitor's goal.  

But on 15 minutes the visitors equalised with Dylan Cooke dispatching a low drive from twenty yards into the bottom corner past Dylan Clarke. Aileach replied and O’Donnell ran onto Doherty’s through ball but was denied by the legs of O’Brien before the keeper made a brilliant reaction save to tip away a Ciaran Bradley snapshot.  

Before the break Carn had a very good opening when Olly Coyle raced clear but Clarke spread himself well to block with his legs. On 54 minutes the home side had the first attempt of the second half but O’Donnell shot across goal and past the far post.  

Carn had a great chance then in the 63rd minute after Cooke's free to the back post was played across by Mark Scott to Shay McDaid who fired wide from close range.  

Play swung to the other end with Kevin Boyle bearing down on goal but seeing his effort tipped around the post by O’Brien. Carn again responded and a McDaid effort from distance clipped the bar on the way over before Tiernan Doherty cut in from the left but saw his effort parried by Clarke and cleared off the line by a defender.  

In the 90th minute, the visitors took the lead after Tiernan Doherty raced clear of the home defence and rounded Clarke to slot in. But in injury time Emmett McCarron was upended in the area and veteran striker Anthony Doherty hammered to the top corner to salvage a point. 

Rashenny FC 1-4 Glengad United  

The home side had the first effort on goal with a Caylum Long effort which keeper Michael Mclaughlin deflected with his leg onto the post and clear.  

Midway through the half the home side opened the scoring after a long clearance found David Mclaughlin on the left and his looping cross eluded McLaughlin and dropped under the bar.  

There was no goal-mouth action then until the visitors got back on terms in the 43rd minute when after a Seamus Doherty header came off the post the ball fell kindly for Oran Doherty to tap in from point-blank range.  

Glengad with the elements took the lead then on 49 minutes after a deep cross found Adam McGonigle and while his initial effort was parried by Sean Friel, he reacted well to force the rebound home.  

Friel then saved a Seamus Doherty effort on the run before Doherty laid the ball off to Ryan Mclaughlin unmarked in the area only for Anthony Doherty to make a superb recovery tackle. 

Glengad increased their lead in the 78th minute after a home defender was caught in possession by Ryan Mclaughlin who advanced to round Friel and slot home. They completed the scoring with a twenty-five-yard effort from Owen Doherty which dipped under the bar. 

QPS 2-0 Buncrana Res  

The league leaders continued their good form and dominated this game against a dogged visiting outfit. Josh Boyle had an early effort saved before a Denim Mclaughlin cross just eluded Mark Murray at the back post.  

Visiting keeper Eoin O Doherty had to be alert to clear a back pass off the line before Boyle had another shot blocked by a defender.  

The point opened the scoring on 32 minutes after Boyle skipped past two defenders and fed Denim McLaughlin who found the bottom corner from just inside the area. Before the break, the Point added a second when a Ross Nicholas floated cross eluded all and crept in at the back post.  

In the second half, it was a similar pattern with Lee Rutherford firing just wide while Mclaughlin had a header saved by O’Doherty. The final chance fell to Nicholas but again O’Doherty was equal to it as the home side collected the points. 

Dunree United 3-1 Gleneely Colts  

In blustery conditions at St Egneys Park Gleneely the wind created the first chance after Cian McNamee's cross was chested down by Taylor Bonner and his shot on the turn was turned around the post by Adam Harrigan.  

But the visitors opened the scoring on 25 minutes after a deep free kick was slotted home by Bonner unmarked at the back post. Dunree responded with Eoin Coombes heading just wide from a corner.  

But they equalised on the stroke of halftime after Coombes pounced on a through ball to drill low Nimai Osio.  

The home side was quick out of the blocks on the resumption with Adam Barrett firing over the bar before Aaron Harkin saw an effort superbly tipped around the post by Osio.  

Dunree took the lead on 69 minutes when they broke smartly from a Gleneely corner kick with Sean McColgan playing the ball forward for Aaron Harkin who in turn released Barrett to tuck the ball home.  

Eight minutes later the home side made it three-one after an Eamon Fullerton free kick from inside his own half eluded the Colts' defence and keeper on its way to the net. The visitors were dangerous on the break but the home defence stood firm to claim the points. 

Moville Celtic 0-8 Cockhill Youths  

Cockhill dominated the opening half in particular and rocked the home side with two goals in the opening five minutes. 

An unmarked Oisin Crawford saw an effort well saved by Stephen Teles in the home goal but Shane Mclaughlin was on hand to slot the loose ball home. A defensive error minutes later allowed Mclaughlin to grab his second of the game.  

Teles then kept his side in the game with fine saves to deny Crawford, McLaughlin, and Danny McDaid in quick succession.  

But on 35 minutes Mclaughlin completed his hat trick when he tapped home after Teles had done well to parry a PJ Doherty effort. Doherty then got his side's fourth goal before the break when he converted a penalty after Danny McDaid had been upended.  

Moville started the second half well with Ben Knox shooting just wide after a good approach from Marcus Rule. Luke McFadden then created space but drew a good save from Jordan Mclaughlin before their best chance fell to Jay Gillen but Mclaughlin again saved.  

But Cockhill hit a fifth goal on the counterattack after Mclaughlin set up Doherty to slot home. Ryan McDaid then got the goal of the game with a twenty-five-yard effort to the bottom corner before a defender in attempting to clear diverted the ball into his own net.  

They completed the scoring when Doherty also grabbed a hat trick firing to the top corner from just outside the area. 

Inishowen Engineering Division Two  

Carrowmena FC 8-4 QPS Youths  

With the wind, the home side took an early lead on 5 minutes after Padhraic Skelly played the ball forward for Ronan Doherty to race clear and slot low past Bob Buchanan.  

Eight minutes later they doubled their lead after Darragh McGuinness fed Cathal Crumlish who outpaced the visitor's defence to finish well from fifteen yards.  

Midway through the half Carrowmena made it three nil when Ciaran Bonner hammered a twenty-five yards free kick sneaked past Buchanan. But the visitors came more into the game then and got a goal back on 39 minutes with John McCloskey turning inside and squaring the ball across for Ronan Mailey to drill low past, Sean McGuinness, from twelve yards.  

On 55 minutes the home side added a fourth goal when Adam Harkin flicked on for Ronan Doherty to round a defender and keeper and slot home. On the hour the point got a goal back after a defensive clearance was pounced on by John McCloskey who drilled home from eight yards.  

Midway through the half the home side responded with a Cahir McElhinney free fell to Crumlish to beat the offside trap to finish low from twenty yards.  

Five minutes later Ronan Doherty advanced and squared the ball for Eamon Doogan to drill low past Buchanan to make it six-two.  

Carrowmena were on top at this stage and increased their lead further after McElhinney beat a few defenders only to see his effort parried for Doherty to slot home.  

Their eighth arrived from the penalty spot with Crumlish converted after Doherty was fouled. The visitors kept pressing and got goals back in the 85th and 87th minutes through Sean Og Gallagher and substitute Stephen Fione. 

Culdaff Res 3-2 Glengad Res 

Played under lights on Saturday evening the home side staged a recovery from two goals down to emerge 3-2 winners.  

Glengad had the first chance of the game after a Calvin White volley was superbly saved by Odhran Douglas in the home goal. Culdaff replied midway through the half after a long Paul Fisher throw-in caused havoc in the visitor's defence with Eugene McLaughlin just failing to connect at the back post.  

The best chance of the half fell to the home side after a Gary Smyth cross found Bryan McCandless who blazed over from eight yards out. Glengad ended the half well with Joshua McDevitt shooting just wide from distance before a first-time effort from the edge of the area by PJ McDaid was gathered by Douglas as the half ended scoreless.  

The visitors opened the scoring on 53 minutes when Callum McDaid raced clear and drilled low past Douglas from inside the area. Culdaff upped the tempo and Ruairi Mclaughlin and Jack Curley both had efforts well saved by Ronan Lafferty.  

At the other end, Conor Mullarkey's free kick sailed over the bar. The visitors then increased their lead when Patrick McLaughlin pounced after the home defence failed to clear and McLaughlin slotted home.  

Substitute Dylan Mclaughlin then made an impact for the home side when he fired a free kick wide before setting up McCandless who was denied by Lafferty. 

They got a goal back after Tiernan McGeoghaghan won possession thirty yards out and drilled a superb effort low into the bottom corner. A looping cross then from Eugene McLaughlin caused problems for Lafferty in the Glengad goal and when the ball broke McCandless poked home from close range to make it two all.  

In the dying minutes of the game substitute Dylan Mclaughlin pounced on a loose ball to hammer to the top corner to give the home side all three points. 

Rashenny RES 1-5 Cockhill RES 

Against the wind the visitors started well and opened the scoring when the home defence failed to react allowing Niall Breslin to pounce and fire home from six yards.  

Breslin added a second minutes later when he fired to the top corner from twenty yards. Breslin then had a cross parried by Rodger McGilloway but Joe Lavery slotted home from close range to make it 3-0.  

The home side got a goal back after a Nathan Doherty free hit the wall and looped up before falling to Dylan McGonagle who drilled low past Eoin Colhoun from fourteen yards. But Cockhill made it four when Finn O’Toole chested the ball down for brother Finn to drive low to the net from the edge of the area.  

McGilloway then saved well from Lavery before the follow-up was cleared off the line to Ethan O’Toole who blazed over.  

Cockhill dominated the second half and both Devon McCarron and Finn O Toole saw efforts come back off the post. McGilloway in the home goal made saves to deny Breslin and Tiernan Moran while Breslin rounded McGilloway but from a tight angle only found the side netting. 

Breslin the curled another superb effort just past the angle of the post and bar. They eventually got their fifth and final goal late on after Breslin advanced into the area and squared for Lavery to slot home from close range.  

Cockhill COLTS 8-3 Dunree Res 

Cockhill hit the front inside two minutes after a right-wing corner was taken short by Mark Moran to Gavin Doherty who cut inside before curling a superb shot to the far top corner.  

They doubled their lead four minutes later when a quickly taken throw in released Kevin McDaid who ran from deep to fire low past Oran Doherty.  

Dunree settled after this with possession pretty even but Cockhill, playing with the breeze, were creating the chances with Moran going close forcing a good save from Doherty.  

The Colts got a third in the 28th minute when Gavin Doherty's cross-shot found the far corner before Moran set up McDaid for his second with a swift counterattack. Gavin Doherty then completed his hat-trick on 40 minutes and his side’s fifth with a long-range strike.  

The second half was a more even affair. Patrick Doherty's cross caused problems in the home defence before Marty Bradley cleared before, at the other end, Oran Doherty comfortably dealt with a Daragh Lyons shot from the edge of the box.  

Midway through the half Patrick Doherty went close with a free kick just over the bar before they pulled a goal back on 74 minutes. Great work again down the right this time from Patrick Doherty saw his inviting cross turned in at the back post by Danny Doherty.  

Hopes of a comeback were short-lived when Cockhill responded with their sixth goal five minutes later. Alan Fletcher found Gavin Doherty who cut inside a defender before slotting low past the keeper.  

It was seven when Lyons showed pace and determination to fashion a chance for himself. When Doherty parried his shot Niall Gordon was on hand to finish from close range. Gordon then got his second soon after when he got on the end of a Fletcher cross to finish with the aid of a slight deflection to make it eight-one.  

Patrick Doherty got the goal he deserved on 88 minutes when he got on the end of a Jason Spence pass to score low past Graeme Doherty. He reduced the deficit further with a similar finish, this time latching onto a Bryce Fullerton through ball.  

Illies Res 2-0 Rashenny YOUTHS 

The home side dominated the opening half but failed to create too many clear openings. Their first chance came on 22 minutes after John Campbell saw his well-struck free tipped over the bar by Sam Coyle.  

Their best chance arrived on the stroke of halftime after Caelan Whoriskey released Neil Moran who was denied by a superb save from Coyle.  

Illies opened the scoring on 55 minutes when Campbell laid the ball back for Moran to sidestep a defender and fire low past Coyle from twelve yards. Rashenny responded with an Oran McDevitt free kick which was superbly tipped over the bar by Conor Doherty.   

But on 77 minutes a Campbell piledriver was blocked by Coyle but the ball looped up in the air for Shane Coyle to head home.  

Illies had the final chance as well but Whoriskey shot tamely at Coyle when well placed.