Inishowen League: Cockhill Celtic close gap on Buncrana Hearts at top of table

Jackie Crossan Premier Division 

Cockhill Celtic 2 Buncrana Hearts 1

In a hard fought well contested derby encounter  after a scrappy opening the home side took the lead in the 11th minute when Christy Mclaughlin and Lee McColgan combined on the left and crossed for the in form Stephen Duffy to plant a header past Taylor Clarke. 

In truth there was very little by way of goal mouth action in the game with both sides battling it out in typical derby fashion. 

The league leaders got back on terms in the 55th minute after the home defence failed to deal with a Calvin Gallagher free kick and the leagues current top scorer Bart Wesolowski hammered past harry Doherty for a clinical finish. 

Having drawn two games the home side knew this was a must win game and pushed more men forward. 

Substitute Luke Rudden then restored their lead on 71 minutes when he flicked Mclaughlins free kick with a deft header past Clarke in the Hearts goal.  

Cockhill substitute Brendan McLaughlin received a red card  from the bench after an altercation   on the pitch.Buncrana pushed hard for an equaliser  but the home side stood firm and claim the points which keeps them bang in the title race .

Aileach FC 2 Redcastle United 0

Redcastle were first to threaten when D.J.Kelly cut inside and fired a fierce drive which just cleared Conan Doherty’s bar. 

Aileach responded and on 10 minutes Darren McMonagle found Caoimhin McFeeley but Seamus Houghton smothered his effort from twelve yards. 

This was the first of many first class saves made by Houghton. Midway through the half he denied Darren McMonagle when the Aileach forward fired goalwards from the edge of the box and the big keeper managed to claw his effort out of the top corner. 

Before half time he had frustrated both Darren and Shane McMonagle as well as a close range effort from Dermot Doherty leaving the half time score nil nil. 

Aileach playing with the breeze in the second half kept up the pressure on the visitors but a combination of poor finishing and heroics from  Houghton kept things scoreless until 65 minutes. 

Aileach finally got the breakthrough when good work down the left by Keith McColgan the full back fed Shane McMonagle who crossed low for brother Darren to finally beat Houghton with a side foot effort from six yards. 

This brought Redcastle out of their shell and they began to get a foothold in the game putting pressure on the young home defence but Michael McElroy, Niall McGlynn and Ryan Long did well to keep the visitors at bay. 

As the away side pushed for the equaliser Aileach broke and Darren Bradley raced clear to finish to an empty net to seal the three points.

HML Plant Hire Division One 

Buncrana Res 2 Dunree Res 3

The home side had a great chance on two minutes after Ethan Soal's corner found Jerry Gill but his header was cleared off the line. 

They created another chance in the tenth minute with  Hugh Aaron McGonagle  down the right and crossing for Gill who headed wide from when well placed seven yards out.

Dunree then had an opportunity when from a corner the ball fell to Liam Baldrick but his shot from edge of area was comfortably saved by Eoghan O'Doherty.  

On 32 minutes good play between Thomas Adair &  Eoin McNamee saw the latter cross for Soal to volley just wide of Phil Doherty's goal. Three minutes later and the visitors took the lead through an unfortunate own goal. 

The Hearts had a great chance to equalise on 37 minutes but Gill's shot was saved by the legs of the advancing Doherty. Gill had the final chance of the first half heading over McGonagle's cross.  

Dunree went two up in the  57th  minute with  Jamie Brosnan picking the ball up on the edge of the box before slipping past a couple of defenders and firing past O’Doherty. Five minutes later and Liam Baldrick made it three nil his shot taking a wicked deflection to leave O’Doherty stranded.  

But the home side rallied  and Liam Duncan's shot was cleared off the line and from the resulting corner Hugh Aaron McGonagle headed Soal's delivery past Doherty to reduce the deficit. 

With five minutes remaining Soal's free-kick was headed powerfully past Doherty by Jack Guilfoyle to set up grandstand finish. 

On  the stroke of full time  the home side had another free-kick which Soal took and Guilfoyle once again got on the end of it but just headed over to see the visitors claim the points.

QPS 4 Moville Celtic 1

 In a relatively quiet first half from both sides with no clear cut chances the  home side had  the better percentage of possession with two shots from DJ  Canavan  and Oisin Lynch just clearing the crossbar. 

The home team broke the deadlock then when an underhit backbass to the keeper was intercepted and slotted into the net by Josh Boyle. 

QPS  made it two with a superb long range strike from Ben Holly on the stroke of half time .Both teams started well in the second half but the home side got the third after a dazzling run by Ross Nicholas with a finish to match. 

Then a great strike from Lee Barr was saved excellently by Movilles keeper  Stephen Teles on the  hour mark. 

The point made it four  with a great header from Canavan  from a well delivered corner. Movilles  Teles then  pulled off another save after a goal bound shot from Denim McLaughlin. 

Moville conceded a penalty after a well work move from the point but a chip attempt from Mc Laughlin was subpar to say the least. Moville got one back when Ben Knox lobbed the point keeper from 40 yards for a late consolation.

Rashenny FC0 Gleneely Colts 2

Gleneely took an early lead when Taylor Bonner sprayed a cross from way out on the left wing over the heads of home defenders – with the ball finding the unmarked Cian McNamee and he was able to advance into the area and drill a low shot inside the left hand post. 

McNamee then turned provider but his low cross from the right just evaded Shane Diver. 

The visitors continued to press and a powerful Bonner header brought a fine reaction parry from Shaun Friel with Peter Doherty completing the clearance by hooking away the ball from close to the goal line. 

At the other end, David McLaughlin got possession outside the box, before turning and driving a rasping shot just over the crossbar and Ciaran Gallagher made an excellent low block out near the 18 yard line when the same player seemed certain to get his shot away. 

Gleneely doubled their advantage on the half hour mark. Kyran Cantwell got possession in the centre of the field, went on a mazy run and with Rasheney defenders failing to put in a tackle he was allowed to run into the area and shoot low past the advancing Friel. 

Gleneely finished out the half when slackness in the home defence gifted up a chance to Shane Diver but Friel made a low save. 

After a lacklustre first half when the visitors goal was rarely threatened, Rasheney came out and enjoyed a much better second half. 

Quite a few excellent chances were carved out but the brilliance of Gallagher prevented them from getting on the scoresheet. 

Early in the half David McLaughlin shot over and sub Damien Friel had a free from distance held by the keeper. An excellent cross from Aidan Hirrell found the head of the inrushing Friel but his effort flashed just wide. 

Minutes later Declan McLaughlin set up David McLaughlin but his close range shot came back off an upright. 

And when McLaughlin teed up Anthony Doherty who seemed certain to score Gallagher saved with his outstretched legs. Doherty was out of luck again with his attempt from close range blocked. 

The home side’s pressure continued to present chances, the best of which saw Gallagher deny McLaughlin from point blank range. 

Gleneely did create some chances of their own with attempts from Cantwell, Mark Diver and Shane Diver either off target or saved by Friel.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two 

Culdaff Res 9 Rashenny RES 2

The home side started well and opened the scoring after Tiernan McGeoghaghan split the Rashenny defence for Manus Doherty to run onto and slot home. 

They added a second then Eugene Mclaughlin advanced on the left and his cross picked out Doherty to slot home from close range. Rashenny responded and Callum Doherty headed wide from a free kick. 

But the home side upped the tempo and added a third after  Cillian McKinley hammered home from the edge of the area. 

Bryan McCandless then had a header come off the post before Dermot Diver headed home the fourth goal following a corner. Rashenny were first to show after the break and got a goal back when Cahir Noone converted after the home defence failed to clear. 

But quickfire goals from a Gary Collins header and  an Oisin Geoghegan piledrive saw the home sides six one ahead. 

Another brace of goals from Diver and McCandless saw them increase their lead to eight one before Rashennys Max   got a late consolation. 

The home side completed the scoring after McCandless added  his second of the game with a neat finish.

Carrowmena FC 0 Cockhill COLTS 2

Cockhill were sharp from the out set  with  Mark Moran causing problems with his mazey runs up front. 

The home side responded with a  Keiran Bonner drilled free kick from distance but Declan  Caldwell got down well to put around post for corner. 

The  away side took the lead on 20 minutes which  started with Martin Bradley down the right side  finding Moran who  weaved past defence and unleashed an effort which Rhys Kerr parried well only for Kevin  McDaid  to return the ball across  to Darragh Lyon’s  who slotted home from ten yards. 

Cockhill increased their lead in the 35th minute after a  long ball found Moran who powered  and  twisted his way in  before chipping  the out rushing Kerr . 

The home side were unlucky before the break after good interplay ended with Adam Harkin feeding Ronan Doherty who laid the ball off for Eamon Doogan and his first time effort from thirty yards crashed off the bar.

The visitors seemed happy to sit on their lead in the second half and with Moran substituted lacked the threat they had in the opening half. 

For the home side  they never got sufficient service to Doogan or Doherty  to trouble the Colts defence and the game petered out with  no goal mouth action.

Glengad Res 2 Rashenny Youth 4

Rasheeney started on the front foot and had the majority of possession. 

They created their first chance after 10 minutes when a cross in from the right by Leo Devlin was headed goalward by Patrick Doherty but was cleared off the line by the Glengad defence. 

Minutes later the same player made no mistake when he was released down the right hand side beating the full back before advancing into the box and slotting low past the keeper Micheal Mc Laughlin from a tight angle with the shot coming off the inside of the post into the net. 

Rasheeny kept the pressure on and doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Shay Grant intercepted a tame back pass from a defender with Mc Laughlin blocking his initial effort but he made no mistake with the follow up firing to the empty net with the keeper stranded. 

Glengad then upped the tempo and came more into the game ending the half with a good chance after PJ McDaid  beat the off side trap advancing but firing wide  of the target. 

Glengad began the  second half well and reduced the deficit on 50 minutes after a cross field ball from Calvin White found Dylan Collins who controlled well 20 yards out  touching the ball past a defender before firing low past keeper  Sam Coyle. Glengad kept the pressure on and were level midway through the half  with Conor Mullarkey advancing from midfield ,feeding Mc Daid who ran onto the ball before slotting past Coyle from ten yards. 

The home side had a good chance to take the lead then  when Jack Lafferty beat  a defender down the left  and from 12 yards out  his low shot was turned around the post by Coyle. 

With both teams looking for the winner it was Rasheeny who regained the lead on 85minutes  with Shay Grant receiving the ball 15 yards out  and firing past the advancing keeper to put them three two ahead. 

They made sure of the points when in injury time with Glengad pushing for an equaliser  Leo Devlin intercepted a loose pass and rounded the keeper before slotting home from a tight angle.

Clonmany Res 1 Illies Res 1

Played in fine conditions, this match did not prove to be as free scoring as their previous  Reserve League Shield match. 

Clonmany had the better opportunities in the first half and the main obstacle to them building a decisive lead was the form of Illies keeper Conor Doherty. 

Clonmany did eventually find a way past him in the 27th minute after some trickery in midfield by Gavin Friel won some space for Tyler McEleney on the left side and he crossed to the back post for Tiernan McDonald to guide the ball back across the goal and into the far corner of the net .

Clonmany pressure at the end of the half saw them win a series of corners with Matthews Brennan's deliveries bending in under the crossbar and Conor Doherty being forced to punch over a particularly difficult one. 

After Clonmany's third corner Illies midfielder Nathan McLaughlin broke away onto a clearance but the Clonmany defence got back to block his way to goal. 

Clonmany's best chance in the second half was created by Tyler McEleney,in the 57th minute, cutting in from the left wing and pulling the ball back to Gavin Friel just inside the penalty box but his shot was straight at Conor Doherty and he saved easily.  

Illies punished Clonmany's wastefulness minutes later in the 59th minute when their substitute Oran Doherty picked out Shane Devlin just inside the Clonmany box  and he sent his marker one way before cutting back and firing a low shot inside Kieran Friels right hand post to make it one all.

With both teams using their benches the second half was seen out without any more notable chances and the points were shared between both teams.

Aileach Youths 5 Dunree Res 4

Aileach started the brighter and took the lead on 20 minutes when a penalty was awarded for handball with Aaron Doherty Goose firing into the bottom right corner.  

Both sides huffed and puffed before the break without creating any clear cut chances. 

Ten minutes into the second half, Dunree pulled level when Danny Doherty struck a shot from the edge of the area which clipped the post on the way in. 

Five minutes later, Dunree struck the front after a misplaced pass at the back was seized upon by Bryce Fullerton who rounded the keeper and stuck towards the empty end where Gavin Bradley made a block on the goal line but was out of luck as the ball rebounded back to Fullerton to give Dunree the lead. 

On the hour, Aileach pulled level when John Eyres penalty was saved by Doherty but Eyre scored the rebound t. 

With 10 minutes to go Dunree hit the front again after David O'Hagan intercepted a misplaced pass and lobbed Joshua Doherty from twenty  yards out .  

But Aileach levelled minutes later when Andrew Walker beat his marker, got to the byline and picked out Stephen Doherty at the back post to level the scores again. 

With five minutes left, Dunree again poked their noses in front when John Moran played a one two with O'Hagan before slotting under Doherty from fifteen yards. Aileach threw caution to the wind and got an equaliser on 90 minutes after a Daibhidh Grant cross fell to Ryan Wilson who poked through the crowded goalmouth to make it  four four. 

Deep into injury time, Aileach struck for the the winner when Matthew McDermott beat his man and got to the byeline before picking out Wilson who slotted home from six  yards.

Cockhill Res 8 Moville Res 1

Cockhill lead three nil at half time thanks to a clinical hat-trick from Niall 

Breslin. A young, well organised Moville side made Cockhill work hard for their opportunities in front of goal and it was 25 minutes before the breakthrough was made. 

Tiarnan Moran set up Breslin for his first, playing him through on goal and after rounding the Moville keeper Vernon Kelly, finishing well from a tight angle. 

The same player  bagged his second from another tight angle, slotting home after Luke McDaid set him up. Just on the stroke of half time Breslin completed his first half hat-trick, reacting first as Vernon Kelly made a good stop from a Shay Devlin shot, firing the rebound high in to the roof of the net.

Cockhill stretched their lead to four only minutes in to the second half as Christy Doyle made a great run to the byline and his cutback was well finished first time from 6six yards out by Breslin, his and Cockhill's fourthth of the match.  

Moville to their credit kept playing and pushing forward and were rewarded when Ehor Ereshylov got in behind the Cockhill defence and lifted the ball over the advancing Eoin Colhoun to narrow the gap. 

But  Cockhill responded well and shortly after in a ten minute spell three fine strikes from outside the box put the game beyond Moville. 

First up to drive the ball in to the bottom corner was Tiarnan Moran, controlling his 25 yard effort well, drilling it in to the bottom corner. 

Cahir McDaid then found the opposite bottom corner from just outside the box with a fine curled effort. In similar fashion Christy McDaid then rifled is another great strike from the edge of the box, his effort flying in to the top corner leaving Moville keeper Vernon Kelly with no chance.

Vernon Kelly then made a fine double save, firstly from close range from Joe Lavery and as Shay Devlin looked certain to score  Kelly somehow reacted quickly to get his hands on Shay's low strike. 

The scoring was then completed by Conor Donaghy. Making his senior debut, Conor showed great composure as he made space for himself to receive a pass from Niall Breslin, took a good first touch to set it up nicely and he made no mistake with a well placed shot, finding the inside of the far post from the edge of the box.