Donegal League: All reports, scores, and results around Donegal this weekend

Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division 

Bonagee United 2 v 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic 

Bonagee came out on top on Saturday night in a match which was switched to Letterkenny Community Centre before a large crowd. Kilmacrennan had the better chances in the first half and should have taken the lead on 25 minutes when John Sandilands fired just over. Bonagee also hit the crossbar on 35 minutes. The game was decided by two quick goals from Jamie Harris on 62 and 64 minutes. 

On 62 minutes, he headed home from Fintan Hassan’s cross, and two minutes later, a mix-up in the Kilmacrennan defence was punished with a clever finish inside the box. Kilmacrennan pushed hard and finished the game strongly. James Doherty should have pulled a goal back on 85 minutes, but his shot went just over. Best for Bonagee was Jamie Harris, while Owen Browne was Kilmacrennan’s best player. 

Keadue Rovers 0 v 0 St. Catherine's 

Keadue and St. Catherine’s played out a tight game in Keadue on Sunday. St. Catherine’s started off the brighter with the aid of the breeze, but created no clear chances. Keadue gained control after 10 minutes, with Peter McGee and Aidan Brennan providing decent outlets. The first half ended scoreless, with St. Catherine’s slightly edging it. 

In the second half, Keadue started strongly, but St. Catherine’s defended well. Aidan Brennan had a good chance on 53 minutes, but didn’t get his shot away quickly enough. St. Catherine’s substitute Josh Cunningham almost scored late, hitting the post, and Oran Fallon had a fine strike saved in the last minute. The game finished 0-0. Both teams showed they can compete well with those above them in the league. 

Swilly Rovers 1 v 3 Gweedore Celtic 

Gweedore won a very entertaining game at Swilly Park. Points were crucial for both teams, who are near the bottom of the table. Swilly played well in the first half, with Duncan Patterson dominating the midfield. They took the lead on 25 minutes when Laurence Toland’s free-kick was headed home by Ciaran Kelly. 

Gweedore made three changes at the break and came out a different team. Thomas Diver equalized with a penalty after his first attempt was saved by Barry Gallagher. Gweedore then went ahead with close-range goals from Ciaran McHugh and Stephen McFadden. 

Temple Domestic Appliances Division One 

Cappry Rovers 2 v 0 Castlefin Celtic 

Cappry delivered a commanding performance to win 2-0 against Castlefin. From the start, Cappry was sharper and created several chances. Castlefin’s best chance came from Jude Patton, but Joe Boyle saved well. Despite their dominance, Cappry went into halftime scoreless. 

In the second half, Cappry resumed control. Aaron Kelly opened the scoring with a cool lob after a flick-on. Paddy McNulty came off the bench and doubled the lead with a powerful run and finish. Cappry could have extended their lead but settled for a 2-0 victory. 

Glenea United 3 v 0 Lifford Celtic 

Lifford visited Glenea, where the home side had the first chance when Luke McCarry’s header went just wide. Glenea had another chance cleared off the line before Calvin Murray put them ahead in the 26th minute with a well-placed finish. 

In the second half, Glenea extended their lead with two more goals from Murray. His long-range effort in the 65th minute completed his hat-trick. Glenea comfortably held on to their 3-0 lead despite Lifford’s efforts. 

Lagan Harps 1 v 0 Milford United L

/agan secured a vital 1-0 win against Milford with some excellent defending and superb goalkeeping from Bryan Da Costa. Lagan took the lead early on 6 minutes when Kyle Martin got a touch on a ball sent in behind the Milford defence. 

Milford pressed hard, earning a penalty, but Bryan Da Costa saved Kyle Black’s effort. Lagan’s defence, led by Ciaran Quinn and Rory McCrossan, held firm against a second-half bombardment. Milford’s best chances came late, but Lagan held on to their lead. 

Glencar Inn Saturday Division One 

Arranmore United 0 v 0 Drumbar F.C. 

Arranmore and Drumbar ended in a stalemate on a windy day at Rannagh Park.  

The first half was an even contest, with Drumbar having the better chances, only to be denied by Dan Ward in the Arranmore goal. Drumbar were the better side in the second half, but they were unable to put the ball in the back of the net.  

With the last kick of the game, Drumbar thought they had scored the winner, but Aidan Proctor deflected their shot onto the post. Hard-working team performances from both sides.  

Old Orchard Saturday Division Two 

Dunlewey Celtic 0 v 0 Castlefin Celtic Reserves

Castlefin started the game with the wind at their backs and created a few chances in the opening exchanges but couldn't find the finishing touch.  

Dunlewey came into the game later in the first half but didn't create anything that troubled the Castlefin defence. The score was 0-0 at the end of the first half. The second half was more of the same, with both sides creating chances, the better of which falling to Castlefin again. Neither side could find the net and they shared the spoils.  

Glenea United Reserves 2 v 2 Fintown Harps AFC 

Both teams served up an entertaining game in windy conditions.  

The home side started quickly and took the lead in the first minute when Seamus Doogan’s cross from the left was bundled in by Sean Geaney from close range.  

Glenea continued to dominate and doubled their lead on 30 minutes when Jamie Hunter’s through ball played in Seamus Doogan. He was fouled in the box, and Patrick Doohan converted the resulting penalty.  

In the second half, it was the away team’s turn to play with the advantage of the breeze, and they started to come more into the game. However, it was Glenea’s Chris Barrett who had the chance to extend the lead but was denied by a fine save from O'Donnell.  

Minutes later, Fintown pulled a goal back through Kieran Gallagher after he had held up a through ball and fired his shot into the corner.  

Fintown continued to press and equalised on 60 minutes when Aaron McGlynn finished from inside the area, leaving Matthew Ryder with no chance. Both sides pushed for a winner, and it was the away side that came closest when Kieran Gallagher's header was cleared off the line by Patrick Doohan. 

Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 3 v 6 Erne Wanderers 

With both teams occupying spots in the top four, this was always going to be an open encounter, and so it proved, with the away side being more clinical in front of goal and heading back through the Gap with all three points.  

The opening 15 minutes were shared in terms of possession and chances, but it was Erne who scored first after 19 minutes when the impressive Damian Weber cut inside, and his crisp shot found the bottom corner.  

Five minutes later, Kilmacrennan were level. Good work down the left from Oisin Harkin led to a cross for Steve McElwaine, who slotted home from close range. Erne regained the lead on 36 minutes when winger Roper cut in from the left and fired low into the far corner.  

They increased their lead on 41 minutes when hard-working frontman Dylan Gallagher seized on a loose ball to fire home from the edge of the box. With halftime approaching, the home side were awarded a penalty after a handball in the box, and Harkin calmly slotted it home to leave it 2-3 at the break. 

Within two minutes of the restart, it was all square. Harkin beat the offside trap to fire home with a cracking shot from 25 yards.  

Yet again, Erne came forward and went ahead with the goal of the day. Darren Russell smashed the ball home from fully 40 yards in the 49th minute to put the away side 4-3 up, and from here, they took control, adding further goals on 63 minutes from Declan Roper and 85 minutes from Dylan Gallagher again.  

Despite playing some excellent football, the home side will be disappointed with the manner of their defeat, but Erne were good value for their win. 

Finn Travel Saturday Division Three 

Fanad United Reserves 6 v 0 Gweedore United Reserves 

League leaders Fanad United remain unbeaten in the Finn Travel Saturday Division Three after a comfortable 6-0 victory over Gweedore United Reserves at Traigh-a-Loch on Saturday.  

It took just two minutes for Fanad to open the scoring. A corner from the right was flicked on by Paul Friel to Shea Cannon, who swivelled 7 yards out to fire home. With 20 minutes gone, Fanad missed a good chance to get their second when Adam Carr went on a great run, but his final effort went just wide.  

Fanad did score their second just minutes later. Centre-half Paul Friel fired a lovely pass to Dylan McGlone on the left, and he showed great skill to control the ball first time and finish high into the net.  

Just four minutes later, Fanad scored their third. Shea Cannon did well down the right, and his low cross was deflected into his own net by an unfortunate Gweedore defender. Fanad created a few more chances before half-time, with the best falling to Niall Toland, who shot wide after good work from Alan McAteer.  

The second half followed in a similar fashion, with Fanad creating the bulk of the chances. Ten minutes into the half, Fanad got their fourth when Niall Toland scored with a great shot from just outside the box.  

Fanad went further ahead in the 65th minute when Ryan Moffitt hit a great cross to the back post, where Charlie McAteer controlled the ball before slamming it home from 12 yards. The sixth goal came five minutes later. Darragh O'Doherty's dangerous free-kick from the right eventually fell to Ryan Moffitt, who made no mistake from close range.  

The final chance of note came with 15 minutes remaining. Conor McConigley released Caolan Gibbons down the right, and his excellent cross found Ryan Moffitt, who shot just wide.  

Ballybofey United Reserves 2 v 0 Copany Rovers 

Barrie McGhee had the first chance of the game, but his deflected effort went wide of the post.  

On the half-hour mark, a great ball from Leo McAleer found Evan Sproule in behind the Copany defence. He was brought down inside the area, and up stepped Barrie, who coolly slotted his penalty into the bottom corner.  

Ballybofey nearly added a second shortly after. It was Leo again, this time with some good work down the right-hand side. He pulled it back to James Sweeney, who rifled a shot at goal, but the Copany keeper made a great save to deny him.  

Copany piled on the pressure at the start of the second half, and it took two brilliant saves from goalkeeper Daniel Crawford to keep Ballybofey ahead. Ballybofey had their first chance of the half after a lovely ball over the top from Aaron McAuley found Ronan McHugh through on goal, but his effort was well palmed away by the keeper.  

Copany had another great chance to level it after a dangerous low ball was driven into the box and nearly found its way into the Ballybofey goal. With ten minutes to go, Oran Gallen sealed all three points for Ballybofey after he took it past two men in the Copany area and finished well past the keeper.  

The final ten minutes saw Ballybofey defend very well to secure the win against a strong Copany side. 

Ulster Junior Shield 

Kildrum Tigers Reserves 2 v 0 Gleneely Colts 

The half started with the home side pressing from the start, with Shane and Daniel McNulty both coming close.  

With 15 minutes gone, Aaron O'Donnell opened the scoring with a run-in from the left, and his shot beat the keeper to put the Tigers ahead. With just a few minutes left in the first half, Gleneely forced a fine save from the Tigers' keeper Hepburn to keep the Tigers ahead at the break.  

The second half started with Gleneely applying all the pressure, but with 53 minutes gone, Aaron O'Donnell got onto a great through ball from Daniel 'Square' McNulty to put the Tigers 2-0 up.  

Minutes later, the Tigers were through again, but Shane McNulty was brought down in the box, and the referee awarded the Tigers a penalty, which they failed to convert. That was how it finished, 2-0 to the home side.