Inishowen League: Buncrana Hearts get past Aileach in Ulster Cup thriller

Ulster Junior Cup 

Aileach FC 0 Buncrana Hearts 1 (AET) 

The home side started well with the wind advantage, and Darren McMonagle crossed for Gavin Doherty, whose effort crashed off the post. Aileach continued to press, but Michael Barr and Kevin O'Loughlin, at the centre of the Hearts defence, repelled all attacks.

Roles were reversed in the second half, with the Hearts pressing forward at every opportunity and Aileach defending stoutly. Most of the danger came from set pieces and corners, with an Adam Curran corner curling just past Conan Doherty's left-hand post. 

With time running out, the home side created a good opening when Gareth McGlynn released Darren Bradley, who raced clear but fired wide of Taylor Clarke's left-hand post.

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The game was decided in extra time midway through the second period when Bart Wesolowski released Eoin Murphy. Murphy took a good first touch before slotting past Doherty from ten yards, booking their place in the semi-final. 

Jackie Crossan Premier Division 

Illies Celtic 6 - Greencastle FC 0 

The home side dominated the opening half against a struggling but battling Greencastle side. Jamie McDaid was denied by a brilliant Caelan McGrory save before Michael Owen Doherty somehow headed over from point-blank range. A superb Paul Duffy cross then found Oran Doherty, who steered the ball wide when he looked destined to score.

McGrory rescued the visitors again before the break when Duffy burst clear of the Greencastle defence, but the keeper got down well to save. However, on the stroke of half-time, Duffy was upended inside the area, and McDaid fired the resultant spot-kick low into the bottom corner. 

Illies upped the tempo after the break and added a second when McDaid steered home an Oran Doherty cross past McGrory on 55 minutes. Two minutes later, Michael Owen Doherty found McDaid inside the area, and he completed his hat-trick.

Michael Owen Doherty then added a fourth, lifting the ball over McGrory as he advanced before Deaglan Bowen hammered a superb fifth into the roof of the net from twenty yards. McDaid then got his fourth of the game after a Paul Doherty pass, completing the scoring. 

Redcastle United 0 - Clonmany Shamrocks 4 

The visitors had the first opportunity when Terence Doherty cut inside a defender and unleashed an effort narrowly off target. On 15 minutes, Jamie McKinney curled an effort just past Michael McCole's right-hand post.

Midway through the half, the home side replied when Darren Kelly skipped past a defender and put Darren Harkin clear, but he was denied by Patrick Harkin in the Clonmany goal. 

The visitors opened the scoring in the 26th minute when a Shane McCaul corner was headed back across by Alex McFadden for McKinney to head home.

Redcastle had the final chance of the half when a free kick was headed down by Conor Gillen for Kelly, who unleashed a half-volley that flew over the bar. 

Clonmany upped the tempo on the restart, and Doherty ran onto a Ryan McColgan through ball but saw his shot superbly saved by McCole. The visitors increased their lead on 52 minutes after McKinney’s cross was slotted home by Aaron Porter.

Six minutes later, they added a third when Alex McFadden crossed for Paddy Doherty to steer the ball home from ten yards.

The visitors were well on top at this stage and added a fourth goal when McKinney’s cross came off a defender and fell perfectly for McFadden to slide the ball past McCole. 

Charlie O’Donnell Cup 

QPS 1 - Cockhill Youths 1 

In tough conditions at the school field in Muff, there was little goalmouth action until midway through the half when the visitors opened the scoring.

Liam Bradley advanced on the right, and his low cross was diverted past Lee McColgan by an unfortunate defender. The Point pressed for the remainder of the half without creating any clear chances. 

On the restart, the home side continued to push, but quick breaks on 53 and 69 minutes saw efforts from Danny McDaid and Bradley saved by McColgan.

The home side pushed and got a deserved equaliser on 82 minutes when Josh Boyle drove a free kick under the wall and into the bottom corner. Both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils in worsening conditions. This draw sees both teams join Dunree United and Glengad United in the semi-finals. 

HML Plant Hire Division One 

Dunree United 1 - Aileach Reserves 1 

In a thrilling contest at St. Engy’s Park, there was plenty of late drama. The home side had the first opportunity when Liam Baldrick’s perfectly timed through ball found Aaron Harkin, but his effort was blocked by the visitors' defence. At the other end, Stephen O’Donnell saw an effort well saved by Adam Harrigan. 

Dunree hit back with Adam Barrett finding Harkin, but he blazed over the bar before a teasing Paddy Doherty cross was cleared by the Aileach defence. Good footwork from the visitors’ Kevin Boyle saw him break into the area, but a superb Jamie Brosnan tackle saved the day.

The home side broke the deadlock after a superb passage of play involving Moran, Baldrick, and Sean McColgan, setting up Harkin, who finished calmly into the corner. 

They had another chance when McColgan crossed for Paddy Doherty, but he was denied by a good save. Dunree continued on top in the second half, with Baldrick’s cross eluding everyone before Doherty blazed over from six yards.

The visitors broke in the final few minutes when the home defence failed to clear, and Charlie Campbell pounced to slot home from close range and salvage a point. 

Moville Celtic 1 - Rashenny FC 2 

Moville began on the front foot, and Michael McNaught had an effort saved by Sean Friel. Rashenny responded, and a David McLaughlin effort from twenty-five yards came off the bar.

The home side upped the tempo, and an overhead kick by Conor Lafferty from the edge of the area was saved by Friel. The pressure told in the 39th minute when Lafferty created space and laid it off for McNaught to slot low into the net. 

On the restart, the home side sat back and absorbed pressure from the visitors. On the break, Norbert Indyka had a long-range effort saved before spurning a gilt-edged chance when McNaught broke on the right and pulled the ball across for Indyka, who fired wide with the goal gaping.

This let-off spurred Rashenny, and on 86 minutes, McLaughlin collected a throw-in and was allowed to turn too easily before firing across goal and into the far corner.

Then, in injury time, Rashenny grabbed all three points when a corner found John McLaughlin, who headed home at the back post, completing a real smash-and-grab win. 

Inishowen Engineering Division Two 

Sea Rovers 2 - Illies Reserves 0 

Rovers started better in difficult conditions, with a Christy McDaid effort well saved by Conor Doherty. From a Daniel Gallagher corner, Joey Holland was unlucky to see his header crash off the bar.

On 37 minutes, Gallagher unleashed a powerful effort that went just wide. Before the break, Illies replied, and Nathan McLaughlin had an effort well blocked by Rovers keeper Mark McLaughlin. 

The second half followed a similar pattern, with both Andrew Gallagher and McDaid bringing good saves from Doherty. The home side opened the scoring on 68 minutes when Daniel Gallagher’s free kick was parried by Doherty, but McDaid was on hand to slot the loose ball home.

Rovers sealed the points in the final minutes when a corner fell perfectly for Matthew Doherty to fire past Conor Doherty, maintaining their unbeaten run. 

Carn Reserves 2 - QPS Youth 2 

The home side got off to a great start when, on nine minutes, Conor Doherty beat a defender on the right before laying the ball off for Shane McGuinness to fire low into the corner from ten yards.

The visitors replied, and after good work from Ronan Mailey, he fed Marc Wallace, but his effort was well saved by Ben Miller. 

At the other end, Caelim Cavanagh released Ryan O’Donnell, but he fired just wide from the edge of the area. The Point had the final chance of the half, with Gareth Doherty finding Stephen Frame inside the area, but he failed to hit the target when well placed. 

On the restart, the home side were first to show, with Doherty again crossing for substitute Matthew McLaughlin, whose first-time effort was well saved by Cian Breslin.

Midway through the half, the visitors equalised after Wallace converted a penalty awarded for handball. The Point took the lead on 77 minutes when Tiernan Foley advanced from midfield and laid the ball off for Adam Harkin to drill low past Miller from fifteen yards.

Carn rallied, and in injury time salvaged a point when Darragh McCormick crossed for McLaughlin, who finished excellently into the bottom corner from fifteen yards. 

Inishowen Engineering Division Two A 

Aileach Youths 2 - Carrowmena FC 3 

In blustery conditions, the home side started with the elements, and Aaron Doherty fired an early chance over from twelve yards. However, the visitors opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Ronan Doherty cut the ball back for Cathal Crumlish to fire low past Dylan Clarke.

Aileach went close before the interval, but Ryan Doherty shot straight at Rhys Kerr when well placed. 

Aileach began well after the break and levelled when a Damien Barr cross-shot eluded Kerr and crept in at the back post. They took the lead on 66 minutes after Ryan Wilson sent Yanga Molodo clear, and he fired high past the advancing Kerr.

The visitors equalised in the 80th minute when Adam Harkin curled a superb effort into the top corner from sixteen yards. They struck the winner on 87 minutes when Clarke made a superb double save to deny Doherty, but the ball fell kindly for Crumlish to slot home and clinch the points. 

Inishowen Engineering Division Two B 

Rashenny Reserves 0 - Culdaff Reserves 2 

In cold, dry conditions, the visitors dominated the opening half, with Lorcan McFeely firing an early low effort just wide. Bryan McCandless had one effort saved by Conor McGonigle in the home goal before blazing another over the bar. Rashenny responded with Callum Doherty cutting in from the right, but his effort was saved by Patrick McLaughlin. 

Culdaff resumed on top and took the lead on the stroke of half-time when a long Dermot Diver free kick was not cleared, allowing Manus Doherty to drill home from close range. Culdaff started well after the break, and Doherty was denied by McGonigle, while Eugene McLaughlin was off target.

McCandless saw another effort cannon off the crossbar before Rashenny’s Nathan Doherty had a cross-shot parried. The visitors sealed the points in the 77th minute when Doherty collected possession, beat a couple of defenders, and drilled low past McGonigle. 

Moville Reserves 1 - Glengad Reserves 0 

Having suffered defeat in the corresponding fixture last week, the home side avenged that result with a hard-fought win in difficult conditions. Moville began well, with James Gillen’s cross finding Billy Doherty, whose well-struck effort was saved by Ronan Lafferty.

The home side broke the deadlock midway through the half when Billy Doherty found Jay Gillen inside the area, and he fired to the bottom corner from fifteen yards. Glengad tried to get back into the game before the break, with PJ McDaid unleashing a shot from twenty yards, well saved by Vernon Kelly. 

The second half was a much tighter affair, with defences on top and neither goalkeeper called into action. For the home side, Danny Murphy was off target with a couple of half-chances, while for the visitors, McDaid remained a constant threat, but the home defence held firm to claim the points.