Inishowen League: All the results, action, and match reports from the weekend

Jackie Crossan Premier Division 

Cockhill Celtic 5-1 Illies Celtic 

Cockhill Celtic started strongly at the Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds, opening the scoring in the 5th minute. Jack Doherty’s free kick found Odhran O'Brien Daly, whose header hit the post, but Jay Bradley reacted quickly to fire home. Minutes later, Conor Graham had a chance after good play between Doherty and Bradley, but he dragged his shot wide. Cockhill doubled their lead on 11 minutes, when Graham delivered a teasing cross from the left, and Corey McBride's follow-up cross was met by Bradley, who powered a header into the net. 

Midway through the half, Illies Celtic’s defense conceded a penalty when Bradley was fouled after a driving run. Lee McColgan converted the penalty, putting Cockhill 3-0 up. Bradley completed his hat-trick with a low strike to the bottom corner after a flowing team move. Illies managed to pull a goal back just before halftime, when a deep free-kick wasn’t dealt with by the Cockhill defense, allowing Jamie McDaid to steal in and finish past goalkeeper Harry Doherty. 

Cockhill started the second half as they had the first and added a fifth goal in the 47th minute. James Bradley made a run down the right and crossed for Conor Graham, who poked the ball in at the near post. Cockhill had more chances, but Jack Doherty’s shot was deflected onto the post, and Luke Rudden’s flick header from a Fionn McClure corner was cleared off the line. The final opportunity came from Illies’ Dominick Coyle, whose shot on the turn was saved by Doherty. 

Redcastle United 0-3 Buncrana Hearts 

The match started with Buncrana Hearts having the first opportunity when Nathan Harkin found Eoin Murphy, but his half-volley was saved by Seamus Houghton. Redcastle responded with Stephen Grant’s cross to Darragh McConway, whose first-time shot went over the bar. Buncrana kept pressing, and Harkin’s downward header was also well saved by Houghton. The first half ended with the score still tied at 0-0. 

Redcastle came out strongly after the restart, with Shaun Curran’s free kick finding Darren Kelly, but his shot was just wide. However, Buncrana broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Nathan Harkin crossed for Eoin Murphy, who headed past Houghton from 10 yards. Midway through the second half, Keelan Doherty's free kick found Liam Jordan, but his header was over the bar. 

Redcastle had a chance in the 85th minute when a cross from Stephen Grant found Mark Farren, but he shot just wide. Buncrana sealed their win two minutes later when Calvin Gallagher received a free kick and hit a superb 20-yard strike into the top corner. The visitors added a third in the final minute when Jordan broke clear on the left and crossed for Matthew Brown to sidefoot home. 

Culdaff FC 2-0 Greencastle FC 

Culdaff dominated the first half and created the first chance from a dangerous free-kick by Aiden Cunningham, which fell to Sonny Bonner, but his volley was deflected wide. From the resulting corner, Cunningham’s ball was headed home by Bonner from eight yards to open the scoring. Culdaff continued to pressure, and only a last-ditch tackle from Shaun Cavanagh denied Michael Coyle at the back post from a Thomas O’Brien cross. 

Culdaff doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Bily Humes delivered a superb cross, which Jack Curley slotted home from close range. Greencastle goalkeeper Caelan McGrory then saved a long-range effort from Ben Curley. Before the break, a good combination between Bonner and Hume set up Cunningham, but his sidefooted shot from six yards went wide. 

Greencastle created their first chance on 54 minutes when a long throw-in was controlled by Cavanagh, who turned and fired into the side netting. Culdaff responded, with Curley and Coyle both having chances. The game exploded in the 67th minute when three red cards were handed out. Greencastle’s Shay Doherty was sent off for a tackle, and both Bonner and Cunningham were shown red for retaliation. 

The game lost some of its rhythm after this, but in the final minutes, Keith Norris was denied by a brilliant save from McGrory. 

Carn FC 1-2 Clonmany Shamrocks 

Clonmany Shamrocks dominated the first half and took the lead in the 13th minute when Aaron Porter collected a long diagonal ball, advanced into the area, and was upended. Porter got back on his feet and drilled the ball low past Carn goalkeeper Daniel McDaid. The visitors extended their lead in the 37th minute after the home defense failed to clear a long ball, allowing Terence Doherty to race clear and square it for Conor Doherty to slot home. 

Carn improved after the break, but it was Clonmany who still threatened. Terence Doherty had two opportunities but couldn’t hit the target. Carn got back into the game in the 73rd minute when Shay McDaid fed Mark Doherty, and his dangerous cross was parried into the path of Cian Burke, who slotted home from close range. 

The home side huffed and puffed but didn’t threaten an equalizer. Clonmany saw the game out to claim all three points. 

HML Plant Hire Division One 

QPS 7-1 Aileach Reserves 

QPS started explosively with three goals in the first ten minutes. Shea Lynch opened the scoring after breaking clear and dinking the ball over Aileach keeper Dylan Porter. Aileach responded almost immediately when Kevin Boyle pounced from close range to level the score. However, QPS regained the lead shortly after when Lynch's low cross was slotted home by Cillian McEleney. 

Aileach suffered a blow in the 37th minute when Oran Hillen was sent off with a second yellow card. QPS took full advantage before halftime, adding a third when McEleney found Josh Boyle, who turned and drilled low past Porter. 

The second half started quietly, but QPS increased their lead when a Denim McLaughlin cross was headed home by Darragh McIntyre. McIntyre added his second and the fifth goal when he pounced on a loose ball in the area. Late goals from Conor Barrow and McLaughlin completed the scoring, as QPS secured a dominant win. 

Gleneely Colts 0-0 Buncrana Reserves 

Gleneely Colts and Buncrana Reserves played out a goalless draw. Gleneely had the first chance in the 10th minute when Kyran Cantwell advanced into the box but shot just wide with no one following up. Cantwell had another shot from 15 yards, but it was saved by Buncrana keeper Eoghan O'Doherty. Paul Doherty then had a chance that went just over the bar. 

Buncrana came more into the game, with Eoin McNamee having a shot from inside the area that went wide. The same player had another chance on the half-hour mark, but his header from ten yards was saved by Gleneely goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher. 

McNamee had another opportunity just before halftime, but his header from a corner went over the bar. Buncrana came out stronger in the second half, with Jack Soals' shot from the edge of the area being brilliantly pushed past the post by Gallagher. 

Gleneely had a chance to open the scoring when Cantwell’s shot was cleared off the line by a Buncrana defender, and a minute later, Mark McGonigle’s shot from 20 yards narrowly went over the bar. Gleneely thought they had opened the scoring, but Shane Divers’ turn, run into the box, and left-footed effort rolled the wrong side of the post. 

The game ended 0-0, with both sides creating chances but unable to score. 

Moville Celtic 3-1 Glengad United 

Moville Celtic came from behind to secure a crucial 3-1 win over Glengad United in their fight to avoid relegation. The home side had the worst possible start when a mix-up in their defense allowed Stephen Doherty to fire past goalkeeper Stephen Teles in the 5th minute. 

Moville responded positively, with Michael McNaught firing wide and then being denied by a superb save from Glengad keeper Michael McLaughlin. Moville equalized in the 25th minute when Conor Lafferty released McNaught, who squared for Luke McFadden to slot home. Ten minutes later, Moville took the lead when McNaught converted a superb cross from Deaglan Lynch at the back post. 

Lafferty had a final chance of the half, but McLaughlin saved well. Glengad started strongly in the second half, forcing the home defense back, but Moville stood firm. Lafferty saw an attempted lob drop over the bar and then had another shot saved. 

Moville sealed the points late when McNaught pounced on hesitancy in the Glengad defense and drilled the ball into the top corner from 12 yards. 

Dunree United 3-0 Carn Youths 

Dunree United started the match strongly. Paddy Doherty’s ball across the box was cut out by the defense, and he later fired wide after advancing from midfield. Dunree broke through in the 26th minute when Adam Barrett played Jamie Brosnan through, and he finished across Carn goalkeeper Kyle Harkin into the far corner. 

Cian Moran went close with an attempted lob that drifted wide, but Dunree remained dominant. In the second half, they doubled their lead when Brosnan set up Aaron Harkin, who slotted home. Carn responded with a chance when Mark Scott cut the ball back for Olly Coyle, but a superb save from Adam Harrigan denied him. 

Dunree added a third after Doherty chased down a long ball and finished well past Harkin, and they saw the game out to claim all three points. 

Donegal Signs Challenge Cup 

Aileach FC 9-0 Rashenny FC 

Aileach dominated the early stages of the game, but Rashenny's solid defense kept the hosts at bay for a while. The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Caomhain McFeeley crossed for Reece McGilloway, who beat his marker and fired past Sam Coyle from six yards. The second goal came shortly after when full-back Ryan Long overlapped down the right and volleyed in from a tight angle. Aileach extended their lead before halftime, first with an unfortunate own goal and then with a Caoimhin McFeeley shot from a tight angle that crept inside Coyle’s left post. 

The second half began with Aileach’s Darren McMonagle turning in a shot that had come back off the post. Darren Bradley made it 6-0, capitalizing on a defensive error and finishing from close range. A visibly tiring Rashenny side conceded three more goals, with Long, McMonagle, and Aaron Doherty all getting on the scoresheet. Rashenny had a chance to pull one back when substitute David McLaughlin shot from the right side of the box, beating Conan Doherty, but Michael McElroy was on hand to clear off the line. 

Inishowen Engineering Division Two A 

Sea Rovers 5-2 Illies Reserves 

In this top-of-the-table clash, both teams struggled to break down the other’s defense early on. Sea Rovers broke the deadlock in the 35th minute after Mathew Mooney crossed for Conor McGeoghaghan, who fired low into the corner from 15 yards. The hosts doubled their lead shortly after when Mooney lobbed the Illies keeper, Conor Doherty, after chasing down a high ball over the Illies defense. 

Illies nearly responded with Connor Doherty’s long-range shot just missing the target. The second half saw Illies improve, and Jock McDaid’s fine strike reduced the deficit, putting the ball beyond the reach of Rovers keeper Mark McLaughlin. However, Rovers responded quickly with Mooney putting McGeoghaghan through to extend the lead. Illies had another chance when Conor Doherty’s long-range shot went just over the bar. 

On the half-hour mark, Mooney completed his hat-trick, making it 4-1. Illies fought back and were rewarded with Nathan McLaughlin slotting home to reduce the gap. But a lack of concentration in the Illies defense allowed Mooney through again, and he completed his fourth goal of the match to seal a 5-2 victory for Sea Rovers, leaving them needing just one point to clinch the league title and promotion. 

Aileach Youths 0-1 Cockhill Reserves 

In a close, hard-fought encounter, both teams struggled to create clear chances. Aileach’s Daithi Grant had an early opportunity but shot over the bar. At the other end, Yanga Molodo had a chance after a well-timed pass from Grant, but his shot was saved by Cockhill’s Eoin Colhoun. The decisive moment came just before halftime when Cockhill took advantage of a quickly taken free kick that caught the Aileach defense off guard. Niall Breslin lobbed the ball over Owen Callaghan to give Cockhill the lead. 

Cockhill had a few chances in the second half, with Grant's shot on the hour mark failing to trouble Colhoun, and substitute Conor McDaid shooting over the bar when well placed. Aileach pressed late in the game to salvage a point, with Michael McClay turning well but shooting at Colhoun from the edge of the area. 

Clonmany Reserves 5-4 Redcastle Reserves 

An action-packed first half saw Redcastle take the lead straight from the kickoff when Keelan Henry crossed for the unmarked Gary Kelly, who headed in off the post past Clonmany’s Torin Harkin. Clonmany responded in the 16th minute when Ben Gill crossed for Pearse McCarron, who finished from point-blank range. The home side took the lead five minutes later when McGonigle’s ball into the area was controlled by Tyler McEleney, who turned and fired into the top corner from 14 yards. 

Redcastle leveled the game on the half-hour mark when Jason Lynch’s shot was blocked, and the ball fell to Kelly, who hammered it into the top left corner. Kelly completed his hat-trick to give Redcastle the lead again when he latched onto a ball over the top and slid it past Harkin. 

Clonmany grabbed an equalizer right before halftime, with McGonigle’s effort being parried by Redcastle keeper Michael McCole, and McEleney pounced to slot home the loose ball. The second half saw more drama, with McCole making a tremendous double save to deny Clonmany’s Gill and McCarron. 

Clonmany regained the lead in the 57th minute when Marty Doherty’s free kick floated into the area, came off a defender, and passed McCole. Redcastle responded with Kelly’s effort from the edge of the area being palmed away by Harkin. Redcastle made it 4-4 on 87 minutes when Kelly played a ball through for Henry, who slotted low past Harkin. 

However, Clonmany won the game just a minute later when Gill was upended in the area, and McCarron drilled the resulting penalty into the bottom right corner. 

Carrowmena FC 2-0 Cockhill Colts 

In good conditions at The Warren, Cockhill Colts started strong but it was Carrowmena who had the first opportunity after a Ronan Doherty corner was headed over at the back post by Cathal Crumlish. Chair McElhinney then weaved through several tackles but saw his effort from 20 yards parried by Colts goalkeeper Graham Doherty. Carrowmena’s first goal came midway through the first half when McElhinney unleashed a powerful shot that was parried by Doherty, but Crumlish followed up to drill the ball into the net from 15 yards. 

Just before halftime, Cockhill missed a golden opportunity when Gary Breslin was upended in the area, but McKinney blasted the penalty over the bar. The second half saw Cockhill press for an equalizer, with Niall Gordon’s snapshot cleared off the line and another effort from him clipping the top of the crossbar. 

Carrowmena sealed the victory with a break forward from Rhys Davenport, who found Ronan Doherty, and he slipped the ball low past the advancing keeper to make it 2-0. Despite Cockhill's continued pressure, they couldn't breach the Carrowmena defense. 

Inishowen Engineering Division Two B 

Culdaff Reserves 0-2 Dunree Reserves 

Dunree reignited their title hopes while delivering a blow to Culdaff’s aspirations in excellent conditions. Early chances were off target from both sides, with Patrick Doherty for Dunree and Gary Smyth for Culdaff firing wide. Dunree created the first clear opportunity in the 27th minute when Bryce Fullerton's superb pass found Doherty, but he fired over the bar. 

Culdaff responded with a searching diagonal ball from Jack Curley to Ruairi McLaughlin, whose strike from 20 yards just missed the post. Dunree then had an effort saved by Culdaff keeper Patrick McLaughlin. As the game approached halftime scoreless, Culdaff missed a clear chance when Smyth flicked the ball to Eugene McLaughlin, but he blasted over the bar. 

In the second half, Dunree broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute after Doherty worked his way through the Culdaff defense and finished low into the bottom corner from 16 yards. Dunree sealed the win on 83 minutes when the home defense failed to clear an inswinging corner, and Oisin McGettigan slotted home from close range. 

QPS Youth 3-0 Rashenny Reserves 

Reversed to Rashenny, QPS took the lead midway through the first half when Jason McCallion’s long diagonal cross was parried by Rashenny keeper Roger McGilloway, allowing Sean Og Gallagher to slot home. Rashenny responded with efforts from Liam Grant and Ronan McConalogue, both well gathered by QPS keeper Cain Breslin. 

QPS added a second in the 40th minute when Marc Wallace drilled home after the ball broke to him inside the area. Wallace then crossed for Ronan Mailey, who stabbed the ball wide at the back post. In the second half, QPS continued to press, with Simon Wallace’s effort crashing off the post and good saves by McGilloway to deny Gallagher and substitute Lee Rutherford. 

Rashenny replied with Nathan Doherty’s shot deflecting off a defender before Breslin claimed under the bar. Rashenny had another long-range effort from Wallace saved, but QPS sealed the win with substitute Thomas McConalogue converting a penalty after he was upended in the box. 

Moville Reserves 1-4 Rashenny Youths 

Moville had a couple of early chances, with Jay Gillen being denied by a smothering save from Sam Coyle, and Colin Doherty firing over after running onto a long ball. At the other end, Gareth McKeever had several efforts saved by Vernon Kelly and saw a follow-up cleared off the line by Aidan Moore. Rashenny opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Shea Grant slotted home at the back post following a corner. 

Grant doubled his side’s lead ten minutes later after McKeever laid the ball off to him inside the area. Moville rallied and had a chance when Gillen slipped the ball past the advancing Coyle, but a defender cleared off the line. Moville got a goal back just before halftime when Doherty latched onto a long clearance and lifted the ball over the advancing Coyle. 

In the second half, Rashenny dominated midfield and increased their lead in the 66th minute when Grant raced clear to slot low past Kelly. Grant completed his hat-trick 11 minutes later, capitalizing on hesitation in the home defense. Moville had a late chance, but Harry Conaghan’s effort was saved by Coyle.