Inishowen League: Sea Rovers clinch league title and promotion in the process

Inishowen League: Sea Rovers clinch league title 

Jackie Crossan Premier Division 

Buncrana Hearts 2 Carn FC 1

It  was the visitors who had the first chance as Matthew McGoldricks goal bound effort was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Taylor Clarke before the ball was scrambled clear. 

Buncrana responded on 20 minutes when Caolan Doherty s superb crossfield ball was met by Matthew Brown on the volley  but Daniel McDaid saved well. 

The home side opened the scoring on  minutes later after Dohertys ball over the top found Bart Wesolowski who was denied by McDaid but retrieved the ball and crossed for Liam Quigley to slot home from five yards. 

Just before the half hour the home side added a second goal. Wesolowski chased a lost cause and won possession before feeding Brown who was upended in the area. When Calvin Gallaghers spot kick was superbly saved low to his right by McDaid the ball was recycled and Michael Barr fired to the net. 

The visitors had the final chance of the half with Cian Burke seeing a header well saved by Clarke. Carn  got back into the game in the 49th minute with the unmarked Burke powering a header past Clarke following a corner. 

The home side responded well to this setback with Barr feeding Brown whose cross picked out Wesolowski but McDaid saved well. 

Caolan Doherty was then denied by a superb save from McDaid. The young keeper then produced a stunning save to deny Quigley  an recovered to turn Browns follow up behind when he looked destined to score. 

Eoin Murphy then volleyed wide after Dohertys pass had released him before they had the final chance also but Wesolowski s header was again saved by McDaid.

Aileach FC 8 Greencastle FC 0

Doomed to either relegation or a play off Greencastle struggled from the start against third placed Aileach. 

Aileach were ahead inside ten minutes against an understrength  Greencastle when Denver Kelly released Kevin Boyle down the left and he crossed for Darren Bradley to finish past Caolan McGrory. 

The away side dug in well for the next twenty minutes until an injury forced left them a man down. On the half hour Aileach got their second after Ryan Long overlapped down the right and drove a low cross for Gavin Doherty to finish from six yards. 

Aileach added two more before half time through Daniel Doherty who turned well inside the box and fired low past McGrory from twelve yards. The fourth was a deep cross by Ryan Long which was headed down by Reece McGilloway for Gavin Doherty to volley past McGrory from  eight yards. 

Aileach emptied the bench at this stage and added four more goals in the second half  Daniel Doherty grabbing his second when he got space in the box and fired high past McGrory .

Stephen Doherty made it six with a good finish from a narrow angle before Caoimhin McFeeley got a seventh after  his shot from the edge of the box looped over the stranded McGrory. 

The home side completed the scoring near the end when Gavin Doherty completed his hat trick when he headed home a Reece McGilloway cross.

Cockhill Celtic 6 Culdaff FC 0

Cockhill dominated possession from the start and almost opened the scoring when Lee McColgan's shot from the edge of the box went narrowly wide. 

The home side took the lead on 11 minutes when a dinked pass from Garbhan Friel found Stephen Duffy who volleyed home from ten yards out.  

Liam Grant went close to doubling the lead on a couple of occasions and Joshua Clifford went close with a strike from outside the box before Cockhill got their second after Grant pulled the ball back for Duffy to sidefoot home his second. 

Duffy completed his hat-trick with a cool finish from a Friel pass after great play down the left by McColgan just before half time. 

Cockhill continued on the front foot after the break and  got their fourth goal on 47mins with a Friel header from another pinpoint McColgan cross. 

It was five nil  when a Damien Duffy corner fell to Friel in the box and he produced a good finish from close range. 

Conor Graham completed the scoring from close range, following up after an Adam McLaughlin free kick was well saved by Patrick Mclaughlin in the visitors goal.

Clonmany Shamrocks 1 Redcastle  United 0

Clonmany dominated the majority of the first half with Aaron Porter creating the first chance for the home side when he crossed to the back post but Jamie McKinney fired over. 

Porter then broke clear and unlashed a low effort but Joe McCauley turned it around the post at full stretch. 

Terence Doherty then found space inside the area but again McCauley turned his effort around the post and from the corner the ball fell to Jamie Coyle whose effort was cleared off the line by Stephen Grant. 

Redcastle had the final chance of the half on 42 minutes but Darragh McConway blazed over from fifteen yards as the half ended scoreless. 

The pattern continued into the second half with the home side pressing and  Redcastle defending superbly. 

Alex McFadden was denied by a smothering save from McCauley before a Shane McCaul effort was deflected wide off his own player. 

They went close then twice following Matthew Brennan  free kicks with the first one seeing a Terence Doherty header crash off the bar. 

The second delivery found Ryan McColgan but his effort was cleared off the line by Marc Bell. 

With time running out Terence Doherty raced into the area where as upended by McCauley and Doherty picked himself up to slot home the spot kick and claim the points .

Ulster Junior Shield Quarter Finals

Carn Youth 0 Kildrum Res 2

In good conditions in St Patrick’s Park the home side had the first opportunity after good work by Sheagan Doherty who crossed for Dayton Cooke and his first time effort was turned around the post by Aaron Hepburn. 

Kildrum replied with Aaron Temple laying the ball off to Daniel McNulty who fired wide from the wedge of the area. 

The visitors took the lead in the 26th minute after a defensive pass was intercepted by Temple who fired high to the roof of the net from just inside the area. 

The home side responded well to this set back with Olly Coyle crossing to Tiernan Diver who failed to hit the target from fifteen yards. 

Carn also had the first chance of the second half when Dylan Cooke fed brother Dayton whose attempted lob drifted just wide. 

Kildrum then doubled their lead within a  minute after Temple was upended inside the area and McNulty converted from the spot. 

The home side pressed to get back into the game and Sheagan Doherty went close with a good effort. 

Kildrum were dangerous on the break then with the home side pressing and on 77 minutes substitute Jacob McDaid crossed to Gareth Colhoun but he fired past the post. 

The home sides last chance came after substitute Kyran Doherty beat a defender and laid the ball off to Dayton Cooke but he failed to hit the target from eight yards as Kildrum advanced to the semi finals at home to QPS next week.

QPS 3 Glengad United 1

In a tight competitive encounter QPS advanced to a semi final meeting away to Kildrum Res next Saturday. 

They started well and opened the scoring when Oisin McIntyre beat a defender and whipped the ball across for Oisin McCool to head home from six yards. 

But Glengad levelled on the half hour after a defensive pass was seized on by Owen Doherty  who finished superbly past Jason McCallion from twenty five yards. 

The home side upped the tempo on the restart pressing the visitors back and Glengad were trying to play on the counter attack. 

But the Point regained the lead on 63 minutes after Lee Barr played a one two with McIntyre before crossing to Darragh McIntyre and he turned on the edge of the area before drilling low past Michael Mclaughlin for a superb finish. 

They increased their lead when Barrs corner found Osin Mcintyre steaming in at the back post to head home from eight yards and seal their passage.

Inish Grass Shield Quarter Finals

Aileach Youth 4 Moville Res 0

It was the visitors who had the first chance when Jay Gillen fired over the bar from twelve yards in the fifth minute. 

The home side replied midway through the half when Yanga Molodo raced clear of the Moville defence but his effort was saved by Vernon Kelly. Aileach broke the deadlock just before the interval after Aaron Doherty © crossed for Aaron Doherty (G) to slot low past Kelly from eight yards. 

The same player Doherty (G) had the first opportunity of the second half but fired straight at Kelly from twelve yards. 

But on the hour mark Doherty (G) added his and his sides second goal when he slotted home from close range after great work from Molodo. 

Within minutes they had made it three nil after a defensive mix up allowed Paul McGrory to fire home from six yards. 

Moville tried to get back into the game but Harry Conaghan shot straight at Owen Callaghan in the home goal when well placed. 

The home side then sealed their passage to the semi finals when they added a fourth goal on 87 minutes with Molodo firing past Kelly from a tight angle.

Carn Res 0 Cockhill COLTS 3

In the early exchanges Matthew Mclaughlin was narrowly off target for the home side while at the other end Gavin Doherty evaded a tackle and unleashed an effort which Ben Miller superbly pushed onto the post before being cleared. 

Carn replied midway through the half with Cormac & Matthew Mclaughlin combining to find Shay Fallon who fired wide from ten yards. 

Cockhill then broke the deadlock on 33 minutes after Doherty rounded a defender on the left and crossed for Liam McCarron to head home from six yards. 

Cockhill began the second half well and Darragh Lyons fired just wide before they doubled their lead on 56 minutes with Liam O Donnell finding the unmarked Mark Moran to volley to the roof of the net from twelve yards. 

They made it three nil on 69 minutes with McCarron laid the ball off for Doherty to find the bottom corner from sixteen yards. 

Carn kept pressing and Darragh McCormick created two late chances for Tiernan Cantwell and Kayden Taitt but both efforts were off target as the holders advance to the semi finals.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two A

Carrowmena FC 2 Redcastle Res 1

In an entertaining game the home side had the first opportunity when a Paul Brennan cross found Cathal Crumlish whose header was saved by Michael McCole. 

On 20 minutes a poor defensive pass was seized on by Finn Lafferty who found Darragh Leith to advance and fire low through a crowd of players to the far corner beyond Ciaran Bonner to put the visitors in front. 

Carrowmena replied with a fine effort from Cahir McElhinney producing a superb one handed save from McCole.  

The home side had more possession before the break  but the visitors defence stood firm. Carrowmena started the second half well with Adam Harkin finding Crumlish who squared the ball to Ronan Doherty whose effort was blocked by Jason Lynch. 

Redcastle replied with Darren Harkin feeding Lafferty whose free header failed to hit the target. 

Carrowmena got back on terms on 63 minutes after Brennan split the visitors defence for Crumlish to latch onto and round McCole before slotting home. 

The home side then took the lead on 75 minutes after Ronan Doherty converted a penalty  low to the left after substitute Jamie Coyle was upended in the area. 

At the other end Lafferty and Oisin Quigley combined to find Leith whose snapshot flew just past the far post. 

They had another late chance after a corner from Shay Sweeney found Gary Kelly but his header crashed off the angle of the post and bar.

Illies Res 0 Cockhill Res 1

The home side will wonder how they failed to take anything from this game having hit the woodwork on four different occasions in the match. 

They started well and Liam O Connor had one effort saved by Darragh O Donnell before seeing another flash over the bar.  

Cockhill responded and Christy Boyle made space  to unleash an shot but Conor Doherty in the home goal gathered well. 

Before the break the home side had another couple of chances with Caelan Whoriskey denied by the post and O’Connor blazing over from six yards after Marty Coyle s free fell kindly for him. 

Cockhill had the first chance of the second half but Tiernan Morans effort was off target. At the other end Shane Devlin released Jason Mclaughlin whose first time effort was well gathered by O’Donnell. 

The visitors broke the deadlock on 65 minutes when after the home side lost possession Liam Bradley advanced and squared for Dylan McDaid to sidefoot home. 

They went close again then after Moran was unlucky to see his well hit shot crash off the bar. 

Illies laid siege to the Cockhill goal after this with both Shane McCarron and Nathan Mclaughlin seeing shots crash off the post. 

In the last five minutes substitute Jack McDaid had one effort go narrowly wide before following a corner the ball fell to him and for the fourth time Illies saw a shot come back off the post.

Sea Rovers clinch league title

Sea Rovers 2 Clonmany Res 0

With the home side needing a point to secure the league title and promotion there was a cautious  start to this game with defences on top. 

Rovers  gradually got a grip and Andrew Gallagher saw his early shot go just wide of the post. 

A well timed pass from  Jason Doherty for Conor Mc Closkey to run on to and he broke clear  before shooting low past  Clonmany keeper Torin Harkin . 

Harkin was on hand to deny Rovers  Conor Mc Geoghan with a fine save just before the interval. 

Rovers upped the tempo in the second half  with solid efforts coming from Connor Mc Closkey and Andrew Gallagher failing to hit the target. 

Clonmanys  keeper Torin Harkin was in top form denying Mathew Doherty and Conor Mc Closkey as the home side pressed for the elusive second goal. Clonmany were dangerous on the break but the final ball was eluding them.

A  powerful shot from Rovers Liam Gallagher rattled the Clonmany crossbar. There were tense moments in the last five minutes saw a flurry of shots from Clonmany put the Rovers defence under pressure. 

But a long clearance from Joey Holland set  Mathew Doherty  clear to run though and finish low past Harkin to seal the points and the league title.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two B

Culdaff Res 5 Glengad Res 0

The home side dominated for much of the opening half putting the visitors defence under sustained pressure for long periods but they failed to create any clear chances as the half ended scoreless. 

Cadan Doherty and Euan McFeely were prominent for the home side but Ultan Doherty and Conor McGonagle were proving tough nuts to crack at the back for Glengad.  

The best chance came on the half hour  when Bryan McCandless released Eugene McLaughlin on the left  inside the area but his effort lacked power to trouble Ronan Lafferty. 

Glengad had an early chance in the second half when Gavin McColgan found space but saw his effort saved by Patrick McLaughlin in the home goal. 

But the home side took the lead then on 55 minutes after McCandless s effort was well parried by Lafferty and after a scramble in the area the ball broke to Cillian McKinley to slot home. 

Glengad almost equalised immediately when Nathan McConnellogue’s deep free was punched clear by Mclaughlin to Conor McLarkey who fired into the side netting.  Play swung back to the other end  and the home side doubled their lead  after Caden Doherty s cross found Mclaughlin who swivelled superbly and drilled  low past Lafferty from eight yards. 

Within minutes the home side had made it three nil with after McCandless brilliantly controlled a ball over the top before slotting low past Lafferty from ten yards. The home side were rampant at this stage and Euan McFeely added a fourth when his powerful twenty yards effort was deflected past Lafferty. 

Substitute Jack Mills then created space after good work and his cross was finished to the net by fellow substitute Kristers Putnis to make it five nil for the home side. 

Glengad were then denied a goal as McLarkeys powerful snap shot was pushed over the bar by McLaughlin. Culdaff had another chance when Mills headed over from a Ruairi Mclaughlin free on 87 minutes. 

The final chance also fell to the home side but Niall McLaughlin’s excellent free was brilliantly tipped over by Lafferty.

Rashenny Youths 0 QPS  Youths 1

This top of the table clash saw the visitors start well with a Simon Wallce free well held by  Sam Coyle. 

QPS took the lead after Coyle parried an Adam harkin effort but Harkin followed up to slot home. 

At the other end a Shea Grant effort went just wide before David McLaughlin found Grant  but was denied by a superb Kevin Wallace block. 

On 27 minutes Sean Og Gallagher was impeded inside the area but fired wide from the spot. They were awarded a second penalty eight minutes  after Ronan Mailey was fouled and this time Sam McCorkells spot kick brilliantly saved  by Coyle. 

Rashenny replied with a dipping effort from David Mclaughlin  flashing just over. There was little action in the second half with the visitors first chance  arriving on 64 minutes when Gallagher fired over the bar when well placed. 

On 78 minutes QPS s  Kevin Wallace glanced a near post header following a header just wide of Coyles post before substitute Raymond Buchan fired a free kick just over. Rashennys  first effort came from Oran McDevitt whose well hit drive was gathered  by Cain Breslin in the Point goal. 

The final chance fell to the home side when a Shea Grant effort took a slight deflection which helped Breslin in the visitors goal to gather.