Inishowen League: Premier Division leaders Buncrana Hearts edge out Aileach 

Jackie Crossan Premier Division 

Aileach FC 0 Buncrana Hearts 1

The game started at a high intensity with both teams closing down and very little time afforded to anyone on the ball. 

The visitors began to get a foothold after 15 minutes and had  the home defence under sustained pressure for long periods without creating anything clear cut. 

Liam Quigley was always dangerous down the left and midway through the half  got to the bye line and crossed for Bart Wesolowski but it just evaded him sliding in. 

On the half hour the home side created a decent opening after Darren McMonagle played the ball through for Darren Bradley but just as he was about to pull the trigger a last ditch tackle by Kevin O’Loughlin denied the Aileach wide man. 

Ten minutes after the break Aileach created another good opportunity when Darren Bradley broke down the right and crossed for Gavin Doherty who headed goalwards but Taylor Clarke did well to parry his effort which fell to Darren McMonagle but his rushed effort was off target. 

With fifteen minutes  left a Buncrana corner from the right was partially cleared and fell to Calvin Gallagher but Denver Kelly did well to block his effort from the edge of the box. 

With time running out Buncrana grabbed a winner when  the ball found it’s way to Liam Quigley on the left side of the box and he advanced before firing low past Conan Doherty from eight yards.

Ulster Junior Shield Semi Finals 

Kildrum Res0 QPS 2

The home side were first to threaten in the 12th minute after Aaron O Donnell found space to unleash an effort which Jason McCallion gathered well. 

The Point settled and midway through the half Denim McLaughlin  found Oisin McIntyre to advance on the right  but his shot just cleared the bar. 

Minutes later Ross Nicholas floated in a corner kick where Jamie McLaughlin’s header was saved by Aaron Hepburn. 

Before the break a Nicholas free kick found Ben Holly whose downward header bounced and went up over the bar.

As in the first half the home side had the first opportunity after the break when Jacob McDaid had an effort blocked but the ball fell to CJ Clarke who fired over when well placed. 

The visitors opened the scoring on the hour mark after a Nicholas free was flicked on by McLaughlin for Holly to volley home from six yards. 

They doubled their lead then after McLaughlin sent Josh Boyle clear and he drilled low to the net from close range. 

The home side were denied a consolation late on when a Matthew Crossan lob from the edge of the area was cleared off the line by McLaughlin. The Point advance to the final in April where they will play Letterkenny Reserves.

Letterkenny Res 3 Sea Rovers 1

A fast paced start saw Sea Rovers defending well but a good run by Letterkennys Conor O Donnell  whose low cross was slotted home by  by Jordan Nugent to open the scoring for the home side. 

The home side kept up the tempo with Sea Rovers keeper Mark Mc Laughlin being called upon a few times and Joey Holland and Tiarnan Stevens in exceptional form in their defence.  

Sea Rovers gradually came into the game  and  both Andrew Gallagher  and  Declan Mc Gonagle went close with good efforts . 

A  Mc Gonagle free kick on the edge of the box was cleared only as far as Tiarnan Stevens who saw his shot go just wide. 

Letterkenny responded and doubled their lead just before the interval after  Oran Winston found himself in space twenty five  yards out and a fine strike left Sea Rovers Mark Mc Laughlin with no chace. 

The Inishowen side ers started this half the better  with Conor Mc Closkey coming very close and Daniel Gallaghers shot going just over the bar. 

Sea Rovers kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Conor Mc Geoghan finished well from a corner  to put them back into the contest. 

The game was even at this stage with both defences doing well throughout.  With the visitors pushing hard to get back on terms  Letterkennys  James Gallagher saw his header go inches wide of the post.

In the dying minutes  the home side caught the visitors on the break for  Ben O Donnell  to race clear of the Sea Rovers defence and finish well  to seal a three one victory.

Donegal Signs Challenge Cup ¼ Finals 

Clonmany Shamrocks 7 Gleneely Colts 1

Any thoughts of a cup upset were quickly dispelled as the home side put in a dominant first half display. 

They opened the scoring on 13 minutes after an Aaron Porter corner was diverted over Nimai Osio in the Gleneely goal by Ryan McColgan. 

Three minutes later a Shane McCaul cross was slotted home by Terence Doherty at the back post. 

The visitors replied and reduced the deficit after a Cian McNamee corner found mark McGonigle who powered a header to the top corner from twelve yards for a superb goal. 

But Clonmany responded and on 27 minutes Terence Doherty controlled and unleashed a low shot through a  crowd of players to the bottom corner. 

Another corner from Matthew Brennan found Brendan Doherty to head home from six yards to make it four one. 

Clonmany made it five after Alex McFadden controlled and laid the ball back to McCaul who fired to the top left hand corner for a superb finish.Clonmany continued on top and increased their lead after Terence Doherty laid the ball off to Alex McFadden to slot low past  Osio from ten yards. 

A Conor Doherty effort from inside the area from close range was cleared off the line by Ryan Tabbitt. Doherty had another chance   but his effort clipped the outside of the post.  

Clonmany made it seven on 86 minutes when Aaron Porter cut in from the left and fired low across Osio to the far corner. 

Osio saved well then to deny  substitute Jamie Coyle at the near post  as Clonmany advance to the semi finals.

Carn FC 0 Cockhill Celtic 4

Played in good conditions in St Patrick’s Park Cockhill had an early chance but Garbahn Friel headed wide after a James Bradley cross. 

At the other end a Ross Farren free found Callum Kelly but from fifteen yards he failed to hit the target.

Cockhill broke the deadlock midway through the half  when Corey McBride  broke  rounded the defender and shot high to the top corner from twelve yards. 

Carn  responded and went close when  Ross Farren  fed Cade Cooke who shot just wide from inside the area. Cockhill  then doubled their lead in injury time when Conor Graham was fouled in the 18 yard box and Lee McColgan converted the resulting penalty.  

Cockhill trebled their lead in the opening minute of the second half when Brendan McLaughlin made a great run on the left wing  and when his cross came off a Carn defender  it fell to Lee McLaughlin who shot low to the bottom corner . 

Carn tried to get back into the contest  when Cian Burke broke on the right wing and crossed it for substitute Mark Scott but he was unable to hit the target from the edge of the area.  

Cockhill completed the scoring after  substitute  Luke Rudden got on the end of a loose ball inside the  area and shot high to the roof of the net. Carn kept going  and substitute  Conor McLaughlin ‘s cross found Scott who fired just wide when well placed.

HML Plant Hire Division One 

Cockhill Youth 3 Moville Celtic 2

Both defences were on top  in the opening period but a quick break in the 20th minute by the home side saw Conor Allen fire a superb effort from twenty yards past Stephen Teles to open the scoring. 

Moville responded and Michael McNaught was narrowly off target with a good effort. At the other end Paul Mullan unleashed a shot on the run but Teles made a good save. 

Moville had the final chance of the half and were unlucky when McNaught unleashed a powerful effort which crashed off the crossbar before the home defence completed the clearance.

After an even start to the second period Moville equalised on 58 minutes when McNaught fired a free kick to the top corner. 

But seven minutes later the home side regained the lead after Allen was upended inside the area and Darragh McDermott converted from the spot. 

Moville  replied and equalised for the second time when they were awarded a penalty and Luke McFadden fired past Eoin Colhoun to make it two all. 

Cockhill upped the tempo and regained the lea don 81 minutes after s superb free kick strike from Danny McDaid .

Moville pushed hard in an effort to salvage a point but were caught on the break when McDermott netted his second from close range to seal a hard fought win.

Carn Youth 0 Aileach Res 1

In this crucial battle at the bottom of the table the home side had the first chance on nine minutes when Dayton Cooke fed brother Dylan who laid the ball off to Tiernan Diver but he failed to hit the target from twelve yards. 

Aileach responded and when Stephen Doherty s cross found Ciaran Bradley  he fired high and wide from the edge of the area. 

Aileach broke the deadlock on 26 minutes after a Niall McGlynn corner from the right found James Wallace unmarked and he headed the ball to the top right corner of the net from ten yards. Carn responded with  Kyrin Doherty rounding a  defender and passed it for Girts Dzerins who shot low to the right corner of the net from fifteen yards but was well saved by Dylan Porter in the Aileach goal.  

Dylan Cooke had the first chance of the second half when his powerful effort was superbly saved by Porter . At the other end a Charlie Campbell cross was met by Bradley but the ball flew wide of the post . 

Play was swinging from end to end and Carn substitute Shay McDaid ‘s cross from the right found Doherty who failed to hit the target well placed inside the area. 

The final chance fell to the visitors when Sean McHugh superbly split the home defence for Oisin Hillen to race clear but with keeper Kyle Harkin to beat he fired over the bar as Aileach saw the game out for a crucial three points.

Glengad United 1 Rashenny FC 1

This match was switched and played under the lights at Trawbreaga Park on Saturday night. 

The opening chance fell to Glengad’s Christopher Doherty but his long range shot was gathered by Shaun Friel. Mid way through the half Rasheney moved ahead. 

Anthony Doherty delivered a ball out to David McLaughlin on the left and after cutting inside he drove a ground shot past Michael McLaughlin to the net from the edge of the area. 

Shortly afterwards keeper McLaughlin who was having vision problems related to the floodlights was replaced by Ronan Lafferty who took over net duty. 

Glengad came close to levelling the match when Fergal Doherty dinked a ball out to John McDaid on the left and he delivered an enticing ball across the face of goal where Joe Doherty just failed to connect. 

However, they did equalise immediately after the restart when McDaid’s cross from the left was touched home at the back post by Oran Doherty. And Glengad could have moved in front on 55 minutes but from another McDaid cross, unmarked sub Caolan McColgan blazed wide at the back post. 

Then Joe Doherty accepted a pass from Ryan McLaughlin but fired over. When play swung to the other end Anthony Doherty connected with David McLaughlin’s cross but his effort was blocked close to the goal line. 

The final quarter of an hour saw Rasheney in the ascendency and came close to regaining the lead on a number of occasions. Substitute Damien Friel had a left wing free beaten away by Lafferty before  from John Grant’s cross a David Mc Laughlin’s header found the side net.

Shane Cregan then  played a one two with Friel and bore down on goal but Lafferty came to the rescue and made a brilliant  save. 

Friel had another free saved before David McLaughlin saw his powerful drive cannon off the crossbar and back into play before being cleared. 

Lafferty palmed away a further attempt on goal and Rasheney had shots blocked but the home team had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two 

Cockhill Res 6 Clonmany Res 2

The first half ended two all after a very close, competitive opening 45 minutes.

Niall Breslin teed up Shayne Gallagher to put Cockhill one up with a fine strike to the top corner from the edge of the area, giving Clonmany keeper Killian McCarron no chance. 

Clonmany responded soon after, a quick counter attack resulted in a penalty for the away side and Jake O'Donnell sent Eoin Colhoun the wrong way to even the score up. 

Cockhill were back in front with another great strike from Shayne Gallagher, hammering it into the roof of the net from just inside the box after some good play by Dylan McDaid. 

But Clonmany kept pushing and levelled it up again on the stroke of half time when a long range effort from Darragh Porter broke kindly in the box to Jake O'Donnell who showed good quick feet to finish from close range. 

There was little between the two teams in the opening stages of the second half until Cockhill made the breakthrough  on the hour  when Dylan McDaid played in Niall Breslin who calmly finished it past McCarron. 

A quick fire brace in the space of a few minutes put the game to bed for Cockhill with Christy Doyle grabbing both goals.  

Sean Bradley set up his first when an early long range strike wrong footed McCarron and then fired home through a crowded box from twelve yards after Niall Breslin laid it back. 

Cockhill completed the scoring late on when Shayne Gallagher got in behind the Clonmany defence and pulled it back to the six yard line for Jared Flynn to place the ball in the bottom corner past the covering defender.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two A

Redcastle Res 1 Cockhill Colts 1

In a well contested  game there were few chances with defences dominant throughout. 

Redcastle took the lead when after good inter play Darragh Leitch played a ball through to Keelan Henry to finish low to the corner past Graham Doherty in the visitors goal. Cockhill responded and got back on terms before the break with Liam O Donnell slipping a pass into the path of Darragh Lyons who slotted past the onrushing Michael McCole to leave the teams level at the break. 

The second half was dominated by defences and a lot of the play in midfield as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Illies Res 1 Carrowmena  FC 3

The visitors got off to a good start and opened the scoring on 11 minutes after Cathal Crumlish s superb pass split the home defence for Jude Harkin to fire low past Patrick O Connor in the home goal. 

Illies responded well to this setback with Shane Devlin firing over the bar before Neil Moran was denied when keeper Ciaran Bonner smothered at his feet. 

On 38 minutes Liam O Connor had a good chance but blazed over the bar when well placed. 

The visitors made them pay for these misses on the stroke of half time when Crumlish advanced on the right and pulled the ball back to Harkin to slot home to the corner from twelve yards. 

Illies began the second half well and Devlin headed a good chance wide before Jack McDaid’s shot was gathered at the second attempt by Bonner. 

They did get a goal back when Conor Doherty broke clear on the left and his cross was superbly headed to the roof of the net by Devlin. 

They had a chance to level matters after Doherty again advanced and fed McDaid who shot over when well placed. 

With the home side pushing the visitors caught them on the break in the final minute with Darragh McGuinness breaking clear before tucking the ball neatly into the corner.

 Inishowen Engineering Division Two B

Culdaff Res 4 Rashenny Youth 3

In blustery conditions at Caratra Park the visitors had the first sight of goal when Shea Grants attempted lob was safely gathered by Patrick McLaughlin in the home goal. 

The home side then opened the scoring on 22 minutes  after a brilliant team move ended with Eugene McLaughlin squaring for Gary Smyth to volley home from eight yards.  

But Rashenny got back on terms on the half hour after McLaughlin had parried a Shea Grant effort and Grant reacted to slot home the loose ball. 

Within minutes the home side regained the lead with a superb twenty yards strike from Smyth finding the bottom corner.

 Culdaff extended their lead then after a deep Oisin McGeoghaghans cross is headed into the path of Jack Mills who slots home at the back post. 

Almost immediately the visitors cut the deficit to the minimum after Grant got in behind the home defence and deftly lifted the ball over the advancing McLaughlin. 

Culdaff stormed to the other end and regained their two goal cushion after Euan McFeely advanced and with the outside of his foot struck a superb effort to the net  past Sam Coyle. 

But on the stroke of half time Rashenny again reduced the deficit after Gareth McKeever muscled his way into the area and the ball ricocheted off a defender to the net to leave the home side four three ahead at the interval.

After a slow start to the second half McKeever was denied by a point blanks save from McLaughlin and saw his follow up effort crash off the post on the hour mark. 

After the goal fest of the first half the second half was in complete contrast with both defences on top and neither team able to create anything of note.

Rashenny RES 0 Carn Res 3

The visitors began the better with Cormac McLaughlins low cross finding Matthew McLaughlin but his effort was turned around the post by Roger McGilloway.  

Cormac Mclaughlin then set up Shay Fallon but from twelve yards his low effort went the wrong side of the post. Rashenny responded and Callum Doherty headed wide from a Nathan Doherty cross . 

The home side came closest to opening the scoring after Callum Doherty fed Cormac Dillon whose powerful effort crashed off the crossbar before being cleared. 

Carn ended the half on top with a dangerous cross from Fallon superbly headed clear by James McCloskey before Matthew McLaughlin was denied by a superb save from McGilloway. 

Carn broke the deadlock on 54 minutes after Matthew Mclaughlin set up namesake Cormac to slot high past McGilloway from sixteen yards. 

Conor Doherty then had a free punched clear by McGilloway before they added a second goal after a right wing corner was cleared to Shane McGuinness who fired low through a crowd of players. 

On 72 minutes the visitors made it three nil when Conor Burke headed home from a Fallon corner from the left. 

Carn continued on top with Matthew Mclaughlin firing wide before substitute Ryan O Donnell brilliantly denied by McGilloway who recovered to deny another substitute David Mclaughlin. 

The final chance came after Conor Doherty dispossessed a defender and unleashed a shot which McGilloway tipped onto the top of the bar and over.

Dunree Res 3 Glengad Res 0

Dunree began well and both Odhran McGill  and John Moran  were off target with good efforts. 

The home side opened the scoring on 20 minutes after Danny Doherty fired a superb twenty yards free to the roof of the net past Ronan Lafferty . 

Glengad responded and when Nathan McConalogue broke clearer of the home defence he was denied by a superb foot save from Oran Doherty. 

The home side then doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when Moran pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area to drill to the bottom corner. 

Dunree started the second half on the front foot and increased their lead when a David O Hagan effort took a wicked deflection to fly past Lafferty. 

Cormac Doherty  was then denied by a superb save from Lafferty on the hour mark. Glengad threatened when  Joshua McDevitt broke into the area but a brilliant last ditch tackle from Danny Doherty averted the danger and the home side saw the game out to claim the points.

QPS Youth 5 Moville Res 0

The home side got off to the perfect start when they scored on four minutes. A Simon Wallace back heel allowed Mark Murray to cross for Lee Barr to head past Vernon Kelly from six yards.

Barr then had a twenty yards effort shave the bar before Barr flicked on a corner for Shaun McIvor to slot home at the back post. 

The Point continued on top and Murray had an effort cleared off the line by John McGeady before McIvor was denied by a good save from Kelly. 

Moville lifted the pressure with Puaric Peto advancing an unleashed a low effort which Cian Breslin turned around the post. 

But the home side made it three nil on 37 minutes with Barr bundling the ball home from close range following a Charlie Byrne corner. 

Before the break they added a forth goal when Murrays cross found Simon Wallace to sidefoot home from ten yards. 

The home side continued  on top after the restart and both Barr and Wallace had shots well saved by Kelly. Midway through the half they added a fifth goal with Conor McCallion advancing into the area on the right hand side and firing a low effort across Kelly to the far corner. 

McCallion had the final chance of the game then on 80 minutes when his effort was well saved by Kelly. The home side can clinch the league title with a victory next weekend.