Donegal League reports: Kerrykeel '71 climb table with win over Swilly Rovers

Saturday 22nd November 2025

Old Orchard Saturday Division Two

Swilly Rovers Reserves 1 v 3 Gweedore Celtic Reserves

Gweedore took the lead around 15 minutes into the game when a shot from range was caught at the feet of the striker and he finished from close range. Swilly got one back through Tony Gallagher after a free kick was delivered in from the halfway line and he was first to react to poke the ball home. Halftime 1-1. 

Gweedore got their 2nd on around 70 minutes when they hit Swilly through the centre of the defence. A few minutes later Gweedore made it 3 when a free kick was delivered into the box and headed home.

Finn Travel Saturday Division Three

Lagan Harps Reserves 2 v 2 Convoy Arsenal Reserves

Lagan and Convoy shared the points in a hard-fought encounter in Orchard Park. Lagan dominated possession early on but some sloppy and some over hit passes meant they created little danger to the Convoy goal. 

Convoy looked the more dangerous with Luca Vance forcing a good save from Michael Toner and Jamie Spratt shooting narrowly wide. Lagan finally got a shot on target on thirty-four minutes when Barry Lafferty did well to block Jack Duncan's effort with his feet. Lagan took the lead on forty-four minutes when a great ball from Faolan Gibson sent Jack Duncan clear and he finished well.

Convoy then lost their keeper Barry Lafferty at the start of the second half, after a clash of heads. Eunan Kelly donned the gloves. Convoy equalised on fifty-two minutes when Jamie Spratt, lost his marker at a corner and headed home. Eunan Kelly then did well to deny Jack Duncan when he burst through. Jack wasn't to be denied and finished well when put through by Faolan Gibson on fifty-eight minutes. 

Lagan were on top and pushing for a decisive third goal. Faolan Gibson had a shot pushed out by Eunan. Drew Dowds then got on the end of a long ball from Glenn Gallagher but shot just wide. Convoy were dangerous on the counter with Jamie Spratt and Neo McCormack forcing saves from Michael Toner. They grabbed the equaliser on eighty-five minutes. 

Lagan again failed to deal with a corner and John Callan fired home through a crowded goalmouth. Cody Hannigan had a few dangerous runs as Lagan chased the winner. Jay Ramsey then did well to head clear at the other end as Convoy threatened. It was a nervy finish with Lagan forcing a few late corners, but there were no more goals. Referee: Paddy McCauley.

Ulster Junior Shield

Aileach F.C. 3 v 1 Deele Harps
(No Report Available)

Ballybofey United Reserves 0 v 5 Raphoe Town
(No Report Submitted)

Kildrum Tigers Reserves 0 v 1 Moville Celtic

Moville Celtic claimed a narrow 1–0 win over Kildrum in a tight, evenly balanced encounter where chances were scarce and both goalkeepers played their part.

The match was cagey from the outset, with neither side able to carve out many clear openings. Kildrum moved the ball well in spells, but Moville’s defence held firm, forcing most efforts from distance. The decisive moment came just before half-time. A seemingly harmless ball forward took an awkward bounce on the surface, looping over the Kildrum goalkeeper and dropping into the net to give Moville a fortunate lead at the break. 

Kildrum responded strongly in the second half, pushing higher up the pitch and testing the Moville keeper on a few occasions. He produced a couple of solid saves—one low stop from a driven effort and another confident claim under pressure—to maintain the visitors’ advantage. 

Despite late pressure from the home side, Moville’s defence stayed composed, clearing their lines and managing the final minutes well. In a game with very little between the teams, that late first-half bounce proved the crucial difference.

Milford United Reserves 2 v 3 Erne Wanderers

Milford hosted Erne Wanderers in a great Cup tie. Milford started strongest, and their dominance was rewarded with a goal when Jordan Ryan met a TJ Eversson corner to put the home team into the lead. 

Straight from the kick-off, Erne went forward and won a free kick, which led to a quick equaliser for the away team. Chances fell to both teams in a well contested game. Erne came into the second half flying and capitalised on a defensive slip to take the lead. 

Milford reacted well and became the better team in the second half creating chance after chance whilst dominating possession. The two Erne Centre-Backs were outstanding throughout the game and dealt with cross after cross. Eventually, Milford got a well-earned equaliser to set up an exciting finish. 

Milford pushed for a winner and were unlucky not to get one. With Milford missing a great chance to win at the end, Erne countered quickly and scored a well-taken winner to lead to a huge celebration for the away team. Best for Milford were Lee Burke and Adam Campbell.

St. Catherines Reserves 5 v 0 Cockhill Celtic Colts
(No Report Submitted)

Keadue Rovers Reserves 2 v 0 Fintown Harps AFC

Keadue Rovers are through to the quarter finals of the Ulster Junior Shield following this encounter at Central Park on Saturday in front of a good crowd. It was Fintown who created the first chance inside two minutes when a well-floated free kick from the right wing was met by the head of Keelan Mc Gill, but the header went over the bar. 

Keadue settled well after the first five minutes, with Dima Serhieiev causing problems for the Fintown defence by holding the ball up well. In the ninth minute, good wing play from Liam Ferry led to a cross, and Sean Boyle fired just wide of the far post. The visitors had more possession, especially in wider areas, but centre midfield were solid for Keadue and proved a good shield, breaking up the Fintown threat. 

In the seventeenth minute Keadue made the breakthrough when good work on the right wing, released Liam Ferry and he cut in from the right-hand side, and his right footed shot took a deflection and evaded the keeper to give the home side the lead. Odhran Boyle had a good free kick just over the bar on twenty-four minutes. 

Fintown responded on twenty-eight minutes when Michael Doherty was on the end of a move and hit just wide of the far post. The game became a lot scrappier after the half hour, and it got a bit physical at times. In the forty-fourth minute, from a Keadue free kick, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box and Aaron McCafferty was on hand to strike a stinging effort which went to the roof of the net, through the keeper’s hands, and it was a decisive strike which gave Keadue a 2-0 lead at half time. 

At the start of the second half, Fintown opened brightly, and a cross from Odhran Doherty was met by the head of Aaron Thompson but saved easily by Adam Boyle. On forty-nine minutes, good work between Liam Ferry and Sean Boyle led to Boyle flicking to the net from close range but it was called for offside. 

On the hour mark, Fintown sub Shane Mc Devitt hit a fine strike just over the bar and at this stage, Fintown were making good strides into the game but the centre mid partnership of Aaron McCafferty and Matthew Comiskey were influential once again in spurning their efforts. 

Fintown, through Odhran Doherty’s header on sixty-nine minutes, were again close. Keadue made a few substitutions late on and while they maintained good discipline in defending their lead. Jamie McMonagle Quinn hit the side netting with a great effort in the last minute, which looked like it had gone in. 

Overall, a good win for Keadue, which takes them a step further and keeps up their 100% home record. Best for Fintown were Keelan McMonagle, Odhran Bonner, Odhran Doherty and Michael Doherty, while best for Keadue were Aaron McCafferty, Liam Ferry, Matthew Comiskey and Sean Boyle. Referee: Ryan Carlin.

Sunday 23rd November 2025

Temple Domestic Appliances Division One

Gweedore Celtic 5 v 2 Ballybofey United

Both sides should be congratulated for serving up an entertaining match on a day which was a good advertisement for summer football. Driving rain and gale force winds made for difficult conditions but the teams at times managed to master the elements as best they could. Gweedore got the best start scoring after fifteen minutes when Peter Carragher struck from the edge of the box from Alan Doherty's cross. 

Cian Mc Bride could have extended that lead but his effort went narrowly wide. Ballybofey equalised on thirty minutes when Thompson set up Mc Sorley to tap into an empty net with the Gweedore rearguard caught static, expecting an offside. 

The opening period of the second half saw the away midfield dominating but against the run of play substitute Stephen Mc Fadden raced clear of the defence and rounded the keeper to put Na Ceiltigh ahead. The lead was short-lived as Daithi McMahon dispatched a penalty after being fouled in the box. 

McFadden struck his second goal, following hesitancy by the keeper, to regain the lead for Gweedore but Ballybofey refused to give in and a wonder save by Lorcan Coyle from McMahon kept his team in the lead. 

With both teams tiring, Na Ceiltigh struck for two late goals, the first coming from Colin Ferry when chipping the keeper and Adam Mc Bride rounded off the scoring, and an excellent personal second half display, with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box. A good effort from both teams. Referee: Danny Doherty, did well letting the game flow in extreme conditions.

Swilly Rovers 1 v 3 Kerrykeel ’71 F.C.

On a very wet, windy day at Swilly Park, the visitors deserved their victory. Kerrykeel were ahead on two minutes when James Kerr’s wicked cross was fired home in some style by the inrushing Brandon McClafferty. 

The first 30 minutes saw waves of Kerrykeel attacks as Swilly failed to get to grips with the game. Leon Boyce with a superb 35-yard free levelled matters for Swilly as both Ian Ward and Michael Kerr went close. 

Brandon McClafferty, with a 15-yard shot, put the visitors back in front. They sealed victory with a direct corner by man of the match James Kerr on 91 minutes.

Donegal Physiotherapy and Performance Centre Division Two

Curragh Athletic 7 v 1 Dunkineely Celtic
(No Report Submitted)

Drumkeen United 1 v 1 Letterbarrow Celtic

Drumkeen welcomed Letterbarrow to St Patrick's Park on Sunday for the latest game in the Donegal Physiotherapy Division Two. In the first half both teams tried hard but neither team could come up with the all-important goal so it was scoreless at the break. 

This game needed a goal and it was the visitors who got it as James McGroary put them ahead with a good finish early in the second half. Despite falling behind, the Drumkeen heads did not drop, and they kept battling away. The home team's pressure eventually paid off, and they got back on level terms just before the hour mark. 

The equaliser, when it came, was a well-worked team goal which began with some good interplay involving Kevin Boyle and Niall Howley on the halfway line. The ball eventually worked its way to Donnachadh Devenney in the Penalty area who finished well to get his team back on level terms. Both teams tried hard to create another goal-scoring opportunity but neither team were able to manage it. 

This game will not go down as a classic, but it was a good honest effort from both teams who did their best despite the terrible weather conditions. Neither side will be overly happy with a draw but it was probably a fair enough result between two evenly matched teams on what was a horrible day for playing and watching football. Referee: George Clinton.

Drumoghill F.C. 9 v 1 Dunfanaghy Youths

Drumoghill secured another three points with this dominant victory over new boys Dunfanaghy Youths to go top of Division Two. Ben Cassidy with a hat-trick and Liam O’Donnell with another couple were the foremost architects on day when the conditions were difficult to contend with. 

Drumoghill, hopeful of mounting a promotion campaign this season, started as favourites against a team that had only recorded a single victory so far this season and they were quickly into their stride with Liam O’Donnell opening the scoring on four minutes. However, the visitors, who never gave up throughout the 90 minutes, were quickly level when Andrew Kelly took advantage of some poor defending to equalise on eight minutes. 

That setback though was quickly forgotten as Drumoghill regained the lead on 15 minutes through Dean Murray. Liam O’Donnell and Josh Hay extended that lead before Ben Cassidy put the game beyond any remaining doubt with a 15-minute hat-trick either side of half time.

Cassidy got his first when he was first to react on 38 minutes to hammer beyond Theo De Groot to make it 5-1 before further strikes on 48 and 52 minutes completed his hat-trick. Drumoghill weren’t finished there though with Reuben Doherty continuing his fine season with another strike on 62 minutes before the goal of the game on 70 minutes arrived a brilliant flick from Philip Doran sent Niall McCrossan clear and he finished neatly despite the efforts of De Groot. 

Another good day for the reds and credit also to Dunfanaghy who will feel the scoreline was somewhat harsh. The visitors were undone thanks to some excellent finishing from the home side and deserve credit for battling throughout in horrendous conditions.

Ulster Junior Shield

Carrowmena F.C. 1 v 5 Bonagee United Reserves
(No Report Available)

Gleneely Colts 0 v 4 Letterkenny Rovers Reserves
(No Report Available)

Glengad F.C. 6 v 1 Oldtown Celtic
(No Report Available)