Donegal League reports: McHugh brace for Donegal Town dents Bonagee title hopes

Brian McCormick Premier

Donegal Town 2 Bonagee United 0 

Town were full Value for their win over Bonagee at the Hospital field. The first half was evenly contested, but Town got on top for the last 20 minutes and took the lead through Ronan McHugh on the half-hour mark. A great run and finish from a tight angle from McHugh had the Town 1-0 to the good at the break.

The 2nd half started in the same fashion, with both teams doing plenty of attacking. The Town defence however stayed on top throughout and that gave out danger men the base to get forward. McHugh doubled the lead with a tidy left-footed finish on the hour. Town kept it tight and steady after this to get the 2-0 win and 3 vital points.

A great team performance from the lads, but Ronan McHugh, Ben Sweeney, Eoin Slevin, Joe Campbell and Ultan O'Grady really stood up today to get the result.

St Catherines FC 4 Keadue Rovers 1 

Keadue started the brightest of the two teams and must have wondered what they done wrong as they found themselves 2-0 down before the half-hour mark.

Two similar headed goals from free kicks into the box by the brave Alex McGinley, both hitting the Keadue net with power and precision and a commanding lead for the saints of two-nil, which lasted till Marty McGarrigle blew for the half-time interval.

Keadue had good reason to believe they were still in this game and their dominance paid off on 56mins after sloppy pay in midfield by the home side giving possession away cheaply the ball ended on the left wing with Greene who fired a dangerous ball across the saints box which was met by the boot of a Saints defender who could do more than hit is own net for an own goal.

The Saints' defence were holding tight and now were playing on the break as Keadue pushed up in search of an equaliser, but it was this tactic that paid dividends for the home team when they won a few vital fifty-fifty tackles seeing the ball break to left boot of Ryan Cunningham who drove low under the Keadue Keeper for 3-1 on 70mins. 

The final and best goal of the game came on 75 minutes with a deft back heel from Ryan Cunningham splitting the away defence and this through ball was met first time by Daniel Gallagher and rifled to the top corner and the result was now never in question as the heads of a valiant Keadue team seemed to drop. A superb performance from Aaron Byrne in the centre of the Saints defence was the catalyst for this vital home win.

TDA Appliance Division 1   

Cappry Rovers 2 Swilly Rovers 1 

Swilly got a dream start when they scored early from a corner when Shay McFadden scored at the back post. Cappry pressed to get level, but Swilly were always dangerous on the break. Cappry did get level when Conor Doherty scored a penalty to level things up. Cappry started the second half brightly and hit the post.

Cappry went close again, but the Swilly keeper made a good save from Jack Byrne. Swilly had a great chance to win, but Eoin Gallen made a good save from Michael Kerr. Cappry got the winner deep in injury time when Luke McGlynn's cross ended up in the net. 

Castlefin Celtic 0 Kerrykeel '71 2 

An efficient performance from Kerrykeel ensured victory in Castlefin. James Kerr & Shaun Carr's goals either side of the half ensured the three points for the league leaders.

Milford United 2 Gweedore United 1 

Milford snatched 3 points at home to Gweedore United with two second-half goals. Milford began strongly and had a few half-chances but failed to finish. Stephen McFadden scored the first goal on 27 minutes in a counterattack, giving Gweedore the half-time lead. 

Milford came out in the second half and dominated and scored on 55 minutes when a bullet header from Lorcan Friel, from a Cathal McGettigan free kick. Milford created a lot of good chances but failed convert and it looked likely for a share of the spoils, Dylan Clift producing a few fine saves. 

On 82 minutes, Kyle Black showed a bit of class when he calmly back-heeled the ball to the bottom corner after a goalmouth scramble from 6 yards. Ethan Harkin saw his 90-minute shot go narrowly wide, and Milford held on for a valuable three points. 

Referee Damian McFadden.

Donegal Physiotherapy D2

Letterbarrow Celtic  3, Whitestrand United  3 

(No report submitted)

Dunkineely Celtic  1, Deele Harps  13 

(No report submitted)

Curragh Athletic  0, Dunfanaghy Youths  4 

No Report

Raphoe Town  2, Cranford FC  1 

Raphoe Town ran out 2–1 winners over Cranford after a strong performance from start to finish. Raphoe started brightly and created some good chances early on.

It was a quick counterattack that brought the opening goal. Aaron Hepburn released Oran Kelly down the wing, and he did the rest, beating two defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1–0 after 15 minutes.

Raphoe were well on top for the remainder of the first half, playing all the football and limiting the visitors to very little. Cranford didn’t create any real threat, but they did manage to keep it at 1–0 going in at the break.

The second half was much the same with Raphoe creating all the play. In the 55th minute, DJ Kelly was fouled just outside the box. Kyron Coyle stepped up and made no mistake, firing a thunderous free kick into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance to make it 2–0.

Cranford pulled one back in the 66th minute when a deflected shot found the net, but one goal wasn’t enough. Raphoe stayed in control and saw the game out to take all three points with a deserved 2–1 victory.

SATURDAY

Glencar Inn Saturday Division One

Donegal Town 2 Erne Wanderers 2

Town had the better of the early stages and took the lead after seven minutes from a fine drive from the edge of the area by Daithi Duncan. They had chances to increase the lead, but Erne worked their way into the half. They got a deserved equaliser through Robbie Murphy. The second half was evenly contested.

Town regained the lead on sixty minutes through a Niko Dominik penalty. Erne equalised for a second time on seventy-five minutes through an own goal after good work down the right. Both sides had chances to win an entertaining match. Chris Gallagher and Jamie McMonagle were best for Town.

Referee: Barry Tourish

Kilmacrennan Celtic 0 Kildrum Tigers 2

League leaders Kildrum took the three points in Ballyare. The first half was a game of few chances with neither keeper having much to do. Chris Dillon missed a good chance to open the scoring for Kilmacrennan on forty minutes, when he was straight through but fired wide from ten yards. Frank McBrearty broke the deadlock on sixty minutes when he volleyed home a great shot from twenty-five yards, after a defensive mix-up. Chris Dillon was unlucky not to equalise on seventy minutes when he headed wide from six yards. On 85 minutes, Keelan Gillen made it 2-0 when he fired home a great shot from a tight angle. Best for Kildrum were Keelan Gillen and Gavin Mc Gee. Team effort from Kilmacrennan.

Referee: Vincent McLoughlin

Letterkenny Rovers 8 Glencar Celtic 1

(No Report submitted)

St Catherines 4 Oldtown Celtic 0

(No report submitted)

Old Orchard Saturday Division Two

Fanad Utd 1 Ramelton Mariners 2

On Thursday evening, Ramelton Mariners made the short trip to Triagh-a-Loch to take on Fanad and left with all three points. On ten minutes, Dylan McGlone crossed for Johnny McAteer, and after he took a touch, his shot was well cleared by the Mariners defence. Fanad took the lead in the fifteenth minute. Johnny McAteer did well down the left, and his cross into the box was met by Adam Carr, who fired home from twelve yards. Mariners came into the game after that, creating a few chances.

Finn Robinson went on a surging run into the box, but he was denied by an excellent tackle from Oisin Lynch. On the half-hour mark Mariners got an equaliser. Evan Hewitt was taken down in the box, and Eoin Roulston stepped up to fire home. The second half was an even affair with both sides enjoying periods of possession and creating chances. In the 55th minute, Niall Toland found space in the box but his shot was blocked on the line by Mariners left back Kieran Black. With fifteen minutes remaining Mariners got the winner. Evan Hewitt did well to win possession in the box and he fired low in to the corner. Fanad did push hard for an equaliser, but they found the Mariners keeper John McIntyre in fine form.

Referee: Liam McLaughlin.

Arranmore Utd 4 Gweedore Celtic 1

Arranmore welcomed their Gaeltacht neighbours from Gaoth Dobhair to the island on a brisk February day. The away side started better and took the lead when Charlie Gallagher finished well. Arranmore fought back and deservedly made it 1-1 when captain for the day, Phil Boyle, slammed the equaliser home at the back post. The second half was one-way traffic, with Gweedore’s only chances coming from long-range efforts from Peter Carragher.

Arranmore had a plethora of chances, including a Peadar Boyle header which hit the bar. Substitute Glenn O’Donnell made it 2-1 when he slotted the ball into the bottom corner following Aidan Proctor’s layoff. Two more goals from the Gaughran cousins, Eoin and Ben, secured the points for the home side. Best for Arranmore were Ben and Eoin Gaughran, whilst Peter Carragher stood out for Gweedore.

Referee: Mick Lagan

Keadue Rovers 1 Fintown Harps 2

Fintown Harps came away with the spoils in this top-of-the-table encounter at a blustery Central Park, to move within a point of the leaders. The visitors, playing with the aid of a stiff breeze in the first half, set about their task at a good pace, forcing the home side back. But it was Keadue who had the first chance, Dima Serhieiev going close in the third minute. Fintown then had a purple patch up to the tenth minute, with a number of chances, with Caelan Bonner pulling off a superb save. Mark McDevitt had a shot also just go over.

By the twentieth minute, the game had become a little more scrappy, where Keadue were content to dig in and make it difficult. Fintown took the lead on twenty-four minutes when a fine through pass from Jamie McMonagle Quinn found the onrushing Aaron Mc Glynn on the right wing. He cut inside and shot with the right foot to the bottom corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.

On thirty minutes, Keadue again, through Dima Serhieiev, but it was called offside as a shot was about to be released. With the aid of the wind, Fintown produced a lot of set pieces and corners, but didn’t use them to their advantage. They had a good chance again, close to halftime as Mark McDevitt’s shot from twenty-five yards just went slightly over the bar.

At the start of the second half, despite playing against the wind, Fintown thought they had a penalty in the opening minute, but play was waved on. Similar to the first half, it turned scrappy, which suited Fintown, playing against the strong wind. Another opportunity came to Dima in the fifty-ninth minute, who headed just over, as Keadue showed some urgency.

A chance fell to Conal McEniffat the near post on sixty-one minutes but John Paul Breslin was equal to it in the visitors' net. Finally on sixty six minutes a freekick near the sideline was expertly guided to the top of the Fintown net by Matthew Comiskey, which caught the keeper out, and it was game on at 1-1. The game was really opening up now, and on sixty-eight minutes Aaron Mc Glynn was straight through, but hit his effort right and wide when a goal looked likely.

On seventy one minutes, substitute Sean Boyle had a great chance close in, but John Molloy got in a vital block to keep it level. Fintown with the aid of a few substitutes, upped the tempo in the last twenty minutes, forcing a number of set pieces and corners. It was from a corner with twelve minutes left, that Keelan McGill rose to head home at the near post to put the visitors 2-1 up.

Keadue responded well to this and forced a number of free kicks and breaks, but Fintown held out and claimed an important win that puts them back in the title race. Overall, a decent game in difficult conditions with Fintown deserving the three points. Best for Fintown were Aaron Mc Glynn, Odhran Doherty and Mark McDevitt, while best for Keadue were Matthew Comiskey, Dima Serhieiev and David Mc Shane.

Referee: Sean Ferry

Finn Travel Saturday Division Three

Drumoghill Celtic 2 Cappry Rovers 3

Ronan Coyle’s second-half brace made the difference as Cappry Rovers won this crucial battle at the Moss, between two sides that are chasing promotion from Division Three. With the game level at 2-2 and seventy minutes on the clock, the next goal was always likely to be crucial, and it was that marksman Coyle who got it. 

Coyle found just enough time and space to beat Gareth Mc Monagle to grab what proved to be the winning goal, in a game that was high on entertainment. Aaron Donnell also struck twice for the home side, but it was all in vain as Cappry move into second place in the table.

With plenty at stake, the opening forty-five minutes was a tight affair with both defences giving little away. Cappry eventually found a way to break the deadlock when Peter Lafferty opened the scoring. The lead didn’t last long, though, with Aaron Donnell equalising on fifty-four minutes before Coyle got his first three minutes later to put his side back in the lead.

But anything Coyle could do, Donnell could do as well, and the Drumoghill striker struck again within a minute to notch his side's second equaliser. This set up a frantic finish with both sides sensing a winner. Jordan Rodgers, Dylan O’Brien and Evan Breslin all had good attempts before Coyle’s winner with twenty minutes to go, saw Cappry pick up a crucial three points.

Castlefin Celtic 3 Ballybofey Utd 1

(No report submitted)

Gweedore Utd 1 Convoy Arsenal 3

(No report submitted)

Lagan Harps A Drumkeen Utd A

Lagan had taken an early lead through Matthew Doran. The game was abandoned on twenty-six minutes after an accidental clash of heads resulted in Lagan player Robby Dolan being concussed. An ambulance was called, and the match abandoned. Robby is now making a full recovery.

Referee: George Clinton.