Cappry Rovers are back in the big time following win over Milford United

Cappry Rovers are celebrating a return to the top flight in Donegal League football following this afternoon’s away win over Milford United in Moyle View Park. 

Jack Byrne and Luke McGlynn scored the goals as the Jamie Doherty managed side clinched promotion with a game still to play in the Temple Domestic Appliances Division One League. 

Centre forward McGlynn scored two of the Cappry goals with teenager Byrne netting the other for a well deserved victory over a game 

Milford United started the day in third place in the league table and still in the hunt for one of the two promotion places.

Cappry began the day at the top of the table three points clear of second placed Kerrykeel 71 who have a game in hand. 

And the league leaders got the game off to a dream start with Byrne netting a McGlynn centre at the far post inside four minutes. 

The goal apart, the opening stages were pretty evenly contested with McGlynn and his opposite number Cathal McGettigan, the Milford number nine who played in a withdrawn role, leading their respective challenges. 

Milford’s first real chance of note  came when McGettigan, shortly after Cappry’s opener, just grazed the top of Eoin Gallen’s crossbar from a free from outside the box.

And McGettigan again was central to the locals next goal chance when his exquisite ball down the right wing found Kyle Black whose low cross was met with a Darren McLaughlin volley from five metre brilliantly saved by Gallen.

Cappry continued to take the game to the locals and they forced three corners in a row but good defensive play from Flynn Nash, Lorcan Friel and Caolan Carr and Niall Murray meant Jamie Doherty’s young guns were unable to add to their tally.

And it was McGettigan and Black again that combined for McGettigan to release Nash on the right wing to tie up the game at 1-1. That was in 30 minutes.

And that is how it remained until McGlynn after winning possession in the air he broke from midfield to send his side in at half-time. 

With nothing short of a win required to keep their promotion hope alive Milford went all out on the resumption for the equalising goal.

Noel Gillespie’s men laid siege on the Cappry goals but all they had to show for their early second period dominance were five corners as the Cappry defence of Gallen, Jamie Quigley, Michael Carroll and Aaron Kelly held firm. 

And the locals chasing the game were exposed defensively and McGlynn with his searing pace and ball control, took full advantage. 

And he ultimately settled the tie on 56 minutes when he beat Caolan McGettigan with a sting drive from outside the box. 

And so after two seasons in the second tier, Cappry are once again looking forward to Premier Division football next season.  

Milford United: Caolan McGettigan; Niall Murray (Ryan McElhinney, 87), Caolan Carr (Daithi McTaggart, 74), Jordan Ryan, Lorcan Friel, Flynn Nash, George McNulty, Killian McBride, Cathal McGettigan, Kyle Black, Darren McLaughlin (Corrie Lee McConigley, 74).

Cappry Rovers: Eoin Gallen; Jamie Quigley, Michael Lafferty (4Conor Scanlon, 47), Michael  Carroll, Aaron Kelly, Callum Long, Jack Byrne (Conor McDaid, 52), Jack Long, Luke McGlynn, Conor Doherty, Daniel Marley, David Carr, 90).

Referee: Gerald Devine.