Donegal League roundup: All the action as various divisions take shape

Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division

Bonagee United 3

Keadue Rovers 0

Aaron Wasson nets twice as Bonagee United remain top of Premier Division

Bonagee United opened up a four-point lead at the summit with victory over Keadue Rovers

Kildrum Tigers 1

Cappry Rovers 2

Kildrum Tigers left to lick many wounds after defeat to Cappry

An already threadbare Kildrum suffered three further injuries in a 2-1 home defeat to Cappry on Sunday

Temple Domestic Appliances Division One

Fanad United 0

Rathmullan Celtic 1

Rathmullan Celtic travelled to Traigh-a-Loch on Sunday and went away with all three points against the League Leaders. 

In the 15th minute, Liam McGrenaghan hit a dangerous free into the Rathmullan box but Declan O'Donnell headed over.

Just before half time, Ephraim McFadden's free kick was met by Jay Curran however his header failed to trouble Fanad keeper Mark Mc Conigley. 

Five minutes into the second half, a Dara Patton free from 20 yards was well held under pressure by Mark McConigley. Three minutes later Alan Boal saw his dipping shot from the edge of the box land on the roof of the Fanad net.

On the hour mark Fanad did have a chance to open the scoring. Liam McGrenaghan hit an excellent cross but Kyle McGarvey just failed to connect.

The only goal of the game arrived with 15 minutes to play. Dara Patton's deep corner was headed back across goal by Kieran Gorman and Jay Curran was on hand to head home at the front post.

Fanad came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the dying seconds when Eddie O'Reilly's header was palmed away at full length by Rathmullan keeper Shaun Gallagher.

Swilly Rovers 2

Cranford United 0

Victory for the Ramelton men in a hard-fought game that was reversed to Cranford. Marty McDaid with a clinical finish from six yards and a bullet like header by Ciaran Kelly sealed the victory with goals on 68 and 73 minutes.

Swilly had most of the play with Cranford always dangerous on the counter-attack. Jamie Lee Blaney denied Kyle Mc Fadden and Chris Duffy near the end to help secure victory points that are valuable now with only five games to go.

Tyler Durning had a penalty saved by Jason Hegarty early on but Swilly were not to be denied.

Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two

Letterkenny Rovers 0

Lagan Harps 1

Lagan Harps reignited hopes of a promotion push after defeating Letterkenny Rovers 1-0 in brisk conditions at Leckview Park on Sunday.

This was a first league defeat of the season for Rovers who just fell short against a well organised, stubborn and determined Lagan side who maybe feel they should have had put the game to bed long before the only goal of the game from the impressive Kieran Cunningham on 78 minutes.

It wasn’t until the 35th minute for the first action of note when Cunningham fired just wide.Cunningham was again to the fore just before the break when he forced a top notch save from Blake Forkan in the home goal before Dean Murray’s effort from the rebound was again acrobatically stopped by Forkan and Cunningham blazed over.

Rovers were unlucky not to have taken the lead on 55 minutes when a well-timed through ball from Luke Parke sent Caolan McConnell away and his cross was met by Darragh Morrison whose shot cannoned off the foot of the post.

Morrison had claims for a penalty waved away by referee George Clinton shortly after when he appeared to have been upended in the box.

Lagan also had cause for ire when they saw a Damien Nelis goal chalked off for offside after Ross Hamlyn’s free-kick caused some consternation for Forkan in the home goal.

The game’s defining moment came on 77 minutes. Rovers spurned a good chance through substitute Conor O'Donnell who fired high into Lagan Keeper Jason Quinn’s arms when he looked set to score and just 90 seconds later Lagan were celebrating when Cunningham fired low to the bottom corner for what turned out to be the winner.

Glencar Inn Saturday Division One

Milford United Reserves 0

Glencar Celtic 3

In perfect conditions the first-half was very even until Glencar took the lead on the half hour. Pajo Rafferty did well to beat two men before cooly slotting home at the near post.

Glencar got their second with 15 minutes left. Garvan Grier found space on the edge of the box before unleashing a vicious shot into the net.

With five minutes left they wrapped up the victory through Peter Doherty with another fine finish.

Oldtown Celtic 5

Cappry Rovers Reserves 2

In a game that was played in fine conditions at the Letterkenny Community Centre, Oldtown won against a spirited Cappry.

Oldtown raced out of the traps and took the lead on five minutes when Tommy Mc Laughlin cut the ball back for Kevin McGrath to fire home.

McLaughlin made it 2-0 when he latched onto a through ball and fired home from 12 yards. Oldtown had the momentum and pushed for more goals and added a third when Sean Cleary fired home after Chick Mc Laughlin headed a free-kick back across goal.

Tommy McLaughlin added his second of the game with a fine turn and finish from inside the area and then he hit the bar from 25 yards.

Cappry kept battling in the game and got a goal back before half-time when a defensive mix-up resulted in an own goal and gave Cappry a way back into the match.

Cappry pulled another goal back when Ronan Carlin finished from the edge of the area, but Luke Friel added a fifth with 10 minutes to go after a fine through ball from McGrath to seal the win.

Strand Rovers 2

Fintown Harps 0

Strand took the lead before half time when Ryan Brennan headed home from a corner kick.

Fintown started the second half much better creating a few changes but Cormac Hanlon made some great saves to keep the lead for Strand.

On 60 minutes Doalty Boyle headed home for Strand from another corner kick. Strand tried to increase the lead further but the Fintown defence stood tall. 

Old Orchard Saturday Division Two

Castlefin Celtic Reserves 3

Copany Rovers 3

Castlefin and Copany had a share of the spoils in game which produced 6 goals in blustery conditions.

The hosts took the lead in the 22nd minute, Corrie-lee Bogan converted a penalty after Dean Kelly was fouled.

A Glen Harron volley from 20 yards brought the sides level. In the early stages of the second half Copany took the lead when Dale Duncan drilled a free kick into the bottom corner.

The hosts kept battling and got level, a great run down the left by Kelly who poked into the net.

In the 80th minute the visitors found themselves ahead again, Harron slotting home from the spot. Castlefin kept going to the end and in the 89th Kelly tapped home at the back post after a cross from Marty Doherty. 

Gweedore Celtic Reserves 1

Dunlewey Celtic 1

Playing with the aid of the elements in the first half it was no surprise that Dunlewey dominated proceedings. However, they could not convert their superiority into clear cut chances and the home keeper, Daniel McLoughlin, had no real saves to make.

His opposite number on the other side Daniel Roarty kept the sides level when saving brilliantly from Johnny O'Donnell just on the stroke of half time.

It was the away team who began the better and struck for the first goal after ten minutes of the second half. A cross from Christopher Cannon was not dealt with in the Celtic rearguard and Keith Sweeney scrambled the ball over the line.

Gweedore got the equaliser with fifteen minutes remaining. Centre half Shaun Gallagher won the ball in the middle of the field and he unleashed a shot from thirty five yards that ended up in the roof of the net.

St. Catherines Reserves 0

Drumbar 3

St Catherine's slipped up in the race for promotion going down 3-0 to a well organised Drumbar side who now move level on points with them.

The visitors started strongly and were ahead after three minutes with a well struck free kick from Gary Spencer.

They continued to dominate and extended their lead on 13 minutes when Josh McCrea fired low to the corner after some clever footwork in the penalty area.

Drumbar continued to dominate and scored a third after 35 minutes when Vinny Breslin finished a free kick from the right into the top corner.