FOOTBALL: INISHOWEN LEAGUE REPORTS, TABLES AND FIXTURES

Jackie Crossan Premier Division www.inishowenfl.ie

Clonmany Shamrocks 1-0 Carn FC

The opening half was a tight affair with few clear chances at either end.Carn made most of the early running and on 20 minutes Gerard McEleney got his head to a corner but Patrick Harkin blocked it on the line.Clonmany broke swiftly and when the ball bounced over the visitors defence Michael Devlin controlled well and saw his shot brilliantly saved by Gerard Crossan.Minutes later Jason Devlin sliced a first time effort just wide.Before the break a long kick out from Harkin was flicked on by Devlin to Marty Doherty who fed Jason Devlin but he ewas forced wide by a defender and the chance was lost.Clonmany came flying out of the blocks on the restart with Michael Grant feeding Mark Mclaughlin whose deep cross was superbly claimed under pressure by Crossan.Carn replied in a quick break with Daniel McLaughlin feeding substitute Conor Doherty who blazed over from a difficult angle.Minutes later Mclaughlin fed Michael Byrne but he fired over the bar as well.Clonmany hit back and when Jason & Michael Devlin combined to feed Joe Grant his shot was deflected narrowly wide.Clonmany took the lead on 59 minutes when jason Devlin broke on the left and fed the ball across to Brendan Devlin who in turn fed Michael Devlin to let the ball run for Mark McLaughlin to hammer to the roof of the net from twelve yards.On 72 minutes a dangerous free from Michael Byrne was headed clear by Brendan Devlin who got injured in the process and had to be replaced.Clonmany had the final say after substitute Conor Bradley dangerous cross was headed clear by McEleney.This result takes Clonmany to the top of the table for the first time this season and they will hope that they can get the victory they need next week to clinch the title.

Redcastle United 4-4 Illies Celtic

This was an entertaining end of season encoiunter with plenty of goalmouth action.Redcastle dominated the opening period with Darragh McConway and Brendan Murphy both off target with early chances.On 19 minutes they went close agaion after Antonio Rea crossed for McConway but his snaphot was well saved by Graham Doherty.The home side opened the scoring on 26 minutes when McConway fed Terry McColgan who fired low to the corner from twelve yards.They increased their lead minutes later when an Aiden Cunningham corner was headed down by Martin Farren for Cathal Faulkner to slot home from close range.Illies rallied and got a goal back before the break when Gerard McDaid fed James McGonigle inside the area and he drilled a low shot inside the post.Illies started the second period well and Shane Devlin had a low shot well saved by McCole before Devlin got his team back on terms from the penalty spot when he converted after he had been upended.Illies then took the lead on 65 minutes when McDaid beat a defender before sliding the ball low under McCole.Redcastle came roaring back with Murphy firing over the bar before they equalised when Antonio Rea and Murphy combined to release McColgan who rounded Doherty to slot home.The home side then retook the lead on 85 minutes when Murphy converted a penalty awarded for handball before Illies salvaged a point in the last minute after Paddy Doherty fired a superb effort to the top corner from twenty yards.

Strand Hotel First Division Reports – www.inishowenfl.ie

Rasheney FC 4-0 Gleneely Colts 

In the early exchanges James McConalogue for the home side had a long range effort saved by Martin Mooney while JP Lafferty had a similar effort held by Johnathan Noone.Rasheney opened the scoring on 21 minutes when David Mclaughlin advanced past two defenders before sliding the ball low past Mooney from fourteen yards. The colst replied and when Lafferty fed Pete Bond his hooked effort was well gathered by Noone.On the half hour Rasheney made it two nil when Damien Friel fed Ryan Doherty who dribbled into the area and unleashed a shot which Mooney parried but Doherty smacked home the rebound.Before the interval Eddie McNamee unleashed a good twenty five yards effort which went narrowly wide.Rasheney increased their lead within minutes of the restart when a Damien Friel corner from the left was hooked home by the unmarked John McLaughlin.Anthony Doherty then split the Colts defence with a superb ball but McLaughlin overran the ball and the chnace was lost.At the other end John Doherty found space in the area but his low shot was well held by Noone.Rasheney spurned a great chance when John Mclaughlin and John Grant bore down on goal but Mooney intercepted the pass before on 67 minutes it was four nil.Damien Friel deliver an excellent free where the unmarked Anthony Doherty gladly headed home.Rasheney were well on top with Friel seeing a shot saved by Mooney before Ryan Doherty fired wide from point blank range and Friel had another dipping twenty five yards effort just wide.The final chance fell to the visitors but Billy McCann’s driven effort was safely held by Noone.

QPS 3-4 Buncrana Hearts Res

In the opening minute a Raymond Buchanan corner was scrambled off the line by the Hearts defence before being cleared.Minutes later they took the lead when Stephen McCarron’s throw in found Buchanan who crossed for Dean Barron to sweep the ball home from fifteen yards.Buncrana replied when Kieran McDaid advanced on the right and crossed for Johnny Eccles to fire over the top.They levelled on 20 minutes when Declan Fullerton’s thirty yards free went to the net despite Conor McColgan getting a hand to it.Buchanan then went close with a lob which beat the keeper but hit the side netting.On the half hour Buncrana took the lead when a diagonal ball from Alan Friel found Eccles who volleyed superbly to the top corner.On the stroke of half time they made it three one when a Paddy McMeyler free deceived McColgan on its way to the net.The point came flying out on the restart with Raymond Buchanan’ s free saved by Gerard Boyle with the home players shouting he had stepped over the line but waved away by referee Harvey.They reduced the deficit on the hour after Buchanans free found Kevin Wallace whose header was well parried by Boyle but Paul Grant followed up to slot home.But a terrible mix up in defence minutes later allowed Kieran McDaid in between a defender and the goalkeeper to slot to the empty net.The point did up the pace then with Buchanan seeing a shot rebound off the post before he converted a penalty awarded after he had been upended on 80 minutes.On 84 minutes Dean Barron headed over from a corner before Martin Donagheys cross found Odhran McColgan but his header was cleared off the line by John McLaughlin.

Dunree United 1-2 Greencastle FC

There was a very tight opening to this game with few chances in the opening twenty minutes. Midway through the half Dunree’s Daniel McLaughlin cut inside from the left and fired in a low shot which Nathan Simpkin saved well.Greencastle replied and when Conor Barrow raced onto a ball over the top his effort was well saved by the legs of Paul McGettigan.Dunree failed to heed this warning as minutes later Barrow ran onto another ball over the defence and this time slotted low past McGettigan.Dunree replied and before the break Conor McBride fed Mclaughlin but his effort was brilliantly saved by Simpkin.Dunree started the second half very well and in the opening minute David laird saw his close range effort hacked off the line with Dunree claiming it had crossed the line.They were then caught on the break when James Henry collected the clearance and advanced to release Ciaran Moore thorugh the middle and he slotted low under McGettigan. Dunree rallied and got a goal back after the hour mark when Thomas Mulhern played a neat one two with Barry Nixo before crossing for Liam Baldrick to fire to the top corner from twenty yards.Philip McGuinness then broke clear of the Greencastle defence but was denied by a good save from Simpkin before Neil Moran played a one two with McBride but fired just wide. Greencastle broke and from Henry’s corner Moore had a header tipped over by McGettigan.Dunree had a late chance after McBride & Moran combined to tee up Baldrick but he fired wide from the edge of the area.

Carrowmena FC 1-1 Moville Celtic Res

Carrowmena almost took an early lead after Cory O Brien chased down and blocked an attempted clearance by keeper Maurice mcGeady but the ball ricocheted off McGeady and wide.Moville then took the lead on 12 minutes after Conor Doherty and John Gillen played a one two for Doherty to cross to Eunan McDaid to lift the ball over the advancing Michael Noone.Moville then lost McDaid through injury and Carrowmena upped the tempo with both O Brien and Mark McGonigle seeing shots well saved by McGeady.On the restart Carrowmena continued on top with McGonigle’s first time effort saved by McGeady in the opening minute.They equalised on 49 minutes when a corner by Gill fell to Finbar McCallion and from eight yards he slotted home.Moville responded on 63 minutes follwoing a good four man move involving James & john Gillen, and Christy Mcgeoghaghan which ended with Ciaran Diver’s shot gathered at the second attempt by Noone.The home side hit back and when John Lynch fed O Brien his effort was saved easily by McGeady.Moville upped the pressure in the last ten minutes but the home defence stood firm and they had the last chance when O Brien fed Samuel Bredin but his weak effort failed to trouble McGeady.

Inishowen Engineering Reserve Premier Division Reports 

Carn Res 1-2 QPS Res

QPS set up a winners take all clash with Aileach Res next week and in the process condemned Carn to relegation to the first division next season.Carn started well forcing a number of corners which the poitn defence dealt with before Rory Brady had a shot deflected wide off a defender.Niall Mclaughlin then saw a twenty yards free well saved by Gavin Gallagher in the point goals.The visitors found their feet then with John McCloskey seeing an attempted lob drift over before Seannan McColgan burst through from midfield and lob JJ Doherty but the ball bounced over the bar.Before the break a crosfield pass by the home side was intercepted by Aiden Lynch who raced clear but fired wide when he should have hit the target.Carn had the opening chance of the second period after Niall Mclaughlin broke clear in a one on one but his shot was deflected away by the legs of Gallagher.Play swung to the other end immediately with Fergal Buchanan also racing clear but JJ Doherty saved well.The poitn took the lead on 55 minutes when John McCloskey unleashed a superb twenty five yards effort to the top corner.But carn equalised within minutes after McLaughlin’s cross was headed home at the back post by James McCloskey.The point upped the tempo then with Paul Hegarty firing inches wide before they regained the lead on 71 minutes after Dean Hegarty converted from close range after the ball broke to him inside the area.Carn replied and threw everything forward as a point would have given them a relegation play off and Niall Mclaughlin somehow failed to hit the target with the goal gaping.They had another great chance when Brady intercepted a kick out but also failed to hit the target when well placed.

Inishowen Engineering Reserve First Division Reports 

Dunree Res 1-5 Rasheney Res

After an even opening twenty minutes Rasheny got on top and took the lead on 31 minutes when the unamrked Aiden Friel headed home following a corner. Dunree rallied and equalised on 41 minutes after a long ball from Sean Doherty was controlled by brother Tommy and he superbly lobbed Kieran Friel from the edge of the area.But within a minute Rasheney regained the lead when a free kick fell to John Doherty six yards out and he blasted to the net.Rasheney had the openign chance of the second period when David Mclaughlin unleashed a powerful shot which drew a fine save from Philip Doherty in the home goal.Dunree responded well and after a spell of pressure Paddy McGilloway unleashed a cross shot from the right which clipped the top of Friels bar.A good Rasheney move on 65 minutes ended when John Doherty(D) fired low past Doherty from ten yards.Ten minutes later a burst from his own area by eccentric keeper Friel saw him thread a superb passinto Charlie Doherty who fired home from fifteen yards.Rasheney were rampant now and Freil advanced theough the middle of the home defence before firing low past Doherty to make it five one.They completed the rout late on after Cathal Herron agged the sixth from close range.

Illies Res 2-2 Greencastle Res

The home side began the better and controlled the opening period without creating any clear cut chances.They did break the deadlock on 31 minutes when Martin Coyle and Charlie Mclaughlin combined to release Seamus O Donnell who fired high past Nathan Simpkins from fourteen yards.They should have increased their lead on the stroke of half time but Coyle blazed over when well placed.Greencastle staretd the second period well and drew level on 55 minutes after Jamie McCormick found Ronan Doherty and he fired high past Thomas Grant from twelve yards.Illies regained control when Coye fed Mclaughlin who beat two defenders and fired past Simpkins from close range.They should have sealed it on 88 minutes after McLaughlin fed Emmet Clarke but he fired wide when in a good position.On the stroke of full time Greencastle snatched a point when Doherty fed McCormick who controlled well before shooting high past Grant from fifteen yards.

Dunree Res 5-3 Illies Res

After a frantic opening Gerard Mc Daid of the vistors was first to test Philip Doherty when he saw a thirty yard strike tipped over the bar on 15minutess. Minutes later the home side should have taken the lead when Emmett Dunphy headed over from six yards after a terrific cross from David Eccles. Five mins later a through ball from Eccles to Paddy Mc Gilloway saw him fire past Dominic Doherty to put the home side one up. It was two nil on the half hour when Patrick Toland crossed for Sean Doherty to score from eight yards. On the stroke off half time Charlie Coyle got onto a long ball from his defense to fire past doherty to make it two one at the interval. Dunree statred brightly in the second half and a free kick from keeper Doherty found TJ Mc Kinley who blasted home from the edge of the box. Dunree kept the pressure up and were 4-1 up on 55 minutess when Toland crossed for Thomas Doherty who fired low to the corner from six yards. It was five one on the hour mark when Mc Kinley reacted first in the Illies box to finish past Doherty.Then on 75 minutes the visitors got one back when Niall Mc Daid headed home powerfully from a corner. Deep into injury time McDaid got his second and Illies third after a mazy run through a lethargic home defence and he chipped over Doherty from twelve yards.

Donegal Signs Reserve League Shield Final

Aileach Res 2-0 Glengad Res

Favourites Aileach Res retained their reserve league shield title with a hard earned win over a gallant Glengad side. Indeed the game changed totally in the 31st minute when Glengad were reduced to ten men and conceded a penalty in the same incident.Aileach were first to show and on 8 minutes an almighty scramble developed following a corner before Glengad eventually cleared.Glengad replied and neat inter play saw Niall Mclaughlin lay the balll off to Gary Kelly whose through ball for Christopher McLaughlin was gathered by the alert David McGeady.On 18 minutes McLaughlin got his head to a deep corner kick only to see Liam Burke head off the line with McGeady beaten.A poor free kick wide on the right by McGeady was then controlled by McLaughlin whose shot took a slight deflection allowing McGeady to get across and gather.Glengad continued to press and on 27 minutes after a corner was half cleared Brian Doherty controlled and fired a shot goalwards which McGeady gathered at the second attempt.Minutes later McLaughlin fed Kelly but he hammered wide from twenty yards.Aileach lifted the pressure and Eddie McGrath fired staright at Michael Mclaughlin when the ball broke to him on the edge of the area.On 31 minutes an Aileach corner was headed goalwards by McGrath but handled on the line by Stephen McLaughlin resulting in a penalty kick and a red card. The experienced Stephen O’Donnell kept his nerve to hammer low to the bottom right hand corner with keeper Mclaughlin getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out. Glengad did not lie down and on 36 minutes Mark Smith raced intoi the area and when his spectacular overhead kick beat McGeady it was Mark McLaughlin who got back to head off the line.Before the break Michael Morrison headed down the right for McGrath to advance into the area but his angled effort was saved by the legs of McLaughlin. Glengad were first to show on the restart with McLaughlin seeing a header land on the roof of the net. But Aileach lifted the tempo then with Burke running through the middle of the defence before firing just wide.Then Morrison raced onto Burke’s pass to round McLaughlin who forced him wide and he hesiatted before laying the ball back to Ciaran Criag who blasted over the bar.Glengad replied and on 57 minutes substitute Michael Doherty headed narrowly wide from a corner.Aileach then put a fine move together when substitute Damien Coyled fed Burke to release Craig and his close range effort crashed off the bar back into the arms of McLaughlin.They made it two nil on 67 minutes after a superb passing move all along the left hand side ended with Craig slipping the ball into Stephen Doherty who advanced to slide the ball low under the advancing McLaughlin.Glengad kept pressing and on 73 minutes created a clear chance after Gary Kelly released Niall McLaughlin but his effort was superbly blocked by the outstretched leg of McGeady.Glengad really needed that one to go in but it wasnt to be and the final chance fell to Kevin Barr’s side when a superb Burke pass released Craig on the edge of the area but again he failed to hit the target.

MAN of the MATCH :

For Glengad Michael McLaughlin, Brian Doherty & Niall McLaughlin all had very good games while for Aileach, Mark Mclaughlin, David McGeady and Ciaran Craig were prominent but the award went to Aileachs Liam Burke who constantly caused the Glengad defence trouble with his inteligent runs and use of the ball not forgetting his early goal line clearance.

Wednesday 10^th April

Maginn Park, Buncrana

Charlie O’Donnell
Memorial Cup
Semi Final 7.30pm

Carn V Glengad
T McAree
Ass.T Brown & R McDermott

Sunday 14th April

Premier Division 2pm

Clonmany V Glengad
T Moyne

Cockhill V  Moville

E Doherty

First Division 2pm

Buncrana V Greencastle
L Duggan

Hannon Greene
Insurances
Fr O Gara Cup 2pm

Moville Res V Carrowmena
D McLaughlin

Dunree V Rasheney
L Porter

QPS V Cockhill Colts
B Breslin

Premier Reserve
Division 11am

Aileach V QPS

R McDermott

Ass. S Deeney

& G McLaughlin

Reserve
Division One     11am

Greencastle V Dunree
M McGonagle

Tue16^th April 6.45pm

Premier Division

Moville V Aileach
T McAree

First Division

Buncrana V Greencastle
L Davenport

Wed17^th April
Maginn Park,

Charlie O’Donnell
Memorial Cup
Semi Final 7.30pm

Clonmany V QPS

W Harvey

Ass.G McLaughlin & JP Houghton