Rovers v United at Leckview
4 Lanterns USL Results & Reports 26.05.13
RESULTS: Kildrum Tigers 6 0 Fanad Utd
Bonagee Utd. 2 4 Derry City Res.
Cockhill Celtic 2 1 Swilly Rovers
Letterkenny Rovers 0 1 Drumkeen Utd.
Drumkeen Top Table After Last Gasp Winner
Letterkenny Rovers 0
Drumkeen Utd. 1
Drumkeen United maintained their winning start to the season with a last gasp goal to grab all three points against Letterkenny Rovers.
With the game deep in injury time in the 94th minute, an in-swinging corner was flicked on by Eunan Kelly before taking a deflection off a Rovers defender and into the net to secure a dramatic win.
The home side were left to rue their missed chances in what was a hard fought encounter at Leckview Park. Drumkeen came into the game in excellent form having opened their season with back to back wins while Rovers – without a game in two weeks due to their postponed fixture against Bonagee United last week – had started their league campaign with a victory at home to Finn Harps.
Both sides looked at near full strength and the best chance of the first half fell the way of Rovers striker Davitt Walsh who latched onto a precise through pass from Aaron Scanlon only to blaze his effort over the crossbar. The visitors applied pressure from a few set piece situations but the Rovers rearguard held firm.
In the second half, Drumkeen tried their luck from long range with Richie Moore and Mark Marley both missing the target while at the other end substitute Steve Okapu steered a close range effort wide.
In the final minute, the visitors forced two corners and from the second the home defence was found wanting as Kelly’s faint effort did enough to beat Shane O’Gara and seal the win.
LETTERKENNY ROVERS – Shane O’Gara, Dale Gorman, Dan O’Donnell, Kieran Gorman, Jonathan Minnock, Chris Malseed, Kevin McGrath, Glen Gallagher, Davitt Walsh, Darren McElwaine, Aaron Scanlon. Subs – Oisin Grant for Gorman on 28 mins, Steve Okapu for Walsh on 79 mins, Keith Malseed for McElwaine on 80 mins.
DRUMKEEN UNITED – Paul McCauley, Ryan Gildea, Benny Bonner, Seamie Friel, Chris Kyle, Gavin Reilly, David Craig, Philip Whyte, Eunan Kelly, Richard Moore, Mark Marley. Subs – Jamie Gallagher for Bonner on 20 mins, Ryan McCullagh for Craig on 69 mins.
REFEREE – Mr. Con McLaughlin
Cockhill Keep Up The Pressure
Cockhill Celtic 2
Swilly Rovers 1
Played in perfect conditions at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds on Friday night, Cockhill claimed a vital come-from-behind win against a gallant and well organised Swilly team.
Cockhill started the brighter with Derek Doherty especially prominent on the right hand side. However they couldn’t convert this possession into clear chances with Doherty’s crosses being well defended or cut out by Swilly keeper Gareth Wade. Swilly settled and looked dangerous on the counter attack, their first chance coming on 17mins when Kyle Black’s volley from the edge of the box went straight at Gavin Cullen. Swilly took the lead on 19mins when good interplay on the right hand side released Ronan Curtis. His cross finding the unmarked Michael McHugh who headed home at the back post. Cockhill equalised on 23mins when a headed back pass was intercepted by James Bradley who held off a defender before slotting low past Wade from 8 yards. The remainder of the half was an even affair. Swilly almost regained the lead on 25mins when Laurence Toland’s corner found McHugh, whose near post header clipped the bar on its way over. On 29mins, Derek Doherty’s cross found Garbhan Friel, but he was unable to direct his header on target. On 35mins, Friel blocked down a clearance and broke through but Wade made a fine smothering save to deny him. The last chance of the half fell to Swilly. Declan Curtis’ free kick was parried by Cullen. From the resultant corner, Cullen’s punch was volleyed goal wards by Ronan Curtis but he was denied by a brilliant low save from Cullen.
The second half began in a similar vein with Cockhill pressing with Swilly dangerous on the counter. Cockhill were reduced to shots from distance, the most notable of which was Liam O’Donnell’s deflected effort forcing a fine low save from Wade. Swilly had 2 chances to regain the lead mid-half. On 70mins, Michael McHugh’s cross found Declan Curtis. His effort beat Cullen but Conor Keddy was on hand with a fantastic goal-line clearance. On 74mins, a long ball found McHugh in the clear but his attempted lob was straight at Cullen. Swilly were made to rue these missed opportunities on 75mins when Wade misjudged a James Bradley free kick. William O’Connor’s anticipation allowed him to head back across goal for Aidan O’Donnell to bundle home from close range. Swilly’s task was made harder when they were reduced to 10 men on 78mins, when defender Laurence Toland was red-carded for foul and abusive language. Cockhill continued to press for a third goal but efforts from Gerard McLaughlin and Aidan O’Donnell failed to find the target. Swilly, to their credit, competed to the end but any long balls were capably dealt with by Cullen.
Champions Get Win
Bonagee Utd. 2
Derry City Res. 4
Bonagee United
Three goals in the final ten minutes from the reigning champions, Derry City, ensured they left Bonagee with all three points and inflicted defeat on a home side that have conceded late goals in their first two league outings this season. Bonagee got off to the best possible start when they scored as early as the 6th minute. An Anthony Appiah corner was not fully dealt with by Derry City, and Darren Ashmore was on hand to bundle the ball home from six yards through a swarm of people. Derry equalised in the 19th minute, when a corner was swung to the back post to Paul Ramsey, and he somehow managed to head the ball back into the danger area where George Kelly smashed the ball to the roof of the net to make the score one apiece. The home side regained their lead on the stroke of half time, when defender Glenn Rainey sidefooted home at the second attempt following a good cross from Appiah. The visitors began the second forty five well but were finding a resolute Bonagee defence difficult to break through. They managed to draw level in the 80th minute, a goal they certainly were worthy of. The excellent Josh Treacy raced into the area and his pull back was slotted home by Conor Harkin. City were definitely in the ascendency at this point of the game and they managed to score their third with two minutes to go. Treacy again was the provider, this time his cross was powered home by Raymond Foy. The fourth was scored in the 94th minute by substitute Kyle Curran after a mix-up in the Bonagee defence.
Bonagee: Smyth, Rainey, Doran, Frankowski, O’Loan, Appiah, Russell, Lynagh, Ashmore, McLaughlin & McGee
Derry City: Houghton, O’Brien, Curran, Barrett, Barr, Foy, McElhinney, Ramsey, Kelly, Harkin, Treacy
Fixtures
Thursday, May 31st at 7:30pm
4 Lanterns USL
Swilly Rovers v Fanad Utd. Ref. T. McAree
Sunday, June 2nd at 2pm
4 Lanterns USL
Finn Harps Res v Cockhill Celtic Ref. P. Coll
Kildrum Tigers v Letterkenny Rovers Ref. C. McLaughlin
Wednesday, June 5th at 7:30pm
Donegal News League Cup Group A
Bonagee Utd. v Finn Harps Res. Ref. V. McLoughlin
Thursday, June 6th at 7:30pm
4 Lanterns USL
Drumkeen Utd. v Derry City Res. Ref. P. Duddy