INISHOWEN FOOTBALL: CLONMANY INFLICT FIRST DEFEAT ON GLENGAD

Jackie Crossan Premier Division Reports - http://www.inishowenfl.ie/

Glengad United 2-3 Clonmany Shamrocks

While not exactly blowing the race for the premier division wide open Clonmany Shamrocks kept the title race alive when they inflicted a first defeat of the season on Glengad in an excellent game of football in difficult conditions.Against the elements Clonmany began well with Jason Doherty breaking clear in the 5th minute but denied by a superb Charlie Byrne tackle.Clonmany then forced three corners in a row but the home defence dealt capably with them.Glengad grew into the game with Stephen McLaughlin’s cross cleared at the back post with Patrick McDermott lurking.They took the lead midway through the half after John McDaid split the defence with a superb pass for John G McLaughlin to dink the ball over Patrick Harkin in the Clonmany goal. John McDaid fired a free kick just over the bar and while Glengad dominated possession until the interval the visitos defence stood firm.Glengad created a gilt edged chance on the restart when McDaid fed Terence Doherty who curled his shot just wide from twelve yards.Minutes later Clonmany got back on terms when after a corner was only partially cleared Marty Doherty fired a superb thirty yards effort to the roof of the net.Within another five minutes they were ahead when Raymond McDaid broke on the right and when his deep cross was cleared to Joe Grant he unleashed a superb low effort to the bottom corner from twenty two yards.Glengad upped the tempo with Patrick McDermott seeing one effort blocked before seeing another shot turned round the post by Patrick Harkin in the Clonmany goal.They got back on terms on 75 minutes after John McDaid crossed for McDermott who beat a defender and fired low to the corner from twelve yards.They had another good chance when Doherty fed McDermott but his attempted chip was well saved by Harkin.Clonmany struck for the winner in the 87th minute when Brendan Devlin headed the ball on for Alan Friel to race clear and slot low past Martin McLaughlin from six yards.

Culdaff FC 3-2 Aileach FC

Played in good conditions on Saturday night there was a lively opening to this game with play switching from end to end and the home side slightly the more threatening.They took the lead on 12 minutes after Brian McGonigle’s ball over the top found Conor O Brien who headed on and as the ball dropped struck a superb volley over the advancing David McGeady to the net from sixteen yards.Aileach replied and when a corner fell to Paul McHugh his effort was blocked by Kevin Ruddy.Culdaff responded on 22 minutes with O’Brien seeing his twenty three yards free clip the bar on the way over.Minutes later the same player fed Derek Doherty on the right and collected the return only to see his shot parried by McGeady with the Aileach defence mopping up.The visitors tried to get back into it and when a Darren McMonagle free found Anthony Doherty he headed well over from fourteen yards in what was a difficult chance.On 35 minutes the home side doubled their lead when Eugene McLaughlin latched onto a poor headed backpass and lifted the ball over McGeady to run on and slot home.Aileach upped the tempo and had their best spell of the game either side of half time.Firstly gavin Doherty collected a breaking ball but his effort was smothered by Darragh Mclaughlin in the home goal.Then Anthony Doherty turned well but saw his shot deflected behind.They got a goal back on the stroke of half time after Gavin Doherty rose highest to head home at the near post from six yards following a corner.Aileach started the second period well with Doherty seeing a spectacular overhead kick sail over the bar.They got back on terms then on 50 minutes when Gavin Doherty advanced along the byeline and after his initial effort was blocked by Mclaughlin he fired the rebound home from an acute angle.This seemed to rejuvenate the home side and an inswinging Derek Doherty corner was touched onto the bar by McGeady but when it broke to substitute JJ Doherty he fired wide from twelve yards.The defining moment in the game came on 67 minutes when the home side were awarded a penalty and O Brien kept his cool to send McGeady the wrong way.The home side kept pressing for the remainder of the game and did not make the best of some promising situations while Aileach were always dangerous on the break but failed to create a clear chance that would have salvaged a point.

Carn FC 5-1 Illies Celtic

Carn recorded their third comprehensive league victory in a row and they dominated long periods of this game.Decaln McGonagle saw a powerful early shot tipped over by Graham Doherty before the same player headed a Daniel McLaughlin cross just over the bar.They took the lead on 21 minutes when after Doherty parried McGonagle’s shot the ball was retrieved by Shane Doherty who squared to Cathal Doherty to slot home from close range.Illies tried to reply but all they had to show was two James O Donnell free kicks which sailed over Gerard Crossan’s bar.Shane Doherty and McGonagle then both had shots from the edge of the area which were just of target after good approach play involving Adam Byrne, Daniel McLaughlin and Michael Byrne.The home side increased their lead on 53 minutes when McGonagle’s cross found Michael Byrne who teed the ball up for Shane Doherty to slot home from six yards.Illies tried to hit back and when O Donnell’s cross was flicked on by Joe McDaid the ball fell to Seamus Donaghey who headed wide.Carn resumed the pressure at the other end with McGonagle blazing over from ten yards before they made it three nil on 68 minutes.Shane Doherty fed McGonagle and his low cross found Matthew Byrne who fired low to the corner from ten yards.They went close again from a Michael Byrne corner which brother Adam headed over before Illies got a goal back when O’Donnell advanced from midfield past two defenders before superbly lobbing Crossan.But within a minute Carn had scored again when Cathal Doherty fed Michael Byrne who drove a powerful effort past Doherty from twenty five yards.They completed the scoring on 87 minutes after Matthew Byrne’s cross broke to brother Adam who fired to the roof of the net from twenty two yards.

INISHOWEN FOOTBALL LEAGUE = http://www.inishowenfl.ie/

Jackie Crossan Premier Division

* points deducted

Sunday 17th Feb 2013

Ulster Junior Cup
1-30pm ET&Pen

Lifford V Greencastle

Premier Division 2pm

Redcastle V Moville
T Moyne

Carn V Cockhill
T McAree

Aileach V Illies
W Harvey

Culdaff V Clonmany
E Doherty

Gleneely V Dunree
G O Kane

Carrowmena V QPS
B Breslin

Moville Res V Rasheney
L Porter

Reserve Premier 11am

Cockhill V Aileach
M McGonagle

QPS V Glengad
L Davenport

Carn V Sea Rovers
W Curran

Clonmany V Culdaff
S Deeney

Reserve First 11am

Moville Yths V Cockhill Clt
JP Houghton

Illies V Dunree
L Duggan

Rasheney Rvs V Greencastle
G McLaughlin

Rasheney Res V Redcastle
R McDermott