DONEGAL JUNIOR LEAGUE REPORTS
Old Orchard Inn Division One
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 1 Castlefin Celtic Reserves 3
Kilmacrennan hosted Castlefin on Saturday afternoon at Lurgy Park. A quiet first half ended 0-0, chances were very limited for both teams. Castlefin got the first goal of the match just 5 minutes into the second half when John Mc Granaghan headed in from a well worked free kick. Kilmacrennan applied some pressure and got their reward after an hour. Paul Mc Eldowney rose well at the back post to head in Steve McElwaine’s corner. The game opened up after this with both teams creating chances. Mark Lafferty struck for Castlefin with 5 minutes to go with a good finish from the edge of the box. Kilmacrennan were pushing, trying to get a late equaliser, but were dealt another blow in the last minute when Mark Lafferty tucked in a rebound after a brave save from Kilmacrennan keeper Damien Crossan.
Best for Kilmacrennan: Jimmy Mc Elwaine. Good team performance from Castlefin.
Fintown Harps AFC 1 Glenea United Reserves 1
This game took place at Pairc Acla in Fintown. In perfect playing conditions the Harps took the lead on the 10th minute when Stephen Molloy crossed a ball in from the right wing and it slipped into the back of the net. Fintown continued to create scoring opportunities but were unsuccessful. Then with Two minutes left on the clock Glenea came within inches of making it all level but JP Breslin did very well to clear it off the line.
The second half started well for the Glenea men. They got the equaliser in the 10th minute of the second half when the ball came to Tommy Rodgers, after good team work, and he smashed it into the Fintown goal. In the 25th minute of the second half Fintown were awarded a penalty from a handball in the box. Daragh Gallagher stood up to the ball but sent it to the left and wide. The Harps pushed hard at the end to get a winner but to no avail. The game finished all level in Fintown.
Team performance by both teams. Referee : Barry Hunter
Mulroy Celtic 2 Glencar Celtic 4
The home side went into this really needing the win after slipping down the league after a poor run of results, however it was the away side that left Tri a Loch with all three points. They achieved their victory mainly because they were superior throughout. It was Mulroy who broke the deadlock from the spot after Griffin ghosted past three defenders only for the last man to take him down inside the box, he got up to dispatch the penalty himself. Glencar produced numerous chances but couldn’t get past the home net minder. Glencar equalized when they broke from a Mulroy corner and their centre forward dispatched the ball well with a diving header. The second goal followed soon after when a corner was whipped in which wasn’t dealt with and the ball ended up in the back of the net. Mulroy attempted to rally but two more mistakes killed the game off. Glencar’s forwards never gave the home defence a seconds peace all day, Mulroy got a glimmer of hope when Sonic unleashed a dipping shot from outside the box which flashed in off the bar. Their optimism was short lived as another defensive slip let the away side in again for another fine finish. Paul Sonic Coyle impressed for the home side, the spine of Glencar were very effective.
Glencar Inn Division Two
Donegal Town Reserves 1 Glenree United Reserves 0
Downtown Cup Group A
Tullyvinney Rovers 1 Erne Wanderers 9
Tullyvinney entertained high flying Erne Wanderers w3ho opened their scoring account in the second minute of the game when goal machine Sticky Ward finished off a fine move with a fierce shot from twelve yards out. Tullyvinney’s young and inexperienced side then settled but Erne kept them on the back foot for the first fifteen minutes with Adam Gardiner and Martin Alexander having a couple of chances but failing to register. In the twenty-second minute Dermot Slevin unleashed a fierce shot which was parried by the Tullyvinney keeper Thomas McBride unfortunately into the path of the inrushing Eamon Cleary. In the thirtieth minute Eamon Cleary registered Erne’s third goal after a fine passing move down the right hand side. Johnny Corcoran scored Tullyvinney’s only goal in the thirty-ninth minute with a well placed shot from twenty-five yards into the top corner of the net. The score at half- time was 3-1. In the second half despite hard work by Tullyvinney they couldn’t handle the experienced Erne Wanderers outfit with Sticky Ward registering four more goals one of which was a spectacular overhead kick from the edge of the eighteen yard box. Diarmuid Spratt rounded off a fine performance in the seventy-first minute when he scored and David Dolan put the icing on the cake for the Erne side when he scored in the eighty-ninth minute.
Gallant team performance from Tullyvinney but outstanding for Erne were Sticky Ward and Dermot Slevin.
Referee: Michael Mulhern
Milford United Reserves 1 Cranford United Reserves 2
Milford had to travel again for this home fixture to Cranford Park and came home empty handed. Cranford opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Dale McFadden shot low to the corner from 10 yards after a poor clearance. Milford applied the pressure for the rest of the half but weren’t able to turn possession into goals. The second half continued with Milford on the attack but found Barney Logue in the Cranford nets in fine form. The equaliser came with 20 minutes remaining when Jason Mc Conigley tucked the ball away after another goal mouth scramble. With Milford pressing for the winner they were caught on the counterattack with a well taken goal from Johnny Wilhare who beat the keeper from 30 yards to seal the points for Cranford.
Downtown Cup Group C
Ramelton Mariners 0 Deele Harps 1
Gweedore United Reserves 2 Downtown United 1
This game played at Carrickboyle in good conditions saw the home side claim their second consecutive win in the cup thanks to good finishes from Sean Paul Mc Mahon and Stephen O’ Donnell. The game started with the hosts coming close after just two minutes however Downtown scrambled the ball clear. The visitors began to settle well and went close on 8 minutes however Johnny Gallagher saved well from Niall Bonner. In the 20th minute the home side went in front when a long pass fell to Sean Paul Mc Mahon who shot well past the Downtown Keeper to make it 1-0. Downtown went at United following that goal and saw good efforts from Niall Bonner and Gio Peoples test Gallagher in the United net. The visitors equalised in the 38th minute when a well delivered corner from Bonner was headed into the back of the net by Sean Sweeney. Downtown thought they went ahead in the 44th minute when Sweeney shot well, however the ball was cleared off the line by Ryan Duggan and it remained 1-1 until half time. The second half saw Downtown win a lot of the possession however they didn’t pose any danger in the final third thanks to a well organised Gweedore defence. The home side got the winner in the 82nd minute when Stephen O’ Donnell finished well from 20 yards following a good pass from his brother Aodh. Sean Sweeney and Niall Bonner played well for Downtown and it was a good spirited team performance from the Carrickboyle men.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Lagan Harps 2 Glenea United 2
In a reversed to Glasserchoo it was the home side that started the brightest and took a two goal lead through goals from Michael Barry and Ryan McFadden. Lagan pulled a goal back through Declan Sweeney. In the 2nd half Lagan equalized through Kevin McHugh. Glenea pushed hard for a winner but were unable get it. Best for Glena were John Harley and Ryan McFadden, while it was a team effort from Lagan Harps.
Rathmullan Celtic 3 Castlefin Celtic 1
The Seasiders got off to a sensational start after five minutes when a cross was headed down by Eamonn Sheridan to his cousin Oisin McMenamin, who unleashed an unstoppable volley into the bottom corner of the net. The hosts doubled their advantage on 18 minutes when Aaron Mc Clafferty flicked the ball in to full back Paddy Sheridan who drilled his strike into the bottom corner. The Hoops put the game beyond doubt in the 28th minute when McMenamin crossed into midfield maestro Eoin Sheridan who wrapped up a much needed win for the Hoops with a calm finish inside the area much to the jubilation of the rain-soaked Seaside faithful.
The second half saw the visitors, to their credit, up the ante and challenge Curran’s charges with a more positive outlook and some attacking football. Castlefin were finally rewarded for their rich vein of form in the second period when Tourish found the back of the net in the 83rd minute to reduce the deficit with a fine finish from inside the area.
Referee: Joe McHugh
Dunkineely Celtic 2 Gweedore Celtic 3
In a reversed fixture played at An Screaban, there was late drama as Gweedore edged out Dunkineely. The home team were on top in the early stages and after fourteen minutes went ahead when Jamie Boyle’s ball from the end line eluded the keeper and ended up in the back of the net. The lead was doubled five minutes later when Ownie Mc Garvey’s shot took a deflection and rolled into the net.
Ten minutes into the second half Dunkineely were back in the game when Adrian Nesbitt finished off a good move. As the game moved into the last twenty minutes Ronan Boyle levelled when he shot home following a corner.
The home side pushed for the winner and during a goalmouth scramble Tomas Diver fired home from close range Best for Gweedore was Danny Curran. A team performance by Dunkineely Referee: Ed Moore
Watson Hire Division One
Eany Celtic 0 Cappry Rovers 2
The visitors went away from Inver with all three points following a hard battle. Both sides had chances in the first half but were unable to make the breakthrough. The teams were still scoreless at half time. Eany had the better of the exchanges at the start of the second half with Seamie Cannon going close on the hour. The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Kyle Lafferty latched onto a ball played into the box. Eany went close to finding the equaliser on several occasions but were unable to score the elusive goal and Barney Lafferty got the second Cappry goal in injury time.
CT Ball Division Two
Copany Rovers 1 Kerrykeel ’71 FC 6
Kerrykeel underlined their title credentials with a large win over Copany in a match moved to the Lakeside Center, Ballyshannon. Mark Friel opened the scoring after 18 minutes and the same player netted on 25. Johnny Friel grabbed the third and fourth on 36 and 51 minutes, with Mark Friel completing his hat-trick on 55 minutes. Mark Friel grabbed his fourth on 72 minutes before Paul Clarke netted a late consolation for Copany after 80 minutes. Man of the match was Niall Doherty.
Whitestrand United 3 Bonagee United 1
Whitestrand were victorious in what was a superb game played in tricky conditions . The muddy pitch and the rain didn’t deter from what was a superb footballing spectacle . In what was really a must win game for the strand they got off to a magnificent start with Shaun Martin finishing superbly to get his first goal of the season . The first half was played at a high tempo throughout with both sides playing some beautiful football but it was Whitestrand that struck again on the stroke of half time. Calvin McGowan whipped in a great corner and Michael Sweeney finished clinically. Bonagee came out all guns blazing for the second half and got a goal back with 25 minutes remaining . The strand came under immense pressure but they were superb with the back four excellent throughout especially Ryan Mc Cleary who played with a maturity beyond his tender age. The strand struck the final and decisive blow thanks once again to the goal scoring machine Michael Sweeney. Sweeney ran onto a sublime through ball from Shauny Gallagher and finished at the second attempt. Whitestrand deserved the three points in what was a pulsating encounter from the first whistle to the last . The strand had heroic performers all over the field with Mc Cleary , Lynch and Sweeney providing a devastating spine to the promotion chasers.
DONEGAL JUNIOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD
Old Orchard Inn Division One
Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves 1 v 3 Castlefin Celtic Reserves
Fintown Harps AFC 1 v 1 Glenea United Reserves
Mulroy Celtic 2 v 4 Glencar Celtic
Glencar Inn Division Two
Donegal Town Reserves 1 v 0 Glenree United Reserves
Downtown Cup Group A
Tullyvinney Rovers 1 v 9 Erne Wanderers
Milford United Reserves 1 v 2 Cranford United Reserves
Downtown Cup Group C
Ramelton Mariners 0 v 1 Deele Harps
Gweedore United Reserves 2 v 1 Downtown United
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Lagan Harps 2 v 2 Glenea United
Milford United P v P Kilmacrennan Celtic
Rathmullan Celtic 3 v 1 Castlefin Celtic
Dunkineely Celtic 2 v 3 Gweedore Celtic
Watson Hire Division One
Raphoe Town P v P Arranmore United
Drumoghill FC P v P Curragh Athletic
Keadue Rovers P v P Ballybofey United
Eany Celtic 0 v 2 Cappry Rovers
Cranford United P v P Donegal Town
CT Ball Division Two
Copany Rovers 1 v 6 Kerrykeel ’71 FC
Dunlewy Celtic P v P Drumbar United
Letterbarrow Celtic P v P Gweedore United
Whitestrand United 3 v 1 Bonagee United
DONEGAL JUNIOR LEAGUE FIXTURES
SATURDAY 16-2-2013 K.O. 2 p.m. (Unless Stated)
Old Orchard Inn Division One
Glencar Celtic v Fintown Harps AFC
Glenea United Reserves v Ramelton Mariners
Castlefin Celtic Reserves v Erne Wanderers
Mulroy Celtic v Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves
Glencar Inn Division Two
Keadue Rovers Reserves v Downtown United
Glenree United Reserves v Cranford United Reserves
Downtown Cup Group A
Tullyvinney Rovers v Milford United Reserves
Downtown Cup Group C
Deele Harps v Gweedore United Reserves
FIXTURES SUNDAY 17-2-2013 K.O. 2 p.m. (Unless Stated)
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Milford United v Glenea United
Gweedore Celtic v Kilmacrennan Celtic
Castlefin Celtic v St. Catherines
Watson Hire Division One
Eany Celtic v Curragh Athletic
Keadue Rovers v Drumoghill FC
Cranford United v Raphoe Town
CT Ball Division Two
Gweedore United v Convoy Arsenal
Bonagee United v Dunlewy Celtic
Ulster Junior Cup
Lifford Celtic v Greencastle FC (K.O. 1.30 p.m.)