Inishowen League: Buncrana Hearts start the league on a high with a win over Illies

Jackie Crossan Premier Division 

Buncrana Hearts 4-1 Illies Celtic  

The visitors stunned the Hearts on nine minutes after the ball broke for ex-hearts player Jamie McDaid who rifled a brilliant effort past Taylor Clarke from twenty-five yards.  

Buncrana dominated possession for the remainder of the half but were limited to a couple of half chances. Firstly, Keelan Doherty ran onto a Shane Dillon flick but dragged his effort wide when well placed.  

The final effort of the half came when Eoin Murphy advanced on the left and his cross was controlled on the chest by Bart Wesolowski but he fired over the bar.  

The home side exploded at the start of the second half and equalised within two minutes following a superb Adam Curran cross which was met by Matty Brown’s glancing header which gave Johnathan Noone no chance.  

A minute later Brown broke on the right and fed Murphy to drill low past Noone and put the Hearts ahead.  

A quick break by the home side in the 54th minute saw Keelan Doherty find Bart Wesolowski who ghosted past a defender before finishing.  

Buncrana finished strongly with Liam Quigley breaking free but dragging his effort wide. However, when the same player ran onto Doherty’s through ball, he made no mistake to complete the scoring. 

Redcastle United 1-3 Aileach FC  

The visitors had the first threat of the game in the fifth minute when Kevin Boyle broke on the right and crossed for Dillon McGrory whose low effort was well saved by Michael McCole.  

They went close again on 16 minutes after Shane McMonagle threaded a ball into the path of McGrory who drilled wide of the left-hand post.  

Redcastle responded with a Shaun Curran free kick just outside the area bringing a diving save from Conan Doherty in the Aileach goal. But the visitors regained control with Boyle crossing for Michael McElroy who fired wide.  

Aileach then opened the scoring on 33 minutes after Boyle’s cross found McGrory to shoot low past McCole. The home side tried to respond with an Eamon Donnelly free finding Darragh McConway whose header was saved by Doherty.  

Aileach began the second half well and doubled their lead when Gavin Doherty rounded a defender before slotting low past McCole.  

They then made it 3-0 on 56 minutes when a Darren Gallagher cross was headed past McCole by Darren McMonagle.   

Curran had a free kick saved by Doherty before the home side got a late consolation in the 86th minute when Curran played a superb through ball into the path of Darragh McConway to slide the ball past Doherty. 

Clonmany Shamrocks 1-4 Culdaff FC  

The Shamrocks got off to the perfect start when they scored in the first minute after Alex McFadden ghosted in between defenders to get on the end of a Jamie Coyle cross and slot past Odhran Douglas.  

But the visitors equalised when a diagonal ball from the left picked out Michael Coyle who cut inside and fired low past Kieran Friel in the home goal.  

Clonmany upped the tempo after the break and restored their lead on 50 minutes after McFadden was unmarked to fire home a half-volley from 10 yards after the visitor's defence failed to clear.  

They went close again when Jason Devlin’s cross found Aaron Porter but he blazed over when well placed. Culdaff replied and a dangerous Noel Mclaughlin cross was cleared by the home defence with Coyle lurking.  

Clonmany increased their lead on 70 minutes after Ryan McColgan fed Conor Doherty to curl a superb effort into the top corner.  

McFadden was then denied a hat trick after his header crashed off the post. The home side completed the scoring in the 89th minute after Gavin Friel’s cross was cleared as far as him and he stepped inside and curled a superb effort to the top corner from fifteen yards. 

Division One  

Aileach Res 3-1 Buncrana Res 

In an evenly contested opening half there were few chances and no goals to report. Buncrana had the first opportunity with a James Quigley effort blocked by Mark McElhinney midway through the half.  

Aileach replied with a Jack McClean running onto a through ball from Stephen Doherty but keeper Eoghan O’Doherty forced him wide and the chance was lost.   

The visitors started well on the resumption with Jack Soal firing wide before Eoin McNamee broke through but saw his shot tipped around the post by Dillon Porter. 

Aileach then got the breakthrough in the 65th minute when the Buncrana defence failed to deal with a long ball allowing Emmet McCarron to shoot into the unguarded goal.  

Buncrana replied and from Soal's free, Shannon Murphy rose highest but headed at Porter.  

In a quick counterattack on 68 minutes Aileach increased their lead after Stephen Doherty fed Ciaran Bradley to drill past O’Doherty. A Paul Eyre cross was then converted at the back post by Doherty to make it 3-0.  

The visitors had late chances as well and McNamee drew a fine fingertip save from Porter before Conor Mallon robbed a defender but shot straight at Porter from the edge of the area. 

QPS 6-1 Dunree United  

The visitors got a dream start when they opened the scoring in the first minute after sloppy defensive work allowed Sean McColgan to fire low past Leo McColgan from 20 yards.  

The point spurned a gilt-edged chance on 20 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Oisin Lynch was upended, but Lee Barr dragged his effort wide.  

They did get back on terms on 37 minutes after good build-up play ended with a neat finish from Conor Barrow from close range.  

The point upped the tempo after the interval and took the lead on 53 minutes when a Josh Boyle corner broke kindly for Denim Mclaughlin to bundle the ball home.  

Mclaughlin then split the visitor's defence for Barrow to race through and slot past Philip Doherty two minutes later.  

It became 4-1 on 68 minutes when Lynch pounced on a loose ball to fire first-time low to the corner from 20 yards.  

Barrow completed his hat trick in the 80th minute when he got on the end of a Ross Nicholas corner to slot home. 

The home side completed the scoring in the final minute with Barr dispatching a superb 30 yards free to the top corner. 

Carn Youths 0-0 Glengad United  

Having drawn in a cup game a fortnight ago, this clash was equally as tight. The home side had the first chance in the sixth minute when a Callum Kelly corner from the right was headed over the bar by Shay Fallon from 10 yards.  

Glengad replied when a John McDaid pass from midfield found Joe Doherty who went past the defender and shot low to the right corner of the net from 12 yards and was pushed past the post by Kyle Harkin in the Carn goal.  

Carn had another chance on when a Girts Dzerins pass from midfield found Shay McDaid on the left wing and he rounded the defender and squared it for Olly Coyle who shot wide from 10 yards.  

Carn had another chance before halftime after a Tiernan Kelly corner on the left found Shay McDaid who shot towards the top right corner but was well saved by Michael McLaughlin in the Glengad goal.   

Glengad came out strong at the beginning of the second half and had a great chance in the 55th minute to score when Joe Doherty broke on the left wing and crossed it over for Stephen Doherty whose low shot was well tidied up by Harkin.  

Carn replied with Callum Kelly breaking on the left wing and crossing for sub Lorcan Bradley who headed low to the right and wide when well-placed inside the area.  

Glengad had another chance on 85 minutes after Oran Doherty fed Joe Doherty on the right who crossed to Ryan McLaughlin but he failed to hit the target from twelve yards.  

Carn had the final chance in injury time when substitute Daire Tully broke wide on the right wing rounded the defender and squared it to Cormac McLaughlin but he failed to hit the target.  

Rashenny FC 2-0 Cockhill Youth 

The best chance of the half came for the home side in the 43rd minute when a long ball from John Mclaughlin found Shane Cregan to lift the ball over the advancing Darragh O Donnell but it also cleared the bar as the half ended scoreless.  

The first action of note in the second half arrived in the 66th minute with a dipping Danny McDaid effort which dropped just over the bar.  

Rashenny replied with Ronan Shovlin combining with David McLaughlin to find substitute Shea Grant who beat the advancing O’Donnell but from a tight angle could not direct his effort on target.  

Cockhill broke the deadlock on 80 minutes when Connor McDaid converted from the penalty spot after a foul in the area and they sealed the points deep into injury time with McDaid scoring his second of the game with a powerful downward header following a corner. 

Gleneely Colts 1-0 Moville Celtic  

The first chance for Gleneely occurred on 20 minutes when a free by Kyran Cantwell from the edge of the box was well held by Ryan Coyle in the Moville goal.  

Moville’s first real opening happened just before the half-time break when Luke McFadden rose unmarked from a corner and smacked the crossbar from eight yards out before the ball was cleared to safety.  

The home side opened the scoring on 56 minutes when Oleh Yurchushun played Cantwell through and he dinked the ball over the rushing Coyle from the edge of the area.  

Moville had a great chance to level midway through the half but Indyka’s penalty was well saved by Ciaran Gallagher low to his left.  

Luke McFadden had another chance but his well-struck shot was well saved again by Gallagher low to his right. 

Inishowen Engineering Division Two  

QPS Youth 1-3 Illies Res  

The home side got off to a perfect start with Sean Og Gallagher firing home from the penalty spot after he himself had been upended.  

The point replied and Gallagher fired into the side netting before a John McCloskey cross found Joe Mc Gonagle who fired wide from a good position.  

Illies equalised on 38 minutes after a Conor Doherty free kick evaded everyone in the area and crept into the net. Doherty then fired the visitors ahead just before the break when he shot high to the roof of the net from 12 yards.  

The home side started the second half well and Kevin Wallace headed wide from a Gallagher corner before Sean McIvor came close to an equaliser after a neat one-two on the edge of the area.  

On 88 minutes Illies sealed the points after a defensive error allowed Nathan Mclaughlin to slot home from close range.  

The home side were awarded another penalty on full time after Wallace was fouled but McCloskey’s spot kick was superbly saved by Doherty. 

Rashenny Youths 1-2 Dunree Res 

The visitors opened the scoring in the 13th minute after Sam Coyle in the home goal parried a low shot from David O’Hagan and he followed up to slot home the rebound.  

Dunree then doubled their lead on 36 minutes when John Moran flicked the ball on for Danny Doherty (W) to race clear and slot home.  

Rashenny tried to get back into it and Friel again took a save from Sharkey. The home side began the second half well and from a short corner Keelan Doherty crossed for Kyle Kelly who headed just wide.  

They got a goal back on 54 minutes when a Kelly cross was met with a superb diving header from Friel which flew past Sharkey.   

The visitors finished the game strongly with Coyle saving from Danny Doherty before Paul Jackson was off target with a shot from distance. 

Rashenny Res 1-3 Moville Res 

The visitors dominated the opening half an hour and home defender Ronan McConalogue denied the visitors with a superb last-ditch tackle.  

The home side came more into the game than before the break with Leo McGlinchey having a shot blocked and Illia Ahapii seeing a shot deflected wide. Brendan Grant then fired over at the back post following a corner and on the stroke of half time Ahappi also headed over from a corner.  

Moville broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when an Andrew Doherty cross-shot flew over Roger McGilloway and into the roof of the net.  

Minutes later they doubled their lead with Jay Gillen laying the ball back for Doherty to drill a low shot to the bottom corner from sixteen yards.  

Rashenny rallied and reduced the deficit when a Leo McGlinchey angled shot from the right-hand side of the area flew past Vernon Kelly.  

But midway through the half Moville made it 3-1 after Hudner dispatched a superb twenty-five yards fee to the roof of the net.

Hudner then advanced from midfield but McGilloway saved well while Jack Lee had a late effort just off target.  

The home side’s final chance saw a Keelan O Donnell cross come off the crossbar and in the ensuing scramble, Kelly palmed the ball away to safety. 

Carrowmena FC 1-0 Culdaff Res 

In good conditions at the Warren, the opening half was a very tight affair with few chances and defences on top.  

The visitors had the first opening midway through the half when Oisin McLaughlin turned inside a defender and flashed a low-ball across goal which just eluded Bryan McCandless at the back post.  

A minute before the break the home side went close when Christy Hegarty crossed from the left for Adam Harkin who turned and unleashed a superb effort towards the top corner but Mark Smith made a stunning save to tip the ball around the post.  

Culdaff started the second half well with Dillon and Oisin McLaughlin both very prominent but they failed to create clear chances and the home defence stood firm.  

Carrowmena then struck for the winner on 79 minutes after Harkin and Cathal Crumlish played a neat one-two before a ball over the top found Hegarty who rounded Smith and slotted home.  

With the visitors pushing hard the home side had another chance but Harkins shot was again well saved by Smith.