Inishowen League: Clonmany Shamrocks hit Redcastle Utd for six in FAI Junior Cup

FAI Junior Cup

Clonmany Shamrocks 6-0 Redcastle United

Played on a fine Autumnal afternoon, Clonmany had some early pressure which the Redcastle defence repelled before they had a slick passing move of their own, involving Danny Kelly and Jack McConnellogue but the pass to Shaun Curran was delayed and fortunately for Clonmany their offside trap prevented the move from progressing. 

Clonmany took the lead in the 10th minute when Jason Devlin's pass into the box for Terence Doherty drew Redcastle keeper Michael McCole from his line and although he prevented Terence from getting to the ball first,he could not hold onto the ball and Terence won the loose ball before spinning and sending a looping shot from the edge of the box over Michael as he retreated, to nestle in the back of the net.

Clonmany's pressure resulted in a second goal in the 16th minute when a Redcastle clearance fell to Conor Doherty 25 yards from goal and he sent a curling shot to the top left hand corner of the Redcastle goal giving Michael McCole no chance. 

Michael was called into action again in the 18th minute, this time to deny Terence Doherty with a point blank save on the 6-yard line before the loose ball was hacked to safety. Clonmany were forced to withdraw the injured Shane McCaul in the 25th minute with Brendan Doherty taking his place in midfield. 

Terence Doherty created a good chance for Alex McFadden in the 31st minute when his clever ball behind the Redcastle defence allowed Alex to run clear into the Redcastle box but their right back Stephen Grant was able to force Alex's shot behind to concede a corner. 

Clonmany added a third goal in the 36th minute when Ryan McColgan's strong run on the right wing took him clear of the Redcastle defence and his low cross from the by-line allowed Conor Doherty the opportunity to simply guide the ball to the corner of the net past Michael McCole to leave the score at half-time, Clonmany  Shamrocks 3 Redcastle Utd 0.

Clonmany started the second half brightly and went close again 3minutes after the restart. Jamie McKinney sprinted clear on the right wing and sent a lofted cross to the back post which Aaron Porter met first time to send a shot just over the Redcastle crossbar. 

Redcastle's Mark Bell went close in the 52nd minute when the ball arrived to him in space around 25 yards out and without hesitation, he fired goalwards but it went narrowly wide to the relief of Clonmany keeper Zach Conlan.

Conor Doherty almost grabbed his third goal of the game in the 59th minute when Michael McCole's kick-out was met by Ryan McColgan in the centre circle and his header landed at Conor's feet and he immediately turned and sent a left foot shot goalwards but it drifted to the right of the Redcastle goal. 

Michael McCole saved well again from Terence Doherty in the 60th minute, after Terence was able to get away from Redcastle defender Martin McCarron who had been marking him closely all game, this time Terence was able to evade him and got to the 18 yard line but his shot didn't have the power to trouble Michael McCole.

In the 64th minute a Clonmany free-kick taken by Jamie McKinney on the half-way line found Aaron Porter sprinting into the box but Aaron's volley was again just over the bar. Clonmany made it 4-0 in the 68th minute when Terence Doherty received Alex McFadden's pass on the right wing and he drifted in-field without any serious challenges before sprinting clear and sending a left foot shot to the bottom left hand corner of the Redcastle net. 

Clonmany's Conor Doherty completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute when he converted a penalty, awarded after Jason Devlin had been tripped in the Redcastle box, to make it 5-0. Unusually both teams made keeper substitutions late on with Kieran Friel coming on for Clonmany and Seamus Houghton coming on for Redcastle. 

Kieran was called into action quickly to deny Stephen Grant and Danny Kelly with a succession of quick saves. 

Clonmany's Aaron Porter wrapped up the scoring in the 85th minute when he dribbled in from the left wing before firing low past Seamus Houghton  to the bottom left hand corner. In the final seconds of the game Jamie McKinney saw his shot from 18 yards crash back off the crossbar and be cleared by Redacstle before time was called.

Lagan Harps 1 Aileach FC 3

10 mins in Aileach carved out their first chance when Reece McGilloway cut inside and fired a right foot shot from 20 yards but his effort was well dealt with by Brian DeSouza in the Lagan goal. 

On 20 mins Darren Gallagher overlapped down the right and was unlucky to see his effort from 25 yds clip the bar. With 25 minutes gone Shane Mc Monagle should have put the away side ahead but he failed to connect with a Darren Bradley cross. 

On the stroke of half-time a Niall Mc Glynn through ball found Darren Mc Monagle who brought a fine save from DeSouza low to his right. Aileach began the second half well and on 48 mins Darren Mc Monagle got clear down the left before cutting in and firing a shot just wide of DeSouza’s left hand post. 

The away side finally broke the deadlock on 50 mins when Dermot Doherty pulled the ball back to the edge of the box for Shane Mc Monagle to drive a right foot shot beyond DeSouza to the bottom corner. 

The young Lagan side always looked sharp and managed to get back on terms on 55 mins when the Aileach defence failed to clear a corner and when the ball was sent back in Ciaran Quinn was on hand to turn the ball home past Conan Dohery from 6 yds. 

This gave Aileach a wake up call and Daniel Doherty picked the ball up in midfield before advancing and firing a fierce shot from 25 yards which DeSouza did well to tip over the bar. 

Aileach regained the lead on 78 mins when Gavin Doherty crossed for Thomas Mc Monagle to head home from 6 yds. 5 mins later it was 3 when Darren Mc Monagle did well to force his way past a defender before rounding the keeper and finishing to an empty net to complete the scoring.

Donegal Town 1 Cockhill  Celtic 2

Cockhill Celtic got their defence of the FAI Junior Cup off to a winning start against a determined Donegal Town side. 

Early goals from Damian Duffy and Garbhan Friel had Cockhill in the driving seat but any hopes of a straightforward win were gone with Donegal Town pulling a goal back and pushing Cockhill all the way. 

Cockhill went ahead on 3mins when Jack Doherty's teasing cross from the right was headed home by Damian Duffy at the back post. Minutes later it was 2-0 when Garbhan Friel raced onto a ball over the top before firing goalwards. 

Although the Town keeper got a good contact, the ball spun over the line. Cockhill went close to a third with Duffy and Friel both having efforts tipped over before Donegal Town got back into the game when hesitancy in the Cockhill defence allowed a close range finish to make it 2-1 at the break. 

The second half was a scrappy affair with both teams trying to score at every opportunity. Cockhill had to thank Lee McColgan for a great goalline clearance when Donegal turn were having their best spell of the game. 

Cockhill looked like adding a third late on when Jack Mullan had a shot cleared off the line after good work from Luke Rudden but the game ended 2-1 with the holders progressing.

Premier Division

Illies Celtic 0 Carn F.C. 2

This was a very even game for the first 20 min Carn took the lead on 25 min when Mark Mc layghlin was upended in the box Cade Cooke scoring from the spot. 

Into the second half and Illies Jimmy Mc Daid shot wide before Paul Duffy brought a fine save from Danny Mc Daid in the Carn net Carn sealed the points on 89 min when a corner from Ross Farren found Gavin Mc Laughlin to fire past Johnny Noone

Culdaff FC 0 Buncrana Hearts 8

Table toppers Buncrana Hearts secured a facile away victory against early Premier League strugglers Culdaff FC at Caratra Park. 

Played in perfect conditions in front of a large crowd Buncrana began on top and could've taken the lead on 8 mins as Caolan Doherty advanced past two defenders only to be denied by a Michael Doran tackle which deflected the shot just wide. 

Buncrana opened the scoring on 12 minutes when Matty Brown crossed from the right to an unmarked Aaron McDaid who finished neatly past Patrick McLaughlin from 7 yards. Buncrana had further attempts on goal from Matty Brown and Kevin O Loughlin and on 35 minutes went two up as the lively Brown's pinpoint cross picked out the inrushing Caolan Doherty who scored via a ricochet off a culdaff defender. 

Buncrana"s Adam Curran then had a inswinging free from the right headed off the line by Jamie McLaughlin. Culdaff's Keith Norris was unlucky to see his free kick from the edge of the area skim over the crossbar on the stroke of half time. 

Buncrana dominated the second half and scored after 47 minutes when an Adam Curran shot from the edge of the area was parried by Patrick McLaughlin and Liam Jordan reacted smartly to toe poke to the net from inside the six yard box. 

Culdaff had a good chance after 50 minutes as substitute Cadan Doherty's cross from the right was headed narrowly wide by Sonny Bonner from close range. 

Buncrana made it four as substitute Declan Fullerton played a great ball from centre midfield through to Caolan Doherty who outpaced the Culdaff defence and finished superbly with the outside of his foot. 

On the hour mark Matty Brown had the simple task of finishing off at the back post to make it six after good work by Fullerton and Jordan. Noel McLaughlin then hit the post for the home side from 6 yards out after being set up by Caden Doherty. 

Christy McKinley scored Buncrana's sixth from an acute angle from a brilliant Jack Gill Cross from the right on seventy five minutes. 

Substitute Bart Wesoloski added two further goals for Buncrana, the first from a corner as the home defence failed to clear and then a powerful header from a Jack Gill cross to maintain Buncrana"s unbeaten start to the season. 

Culdaff continue to find life in the Premier league difficult compounded today by the absence of some key players.

First Division

Glengad Utd 2 QPS 3

Glengad were first to show when Ryan McLaughlin's effort from outside the box was saved by the visitor's Steven Harbinson. 

At the other end Mark Murray fed Ben Holly but he drove wide from 8 yards. Mid way through the half QPS opened the scoring. 

A forward delivery from Denim McLaughlin found Conor Barrow and he rounded keeper McLaughlin and shot low to the bottom corner. 

The lead was doubled when an Ultan McCool corner found Holly and he made no mistake. Glengad pulled a goal back when Joe Doherty sent a ball through to Oran Doherty and he raced clear and found the net.

 Within two minutes Oran Doherty grabbed his second goal and made the scoreline 2 –2 after capitalising on a mistake in the QPS defence. With half time looming the visitors regained the lead when Denim McLaughlin dispatched a 20 yard free into the net. 

After an eventful opening half there was less incident after the break. The visitors came closest when Denis Canavan's long ball found Barrow and his drive from outside the box brought a good save from McLaughlin while Glengad's only clear chance of the half came when Seamus Doherty released brother Joe but he fired over from 20 yards.

Cockhill Youths 2-1 Gleneely Colts

Cockhill had the better of the early exchanges with several dangerous bits of play. They broke the deadlock near the 20 minute mark, when Danny McDaid controlled the ball with his knee, and volleyed it into the top right corner. 

Ten minutes later, Darragh McDermott finished well from distance into the bottom left corner. Just before the half time break, Gleneely pulled one back when Mark Diver played a whipped ball to the back post where the unmarked Kyron Cantwell headed it in. 

The second half saw Cockhill start on the front foot, hitting the bar twice and the post once. However, a late injury, and with no subs left, Cockhill held out against Gleneely who pressed for the last 20 minutes.

Aileach Res 2 Moville Celtic 3

In a game full of incident the visitors took the lead mid way through the first half when Conor Lafferty got on the end of an Oisin Lynch delivery to score past Dylan Porter. 

Aileach equalised minutes later after Sean McHugh set up Stephen Doherty and he fired past Ryan Coyle. 

And they had the chance to move ahead before the break when Charlie Campbell was impeded inside the area but the resultant penalty was fired wide. After the resumption Campbell was out of luck when his 20 yard effort came off post and keeper. 

Almost immediately Moville regained the lead. Lee McColgan sent in a free from close to the half way line and Luke McFadden sent a looping header over Porter to the net. 

The home team then had another opportunity to score from the spot when Emmet Mc Carron was brought down but again fluffed the opportunity. 

Moville moved into a 3 – 1 lead with Evan Hudner driving a free from outside the box to the top corner. However, Aileach were continuing to create openings. 

Ciaran Bradley just failed to connect with a Benny Hegarty cross but he did have better luck with 3 minutes remaining when he broke through and shot past Coyle. 

In injury time Bradley had another chance when he latched onto an Emmet McCarron through ball but the advancing Coyle saved with his legs.

Buncrana Res 2 Carn Youths 2

The Hearts took the lead on 5 minutes when Liam Duncan got in down the right and crossed for Eoin McNamee to lift the ball over Kyle Harkin and into the net. 

Carn equalised on 12 minutes McDaid's free flicked past O’Doherty by Sheaghain Doherty. Andrew Rodden restored the Hearts advantage on 30 minutes sliding home Cillien Downey's cross. 

Rodden had another opportunity right on the stroke of half time but he headed wide from Jerry Gill's cross. 

The visitors had a great chance on 60 minutes when McDaid crossed for Doherty who somehow hit the crossbar from five yards. 

On 72 minutes Carn equalised following a goalmouth scramble with the ball fell to Dylan Cooke and he poked it past O’Doherty. 

The Hearts had a great chance to claim victory on 89 minutes Seanan Murphy headed on for McNamee but he shot straight at Harkin to see the teams share the points.

Dunree United 2 Rashenney 0

Two minutes in Dunree corner swung in by Cian Moran to Adam Barrett who volleyed his shot of the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

21 minutes Cormac Dillion put a lovely through ball to David Mc Laughlin he went one on one with the Dunree keeper Philip Doherty who made a brilliant one hand save to keep the game at 0-0.

On 36 Minutes Dunree broke the deadlock when a flick on by Adam Barrett fell to Aaron Harkin who coolly slotted the ball past Sam Coyle in the Rashenny goal.

On 39 minutes Rashenny nearly got the equaliser when David mc laughlin played a lovely low cross across the box but the in rushing Cormac Dillion couldn’t get on the end of it .

The second half half started brightly for Rashenny after 5 minutes David Mc Laughlin broke down the right and squared to Shane Cregan and his shot was well blocked in the box by the Dunree defence and cleared to safety. 

On 57 Minutes the same player Shane Cregan had a great chance at the back post but this time he lifted the ball over the crossbar. 

After this it was fairly even until Dunree then had another 15 minute spell first of all Aaron Harkin had a 25-yard pile driver tipped onto the post by Sam Coyle.

Then on 85 minutes Sean Mc Colgan went on a run beating 2 defenders before striking a low shot to the corner and was tipped around the post by Shay Coyle for a corner.

On 88 minutes Aaron Harkin crossed for Sean Mc Colgan at the back post and his header was cleared of the line by a Rashenny defender. 

On 89 minutes Dunree made it 2-0 when Adam Barrett intercepted a cross field pass by Rashenny and raced clear to coolly slot the ball low past Sam Coyle to secure the 3 points.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two

Moville Reserves 0 Clonmany Reserves 4

Clonmany started on the front foot and Vernon Kelly in the Moville goal made a couple of fine saves in the first 5 min, 

Tyler Mc Elhinney for Clonmany had a one on one with Kelly with Kelly turning his effort around the post, from the resulting corner Mc Elhinney’s half volley was saved by Kelly, a Jack Lee free for Moville dipped over the bar.

Another effort from Mc Elhinney was saved by Kelly but Clonmany did break the deadlock on 15min with Ethan Devlin slotting in at the back post 3min later Ben Gill made it 2-0 with a shot from 20 yards to Kelly’s right. 

Moville tried hard to break down Clonmany to no avail, Joe Doherty made it 3-0 before half time for Clonmany, into the second half and Clonmany again were pressing but Mike Price and Aiden Moore in the Moville defence were holding firm Clonamny added a forth goal to run out deserved winners in the end

Illies Reserves 0-0 Culdaff Reserves

Illies had the first chance on 10 min when Shane Devlin headed over from a Conor Doherty cross then a Devlin corner clipped the crossbar, Culdaff had a good chance before half time when Eugene Mc Laughlin found Brian Mc Candless but he fired over Doherty in the Illies goal.

Culdaff had the best of the play in the second half Mc Candless again shot over from a Sean Mc Geoghan cross, Illies should have won it in the dying minutes when Doherty set up Stephen Mc Gonagle but he shot wide.

Cockhill Colts 3-0 Redcastle Res

The Colts had the first chance when Kevin Mc Daid crossed for Niall Gordon to shoot over from 10 yards. 

Cockhill took the lead on 40 min when Darragh Doherty crossed from the right for Mc Daid to slot home, 7 min later it was 2-0 Doherty crossing for Kieran Mc Laughlin to score it was 3-0 on 53 min when a long kick out by Graham Doherty was flicked on by Mc Daid to Liam O' Donnell to score

Cockhill Reserves 10 Glengad Reserves 0

After a tentative start this young Cockhill side, missing a raft of experienced regulars through injury, settled into the game and took a deserved lead after 15 minutes. 

Andrew Shaw saw his header from a Finn O'Toole corner tipped on to the bar by Glengad keeper Ronan Lafferty but he was first to react and fired the rebound home for his first senior goal on his first senior start. 

Cockhill doubled their lead moments later from another fine delivery by Finn O'Toole, this time it was Shay Devlin attacking the ball and driving the ball home from six yard for his first goal for Cockhill in senior football as well. 

Glengad responded and came close to getting back into the game but a fine strike from just outside the box from Caolan McDaid found the side netting. It was 3 nil midway through the half when a quick counter opened up Glengad and as Shayne Gallagher raced through on the keeper he was fouled in the box. 

He dusted himself down to take the resulting penalty and beat Ronan Lafferty from the spot. A quick fire double 5 minutes before halftime put Cockhill well in command. Ethan O'Toole with a great instinctive finish showing his sharpness in the box and then Shayne Gallagher with his second of the match from a tight angle. 

There were no signs of any complacency after the break as Cockhill scored another 2 quick goals within 5 minutes to put the game to bed. Some great wing play down both sides from Devin McCarron and Joe Lavery helped set up Finn O'Toole twice for his goals, both well taken first time finishes from just inside the box. 

Joe Lavery was next to score a double on the day for Cockhill, showing good feet in the box to finish well past Ronan Lafferty for his first. His second coming from a driving run, finishing it well across the keeper into the far post. 

With 10 minutes to go after some good link up play, Kian Porter picked out Noah Doherty who finished high into the net from 12 yards with a fine strike for his first goal in senior football to complete the scoring.

Dunree Res 1 Carrowmena FC 0

An open battle in the first 15 minutes as both sides had chances. On 25 mins Dunree's Danny Doherty went close after a brilliant cross from Ronan Walsh. 

The away side reacted immediately and in a break away the Dunree keeper Oran Doherty had to make a great save to keep it level. 

With the game scoreless at the break, the away side had an early chance in the second half with a header just going past the post. 

They again  went close on 60 mins as Cahir Mc Elhinney headed against the crossbar. On 75 mins the home side got a free kick in a dangerous area and they took the lead when Paddy Doherty hit the free to the top corner. 

Carrowmena almost get level with 5 minutes remaining but their effort went just past the post and the home side held on to take all 3 points.

Rasheney Res 0 Carndonagh Res 1

This match was played in bitterly cold and windy conditions on Saturday night under the lights in the Isle. 

The visitors were first to show when a Tiernan Diver shot was saved by Roger McGilloway in the home goal. 

They continued to have the better of exchanges with Conor Doherty shooting wide from just outside the box while Adam McLaughlin's free was just off target. It was mid way throught the half before the home side threatened with Caylum Long's attempt being dealt with by the Carn defence and then the same player bringing a save from Jack O'Brien. 

A short time later Callum Doherty played Long through on goal but he was again denied by O'Brien. 

At the other end Conor Burke had a shot from distance gathered by McGilloway. Into the second half and Carn's Diver broke clear but replacement keeper Conor McGonigle tipped his parting shot over. 

Conor Doherty's deliveries from the right wing was putting pressure on the home defence. One of his crosses was booted away out of danger while a second was palmed out by McGonigle with Nathan Doherty completing the clearance. 

What turned out to be the only goal of the match arrived with ten minutes to go. McLaughlin's cross into the area was cleared out as far as Diver and he dispatched a low shot to the net. 

An effort from Carn's Shane McGuinness failed to increase the lead and although the home side pressed in the closing stages they were not able to breakdown the Carn defence.

Rasheney Youths 0 Sea Rovers 8

Sea Rovers have started the season at a blistering pace and enjoyed another emphatic win in this game. 

After Andrew Gallagher had an early chance gathered by Liam McDermott the visitors took the lead after six minutes when Conor McCloskey held off a defender and hooked a shot past the advancing McDermott from just inside the area. 

Rasheney's first opening came when Brian Devlin shot off target following a corner. Gallagher continued to be prominent up front and after having a 20 yard attempt just wide he did double his side's advantage when he turned two home defenders close to the 18 yard line and fired to the top corner of the net. 

Then continued Sea Rovers pressure saw Daniel Gallagher having opportunities. Firstly a shot was tipped over by McDermott and a shot on the run was just wide. Matthew Doherty then had a low ground shot come back off a post before being cleared and the same player headed anothe chance wide of target. 

Meanwhile Rasheney were trying to fashion some chances of their own. Shea Grant had a shot over the top and when he sent Matthew McGurk away along the left wing the resultant enticing delivery into the 6 yard saw Oran McDevitt just fail to connect. 

Just before the break the scoreline moved on to 3 – 0 when Matthew Mooney cut inside and drove low across the keeper to the far corner. On the resumption the visitors kept up the relentless pressure. 

McDermott had to be very alert to smother a Doherty shot from 8 yards but he could do nothing when the same player scored from close in after an initial shot from Andrew Gallagher came back off the bar to give Sea Rovers a four goal cushion. 

Further goals from Daniel and Andrew Gallagher, Christy McDaid and John Doherty completed the scoring.