Inishowen League: Moville Celtic make the drop as Cockhill Reserves prevail

Hannon Greene Fr O'Gara Cup – Quarter-Final

QPS 2 – Glengad United 1

Played on Friday evening, the home side got off to a perfect start in the 3rd minute. A corner from Lee Barr was headed goalwards by Brian McColgan and blocked on the line. The home side called for a penalty for handball during a scramble in the box, before the ball fell to Josh Boyle who poked it into the net from close range.

Shortly afterwards, Glengad had a good chance from twelve yards, but Steven Harbinson made a fine save to deny Seamus Doherty. QPS pushed forward and forced two corners in quick succession, but Michael McLaughlin in the Glengad goal was in fine form.

Glengad grew into the game and levelled in the 40th minute when Steven Doherty’s powerful shot from thirty yards dipped over Harbinson and into the net.

The second half was more open. Boyle broke clear but McLaughlin turned his effort behind. From the resulting corner, the ball was headed behind again. Ross Nicholas’s next delivery was met by Oisin McIntyre, whose header crashed off the crossbar.

QPS continued to press. Lee Barr’s shot on the turn flew just over from Shea Lynch’s throw-in. At the other end, Glengad broke from a long clearance, but Harbinson was quickly off his line to clear. They also had a chance from a corner, but it went wide.

QPS swung back into attack and after Ross Nicholas crossed into the box, there were no takers. Shea Lynch then found Mark Murray, but his effort was turned behind by McLaughlin. From the corner, McLaughlin punched clear, but the ball fell to Darragh Barron 20 yards out and he rifled it through a crowded goalmouth to the back of the net.

Boyle had a great chance to increase the lead shortly after when he was clear on goal, but McLaughlin produced another fine save. Glengad were then reduced to ten men when Oran Doherty was dismissed.

An entertaining game played before a good crowd, where both defences were hard to break down.

Inish Grass Division Two Shield Final

Clonmany Res 1 – Cockhill Colts 1
(Cockhill win 4-3 on pens AET)

In glorious conditions at Maginn Park, holders Cockhill Colts retained their title but were pushed all the way by a determined Clonmany side.

Clonmany started well. A Ben Gill effort from the right was well saved by Graham Doherty, and then a superb Pearse McCarron run ended with a left-footed strike across goal that went past the far post. McCarron again went close in the 12th minute, his shot from twenty yards whizzing past the post.

Cockhill responded with headers from Gavin Doherty and Mark Moran that were off target. McCarron continued to threaten for Clonmany, flashing another shot just over. Midway through the half, Moran capitalised on a defensive error, but Liam McGonigle rushed out to smother.

Clonmany dominated just before half time. Lorcan McGonigle skipped past three defenders before firing over. They opened the scoring on 36 minutes when Gill fed Tiernan McDonald on the right, and his first-time cross was touched home at the back post by Tyler McEleney at full stretch.

They had another great opportunity minutes later when McCarron picked out McDonald, but he failed to hit the target from six yards. The final chance of the half fell to Cockhill’s Kevin McDaid in a goalmouth scramble, but his delayed effort was blocked and cleared.

Clonmany forced a corner early in the second half, but McCarron’s header was easily gathered by Doherty. Cockhill began to dominate and got back on terms in the 59th minute. McCarron’s superb pass found Darragh Lyons, who controlled well and slipped the ball past McGonigle.

Cockhill pressed hard. Sean Donaghey side-footed wide, and Moran's return ball to McDaid saw the latter fire over from ten yards. Clonmany rallied in the last 10 minutes. A McCarron header was blocked, and McGonigle’s follow-up lacked power. On 86 minutes, McDonald sent McEleney through, but he fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

In extra time, the only real chance fell to Cockhill when Martin Bradley’s cross was met by Moran, whose powerful header was brilliantly saved.

In the shootout, keeper Doherty was the hero, saving two spot-kicks, while Cockhill converted all four of theirs to edge it.

Man of the Match: For Clonmany, Oisin Hession, Ferghal Harkin and Pearse McCarron were excellent. For Cockhill, Graham Doherty, Liam McCarron and Mark Moran were a constant threat. But the award goes to team captain Liam O’Donnell for his control in midfield, defensive strength, and composure in the shootout.

HML Plant Hire Division One Promotion/Relegation Play-Off

Moville Celtic 1 – Cockhill Res 2

First Division side Moville Celtic were stunned by Division Two's Cockhill Reserves and will now join Rashenny FC in relegation.

Cockhill started brightly. Conor McDaid’s dangerous cross was tipped over by Stephen Teles, and Devin McCarron fired just over from 20 yards. Moville responded with efforts from Luke McFadden and Deaglan Lynch, the latter firing straight at Eoin Colhoun.

Cockhill broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Cahir McDaid slotted home after Moville failed to deal with a looping cross. Conor McDaid nearly added a second, but Teles saved superbly. Shayne Gallagher also had a chance, but again Teles was equal to it.

Moville rallied. Lynch’s long-range effort deflected over after dispossessing Colhoun, and McNaught’s powerful shot was beaten away. They levelled in the 38th minute when Norbert Indyka’s inswinging corner was brilliantly headed to the far corner by McFadden.

The final chance of the half fell to Moran, whose effort was tipped wide by Teles.

Moville began the second half well. A flowing move ended with Indyka slicing wide when well placed. Indyka then set up McNaught, who fired over. Cockhill came back, and McDaid’s looping header just cleared the bar.

From the midpoint of the second half, Cockhill took control. Niall Breslin set up Liam Bradley, whose shot clipped the bar. Breslin then sliced wide after getting in behind.

Cockhill’s pressure paid off in the 83rd minute when Breslin collected the ball on the right, cut inside, and drilled a low shot across Teles into the bottom corner. Moville pressed, but couldn’t find an equaliser.

Donegal Signs Challenge Cup

Aileach FC 0 – Cockhill Youths 3

Cockhill started with a high tempo. On 5 minutes, Damian Duffy fired goalwards from eight yards, but Conan Doherty produced a miraculous save to turn it over the bar.

Aileach settled, and Gavin Doherty had the ball in the net on 15 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside.

Cockhill took the lead midway through the half when Duffy pounced on a blocked clearance and finished high into the net from ten yards. The rest of the half saw few chances.

After the break, Cockhill scored again on 53 minutes. Aileach were caught overplaying, and Finn McClure fired a 20-yard effort just inside the post. Cockhill continued to press, and in the final minute were awarded a penalty, which Lee McColgan converted to seal a 3–0 win and a place in the final.

Clonmany Shamrocks 3 – QPS 0

Clonmany started well. A Terence Doherty cross just eluded Aaron Porter, and Doherty himself fired wide. QPS responded through Darragh McIntyre, whose shot was saved by Torin Harkin. Ross Nicholas nearly caught Harkin off his line from halfway, but his audacious effort crashed off the bar.

Jamie McKinney beat two defenders and fed Porter, who was crowded out. Clonmany took the lead on 22 minutes when Doherty blasted a penalty down the middle after being fouled.

McCallion then made a brilliant save to deny Conor Doherty. Just before the break, Clonmany doubled their lead. Terence Doherty burst into the box, pulled it back for Ryan McColgan, whose shot hit the post. The ball was only half-cleared, and Porter’s follow-up from the edge of the area crept inside the post.

After the break, Clonmany stayed on top. Matthew Brennan’s free kick was tipped over, and Gareth Bradley’s shot from the corner was saved.

They made it 3–0 just past the hour. Substitute Jamie Coyle scored with a superb downward header from six yards after a Conor Doherty cross.

QPS kept trying, and Darragh Barron went close after being played in by Conor Barrow. His shot was blocked, and the rebound flashed across goal with no one to finish.

The final chance fell to Coyle, who headed over from ten yards. Clonmany advance to the final.