Reports: Buncrana Hearts open Clubman Shirts League Cup defence with win

Charlie O Donnell Cup
Carn FC 0
Redcastle United 2

 There was little between the teams overall and a young Carn side will learn from the experience of playing  at this level.

The home side  carried the greater threat  early in the game and on 11 minutes Cian Burke pounced on a defensive error but failed to hit the target when well placed. The same player then had another clear sight of goal on 22 minutes but blazed over from fifteen yards. 

Redcastle grew into the game and took the lead on the half hour when a Brendan Murphy snapshot was well parried by Daniel McDaid  but the ball fell to Darragh McConway who opened the scoring with a diving header.
The second half  saw defences on top with few chances at either end. Both Burke and Cade Cooke saw half chances well blocked by the visitors defence.

Redcastle sealed the points late on when they earned a free kick on the edge of the area after a breakaway and Shaun Curran curled a superb effort around the wall and into the net to seal the victory.

Gleneely Colts 0
Dunree United 6

Dunree opened their campaign  with a resounding victory over a disappointing Colts side on Sunday afternoon with a Mark Moran hat trick the highlight of the game. Dunree began on the offensive pinning Gleneely into their own  half while forcing a number of consecutive corners but failed to score in the early part of the game.

Dunree opened the scoring in the 20th minute through a shot from Mark Moran from outside the box. Dunree kept the pressure scoring again in the 30th minute through Mark Moran with another shot into the bottom corner. Gleneely tried to respond  but were caught out with a long ball over the top past the defence for Jamie Brosan to run onto and round the advancing keeper and slot home to an empty net.

Bernie  Doherty pounced again with another shot in the 43rd minute giving Dunree a four nil lead at half time. At the start of the second half again Gleneely failed to clear giving  Bernard Doherty the opportunity to score the fifth goal for Dunree. Gleneely substitute Darragh  O’Connor came on and  had  two good shots but Dunree’s goalie saved them on both occasions. Mark Moran piled more misery on Gleneely with a great third goal completing his hat trick as he jinked his way through Gleneely defense and scored a great solo goal. 

Greencastle Youths 2
Buncrana  Res 1

In a keenly hard fought  contest  Dylan Doherty;s Greencastle outfit got their cup campaign off to a winning start in good conditions at Chapel Lane.

Buncrana took the lead after 20 minutes after a through ball was played to Stephen McHugh who slotted low  past Pauric Gillen in the home goal. Greencastle got the equalizer a short time later when a dangerous corner from Kyle Harkin found its way to Tony McClenaghan who hammered it home from six yards.

Greencastle then took the lead 10 minutes before the half when a great cross from Simon McGuinness found Brendan McClenaghan whose volley flew  perfectly into the bottom corner.  Buncrana  responded and had the last chance of the half with an effort from Stephen McHugh which sailed over the bar from outside the area.

The second half started off much the same as the first as both teams tried to gain the upper hand. Buncrana were first to threaten and  had a great chance when Hugh Aaron McGonagle was put through but his low shot produced a fine diving save from Pauric Gillen to keep Greencastle in the lead.

Gillen then made another great save low to his right as Eoin McNamee had a good effort for Buncrana after a mazy run into the box. Midway through the half Greencastle had a period of pressure with three corners in a row but strong defending from Buncrana kept them at bay.

The last 15 minutes of the game saw Buncrana keeping the pressure on Greencastle, searching for an equalizer but the Greencastle defence held strong to start off their season with a win.