CLONMANY Shamrocks upset the odds in the Buncrana Credit Union Cup today while Greencastle and Cockhill Celtic also booked semi-final spots.
Clonmany (pictured above) knocked out Premier Division Buncrana Hearts as Mark McLaughlin latched onto a through ball to score the only goal of the game in extra time.
The game between heavyweights Aileach and Glengad United was called off.
Clonmany Shamrocks 1 Buncrana Hearts 0 (AET)
Clonmany Shamrocks caused the shock of the quarter finals when they dumped Premier Division Buncrana Hearts from the cup.
Switched to Castle Park it was the Shamrocks who made the better start played in a difficult cross-field breeze for the teams.
A Jason Devlin corner swung in beneath the bar was well cleared by Eoghan O’Doherty and when the ball fell to Damien Duffy his effort was well tipped over.
On 22 minutes the ball was cleared by the Hearts defence to Dean Harkin whose twenty five yards effort was also tipped over by O’Doherty.
Buncrana replied and on 29 minutes good interplay between John Timlin and Aaron McDaid on the right saw Timlins superb cross just elude Mikey Friel by inches at the back post.
Clonmany had a late effort then with Mark McLaughlin finding Harkin but his shot lacked the power to trouble O’ Doherty as the half ended scoreless.
Buncrana dominated the second half but failed to get the goal they needed. McDaid released Friel who raced clear but Patrick Harkin in the shamrocks goal advanced to clear.
A superb run by Friel then took him into the area but a last ditch Matthew Brennan tackle saved the day.
Buncrana poured on the pressure and when Timlin’s effort was deflected off a defender and just wide the corner came off Brennnan and hit his own crossbar on the way over.
On 71 minutes Buncrana spurned a great chance after a pinpoint Darragh O’Connor cross found the unmarked Bart Wesoloski but he headed over from close range.
Clonmany had a late chance with Jason Devlin driving forward and unleashing a shot which took a deflection and went just wide with O’Doherty scrambling across his goal.
Clonmany started the first period of extra time well with substitute Pearse McCarron just failing to connect with Dean Harkins cross.
They took the lead on 98 minutes when Mark McLaughlin latched onto a ball over the top and rounded O’Doherty and despite numerous defenders in the vicinity managed to slot home.
Buncrana laid siege to the Clonmany goal in the second period of extra time but failed to create any clear chances and the Shamrocks defence well marshalled by Gareth Bradley, Liam Hirrell and substitute Conor Bradley stood firm to advance to the semi finals.
Greencastle FC 3 Illies Celtic 1
In a scrappy opening half Illies had the first chance with a Michael Coyle cross-cum-shot eluding Dylan Doherty in the home goal but cleared by Michael Henry.
The home side responded with Nigel McMonagle, Michael Barr and Jason Dickson all having efforts blocked before Dickson had a long range effort saved by Johnathan Noone.
Illies broke midway through the half and from a Liam Grant corner Coyle headed just over.They had the best chance of the half on the half hour mark when Adrian Donaghey–Doherty broke through the offside trap but keeper Doherty cleared the danger.
Greencastle replied with their best move of the half initiated by Shea McLaughlin, who fed David Henry who in turn released McMonagle but his effort was saved by Noone.
Illies almost got a perfect start to the second half when Coyle got on the end of a curling cross and beat Dylan Doherty but Gavin Harkin cleared off the line.
Minutes later after a quick break Coyle fired over when well placed. Illies did take the lead on 57 minutes when Liam Grant slotted home at the back post after a Liam Doherty cross.
Greencastle responded and McMonagle and Stephen Grant both fired over before Michael Barr was narrowly wide with a low shot.
They equalised on 74 minutes after Dickson turned smartly inside the area and drilled past Noone from twelve yards.
On 84 minutes a Gavin Rowan cross found Dickson whose header was brilliantly saved by Noone but Dickson pounced on the rebound to drill home.
Illies tried to hit back but when a Paddy Doherty free was gathered by Dylan Doherty his quick clearance found Dickson who raced clear and fed McMonagle to slot home and seal their passage to the semi finals.
Dunree United 3 Cockhill Celtic 3 (AET, Cockhill win 5-4 on penalties)
This local derby saw Dunree, the underdogs, come within a whisker of causing a major shock.
Cockhill took an early lead when Darragh McDermott rose high at the back post to head past John Lafferty following Mark McDaid’s corner.
The home side struck back in the 18th minute after Jamie Brosnan’s corner fell to Ryan Bradley who hammered the ball high past Liam McGonigle from six yards.
They stunned the Premier Division side when from another corner Thomas Mulhern flicked the ball home at the front post.
On the stroke of half time it got even better for Dunree after a ball into the area fell kindly for Mulhern to drill home his second of the game.
Cockhill dominated the second half for long periods but found the home defence a tough nut to crack. They reduced the deficit on the hour mark when Michael Noone advanced from midfield and unleashed a powerfully struck effort low past Lafferty.
They continued to press but had to wait until the 86th minute to equalise after the home defence failed to clear and Mark McDaid slotted home.
Both sides had a chance in extra time.
In the first period Noone was unlucky to see his header crash off the bar.
In the second period Dunree’s Dermot Graham crossed but Keelan McBride saw the ball get stuck in his feet and the chance was lost.
In the shootout, Cockhill edged it by five spot kicks to four.
