RICHARD MOORE score twice as Drumoghill FC got their Premier Division title defence off to a winning start against Glenea United at The Moss.Sunday League action got underway today with games in all three divisions. Michael Lynch’s Drumoghill are off and running while Kildrum Tigers and Milford – third and second respectively last season – drew in St Johnston.
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Drumoghill FC 2 Glenea United 0
A RICHARD Moore brace ensured that Drumoghill got their bid to retain their Premier Division crown off to the perfect start.
Moore struck in each half to secure victory for The Reds as they ran out comfortable winners in the end. Glenea United however, will feel that they could have got something from a game that was in the balance until Moore got the second of his goals in the 78th minute.
Just a few minutes before Moore’s second, Ryan McFadden thought he had equalised direct from an in-swinging corner only to see his effort land on the crossbar.
Glenea’s physicality and direct style were always going to be a threat that Drumoghill would need to counter and they did so admirably.
Christopher O’Donnell was immense as was debutant Tristan Ferris as Drumoghill kept danger men Darren McGeever, Ciaran McGeady and Lee O’Brien at bay. O’Donnell had one of those days where he seemed to block everything and when Glenea did get past him they found Mickey Toner equal to anything they threw at them.
Both of these sides will expect to be challenge this year so this game was already billed as an important game in the context of the title.
It was never a dirty game, but it was a physical game as neither side were prepared to concede possession. Chris Malseed and Kevin Mulhern took it in turns to boss the game as both sides looked to gain some kind of control.
Just as the game was settling down Drumoghill took the lead on 30 minutes through that man Moore. There seemed little danger when his speculative effort somehow evaded the dive of Joe Coll and it was enough to give Drumoghill a half time lead. Drumoghill were happy to soak up Glenea possession in the second half and try to exploit their pace on the counter attack and it was from one such move that they created their clincher.
Moore slalomed his way through the Glenea United defence and somehow found a gap at Coll’s near post from a narrow angle to settle the issue and secure the perfect start.
Castlefin Celtic 0 Convoy Arsenal 0
CASTLEFIN and Convoy played out an entertaining scoreless draw in Castlefin.
In the opening exchanges the home side started on the front foot and Stephen Roulston went close from the edge of the box.
In the 20th minute Convoy created the first clear cut chance of the game when Eunan Kelly broke down the left and his shot was tipped on to crossbar by Castlefin Keeper Anthony Sweeney.
In the 35th minute Raymond Foy had the host’s best opportunity of the half when he broke from midfield but his shot was well saved by visiting keeper Chris O’Donnell. In the second half both sides had numerous chances to grab a winner, firstly JP Malley shot wide from close range after 55 minutes.
The visitors were always threating on the break and Mark Harvey had an effort from 6 yards that somehow went wide.
In the 75 minute Ronan Tourish had an effort from a free kick that just went over the bar from 30 yards. In quick succession Convoy had two decent opportunities fall to Ryan Carlin and Anthony Bogle but Sweeney in the home goals stood strong.
In the 85th minute the hosts had the best chance to win it when Barry Tourish stabbed wide from 6 yards. Best for Castlefin: Anthony Sweeney and PJ Mc Menamin. Best for Convoy: Chris O’Donnell and Paul O ‘Leary.
Referee: Mick Lagan
[adrotate group=”82″]St. Catherines 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic 2
A YOUTHFUL St Catherines team were hosts to an experienced Kilmacrennan side in Emerald Park .
This experience showed in front of goal as Timmy Burke struck low past Michael Mullin on the 7th minute to take an early and deserved lead. St Catherines found it hard to deal with the oppositions slick passing in front of the 18-yard line and on the 18th minute another low shot, from Christopher Dillon this time, to the bottom corner saw the visitors were two up at the interval. In the second half Stevie Anderson moved back into the centre of defence to allow Sean Gorrell to move further forward in search of goals.
This move gave the Saints more options going forward but the goal eluded them with Stephen Leslie coming closest, striking the crossbar from distance.
Paddy Duffy blew for full time with score remaining at 0-2 to the visitors. An all-round good team performance from Kilmacrennan with Michael Mullin and Stephen Leslie best for the home team .
[adrotate group=”37″]Rathmullan Celtic 4 Lagan Harps 0
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Kildrum Tigers 1 Milford United 1
KILDRUM Tigers and Milford played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in perfect conditions at Station Road.
Milford started better and created a few chances and finally took the lead after 35 minutes through Jonny Logue after good build up play.
Kildrum started the second half strongly and had a great chance to level through Curtis but McGettigan saved well. Kildrum levelled through Melly on 55minutes. Kildrum had a couple of great chances to win the game through Curtis and Clarke. Good battling performances from both sides.
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Gweedore Celtic 2Â Â Â Â Raphoe Town 1
THE home side started best with some lovely passing football. The Celts opened the scoring on 39 minutes when Tommy Diver threaded the ball through to Kyran Glennon who converted.
Raphoe equalised soon after when the ball fell to Jamie Gallagher after a goalmouth scramble. Padraig Gallagher almost put the home side in the lead just before half-time when his shot cannoned off the crossbar.
In the second half Tommy Diver got his second assist when his free kick was headed in by Ciaran Ferry. The Celts held on for the win. Best for Gweedore were Kevin Friel and Joe Bonner and a good team performance from Raphoe.
Referee: Ed Moore.
Glenree United 0 Donegal Town 3
A NEW campaign in a new league for the home side started in Glenree Park with Donegal putting a damper on it when they took all three points back through the gap. They took the lead through David Graham in the 38th minute when he latchet onto a through ball and rifled it past the keeper.
He made it two on 68th minutes. Martin Cullen entered the game and brought a good save out of the visiting keeper after a good run down the wing.
But the game was finished off by Graham in the 80th minute when he lost his marker and headed the ball into the top corner. Good team performance from Donegal Town. Referee: Victor Rainey
Erne Wanderers 4 Keadue Rovers 0
ERNE Wanderers hosted Keadue Rovers at the Lakeside Centre on Sunday in perfect conditions for football and ran out comfortable winners in the end.
The home side took time to get going and Rovers held out to halftime. The first goal came on 52 minutes when Ryan O’Brien played a lovely ball over the top for Micky Bowering to run onto and he made no mistake from 8 yards out.
The second came four minutes later when David Dorrian finished from 6 yards out when the ball fell kindly to him.
Erne were now attacking at will and creating numerous chances and the scoreline would have been much higher only for the Keadue keeper making several outstanding saves.
The third came on 76 minutes when Seamus Kane finished well into the top corner from an acute angle to make amends for his penalty miss a few minutes earlier.
The fourth came with the last kick off the game when Sticky Ward squared for Diarmuid McInerny to tap home from six yards.
[adrotate group=”46″]Deele Harps 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bonagee United 2
Deele welcomed Bonagee to The Athletic grounds for this Division One opener and it was Fergal O Hagan’s men who started the brighter. Deele took the lead when Jordy Duffy curled home a stunning goal from 25 yards to give the hosts the advantage. Bonagee levelled on 46 minutes following good work from Kevin Kelly his shot just about evaded Chris Roulstone as it tricked over the line. Deele regained the lead again on 60 minutes when Shane Gallagher scored a fine free kick from 20 yards. Deele missed an opportunity to make it 3-1 soon after and Bonagee made the home side pay for their defensive lapses as Kevin Kelly finished again from close range to equalise. Bonagee hit the bar while Deele had a late penalty appeal denied. Deele disappointed as they were will realise they could have also lost this game and a result the draw was probably a fair result . Chris Roulstone was in fine form for Deele, with Rainey and Kelly inspiring the visitors.
CT Ball Division Two
Letterbarrow Celtic 2 Ballybofey United 4
BALLYBOFEY enter this season with strong ambitions for promotion and went away from Tymeen with all three points on the opening weekend.
After a competitive opening, Damian Glackin broke the deadlock for the visitors when he tapped home from close range on 35 minutes to give Ballybofey a 1-0 lead at the interval.
Ballybofey got a great start to the second half when Mark Griffin slotted home from inside the box after he ran from his own half. Griffin scored his second on 50 minutes with a fine left foot effort from the edge of the box.
Letterbarrow pulled one back on 60 minutes when Alex McNeillis rounded the keeper after breaking the offside trap.
Damian Glackin restored a three-goal cushion for Ballybofey when he capitalised on a defensive error.
Letterbarrow missed a penalty on 70 minutes but pulled a goal back on 75 minutes when McNeillis got his second.
[adrotate group=”70″]Eany Celtic 3 Copany Rovers 2
A GOOD entertaining game at Eany Park to start the season saw the home side come out on top with a hat-trick from Paul McGroarty.
It was the visitors that started brightest in this game and it was on the half hour they made the good work count. Following a good move Lee Doherty found space in the Eany box and scored the opening goal.
The score remained 0-1 until half time. A determined Eany side came out for the second half and with only 10 minutes gone Paul McGroarty got the first of his three from a free kick.
With Eany pushing for the lead the visitors scored again when Paul Patton was given space outside the box to shoot.
Eany came back into the game and went close on several occasions but the breakthrough came in the 75th minute and it was McGroarty again to pull Eany back level.
The home side hit the lead in the 80th minute when Stephen Griffin was taken down in the box. Paul McGroarty took the resulting penalty and completed his hat-trick. The home defence held out for the last ten minutes to collect the three points.
Curragh Athletic 1Â Â Â Â Dunkineely Celtic 6
THE game was played in perfect conditions at Curragh Sports Complex. It saw Dunkineely too strong for the Killygordon youngsters. They recorded an easy 6-1 victory.
Kerrykeel ’71 0 Lifford Celtic 3
LIFFORD Celtic left Rab’s Park with all three points from a great game with Kerrykeel ‘71. Both teams played some great football and it was an evenly contested match with the scoreline a bit harsh on the ’71.
Both keepers were on top in the first half pulling off great saves, first with Dillon Early saving from Cathal Martin at point blank range and then Shane Sandilands did well to tip a Marcus O’ Donnell effort over the bar.
Donal Callaghan should have put Kerrykeel in front on 35 minutes when he failed to convert a Conor McFadden cross. Lifford converted on the 74th minute when Conor Carlin finished off a great ball from Marcus O’ Donnell. Kerrykeel pushed for the equaliser and had good chances from Paul Gibbons and Conor McFadden but Dillon Early proved hard to beat.
Michael McDevitt’s free in the 80th minute was again tipped over the bar by Early. Sandilands kept the ‘71 in the game with a brilliant point blank save from Carlin.
The away side added two more in stoppage time to put the game out of sight, the first from Carlin after a slack back pass and Marcus O’ Donnell with a header form a corner.
[adrotate group=”38″]Whitestrand United 0 Cranford United 1
THE first match of the new season started with a match between Whitestrand and Cranford.
Whitestrand started the game off on the front foot and some good play led to Kevin Loughrey crossing to Shane McGlade who shot narrowly wide. Another good passage of play led to a cross from Kevin McCarry that caused a scramble in the goalmouth. Cranford were always dangerous on the counter attack and had a shot that went narrowly past the post.
It was an evenly matched first half. The second half started off with both teams having periods of good play and the breakthrough came when a cross came into the box and caused a scramble.
The ball was eventually forced over the line by Brian McGinley in the 65th minute. A mistake led to another chance for Cranford but it went narrowly wide.
Whitestrand pushed hard for an equaliser with a sustained period of pressure and it nearly came but the Cranford keeper produced a number of superb saves.
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