The Donegal League season is beginning to hot up across all the divisions – here’s how today’s games unfolded.
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Kildrum Tigers 3 Castlefin Celtic 0
Click here to read Charlie Collins’ report from Parkview
Kilmacrennan Celtic 5 Lagan Harps 0
(No Report Submitted)
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Dunkineely Celtic 3 St. Catherines 1
This local derby started at a frantic pace and the home side Dunkineely took the lead on the 13th minute when Damien Quigley had a shot deflected to Daniel Gallagher who poked into the corner of the net.
Killybegs had one or two good chances with a strong breeze but couldn’t break the Dunkineely defence. Cian Kennedy doubled the lead in the 57th minute with a looping shot from a deflection which flew over Kevin Martin in the Saint’s goals.
Killybegs pulled one back through Conor Doherty on the 60th minute but Kennedy put the game to bed for Dunkineely as he grabbed his second in the 85th minute.
Cian Kennedy and Shane Mc Whinnie were good for Dunkineely and it was a team performance from St. Catherine’s.
Lifford Celtic 1 Raphoe Town 2
A windy day in the Brae with Raphoe kicking off. Lifford started early with Johnny Robb crossing a ball in but nobody forward to connect.
Dylan Brolly opening the scoring in the 43rd minute.
The first ten minutes of the second half were quiet. Raphoe had a good chance on 58 minutes but Lee White made a great one on one save. Raphoe doubled their lead with Caolan Kelly scoring.
Lifford got two penalties with Jude Patton missing on 68 minutes and Mark Neeson scoring in the 78th and that’s how it ended.
Gweedore Celtic 3 Erne Wanderers 1
Gweedore started this clash the brightest and made several chances early on with Colin Ferry going close. Colin Ferry was taken down in the box in the 28th minutes with Tommy Diver slotted the resulting penalty home.
The Ballyshannon men then equalised in the 36th minute through David Dunne.
In the 44th minute Tommy Diver scored a spectacular goal from 50 yards when he spotted the keeper off his line, to put the Celts ahead.
Gweedore continued to push in the second half but were thankful for Chris Sweeney who made two fine saves. Gweedore secured the points in the 87th minute when Chris McFadden set up Padraig Hagney Gallagher to slide home.
A fine performance from the home team playing their first competitive game under lights. Best for Gweedore were Colin Ferry and Chris McFadden.
Referee: Liam McConalogue.
Ballybofey United 2 Keadue Rovers 0
Ballybofey somewhat rekindled their league campaign on Sunday afternoon when they defeated high flying Keadue at the Finn Valley Complex. It was their striker Damien Glackin who did the damage weighing in with a brace. The Division is still in the melting pot with some of the top teams defeated this weekend.
Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two
Eany Celtic 2 Copany Rovers 2
(No Report Received)
Gweedore United 2 Letterbarrow Celtic 1
Another wintry day for football in Gweedore saw the home side get another good and well deserved 3 points against a Letterbarrow side who beat them well in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
It took both sides a while to adopt to the weather conditions with good early chances for Frank Mc Gee and Ronan Donnell going abegging.
The visitors looked dangerous on the break with Owen McHugh and Roper a threat, testing Joe Duffy in the United on two occasions.
The home side took the lead in the 37th minute when the ball fell to Ciaran McFadden and he hit an excellent shot into the bottom corner leaving Gildea with no chance to make it 1-0.
United extended their lead in the 44th minute when Paul Doogan hit a free kick into the top corner to make it 2-0 at half time. Letterbarrow pulled one back in the 47th minute with a good finish from Owen McHugh squeezing the ball past Duffy from close range.
The visitors, with the aid of the strong wind In the second half, couldn’t break down a well organised United defence and the home side looked dangerous on the break through Ciaran McFadden and Noel Diver however it remained 2-1 until the final whistle.
A good team performance from Letterbarrow with another big effort from the home side with Joe Duffy, Paul Doogan and Daniel Okraska outstanding for United on the day.
Kerrykeel ’71 F.C. 2 Glenree United 2
It was derby day again at a wet and windy Rab’s Park as Kerrykeel welcomed Glenree United. Both teams took a while to settle in to what was a tense affair.
Glenree went close on ten minutes when Aaron McClafferty shot wide after great work from Oisin Boyce.
Sean Little then went close for the home side on eighteen minutes but Oran Blaney did well and tipped over the bar.
The visitors went in front on twenty-five minutes when Oisin Boyce scored from a defensive mix up in the Kerrykeel box.
It wasn’t long before the home side were level with Fergal Friel scoring a brilliant free kick from twenty-five yards giving Blaney no chance.
The second half was a tense and tight affair with both defences on top. With twenty minutes left Glenree went in front with Gary Ban rising highest and heading home a fantastic cross from Dennis Langan.
Sean Little nearly brought Kerrykeel 71 level on seventy-four minutes when he met a great through ball from Shane Friel only for Blaney to deny him with a fantastic save.
It was an all-out attack for the final ten minutes from the ‘71 and it eventually paid off in the ninety fifth minute when they were awarded a penalty when Matthew Stewart was taken down by Blaney and Patsy Friel cooly fired past Blaney to earn his side a share of the points.
Best for Kerrykeel 71: Kevin McGonigle, Sean Little and Shane Friel. Best for Glenree: Oisin Boyce, Oran Blaney and Aaron McClafferty.
Referee: Frank Duff
