ARRANMORE UNITED ARE pushing for a second Donegal League Saturday title in three seasons and posted another good win yesterday.
Old Orchard Saturday Division
Arranmore United 3 Mulroy Celtic 0
Arranmore ran out 3-0 winners to maintain a good position at top of the league.
Mulroy started the better with Michael Sweeney having a good chance but he failed to convert when clean through.. Arran started to get to grips after this and Martin Proctor played in talisman Gavin Mc Glanaghey who lofted the ball over the advancing keeper.
Arran had a chance to make it two before the break but Gavin saw his effort hooked off the line following his header from a corner. Arran came out quickly in the 2nd half and a brilliant free kick from Declan Proctor found the head of Benny Mc Garvey to make it 2-0.
Chris Mc Glanaghey and Conor Proctor spurned chances then before Martin Proctor did well to win the ball in the corner and cross for Gavin to make it 3-0.
Przemeck Turski and Gavin also came close late on. The Arran defensive partnership of Mike McHugh and Danny Rodgers kept Michael Sweeney quiet for the majority. Declan Proctor Michael McHugh and Gavin Mc Glanaghey were best for Arran and it was a team performance from Mulroy.
Fintown Harps AFC 0 Drumkeen United 3
Fintown Harps were the visitors to St Patricks Park for this Reversed fixture on Saturday afternoon.
After all the wintry weather it was nice to see the sun shining in Drumkeen and conditions were perfect for football. Drumkeen dominated this Game against an understrength Fintown Team and ran out fairly easy winners in the end. Drumkeen took the lead early on when a Ryan Kettle cross was headed home by Marty Gallagher.
They had numerous other chances in the first half which they failed to convert but they added another before half time from Peter McNamee.
The second half was pretty much the same and Peter McNamee added a third on the hour mark to wrap up the points. Fintown battled on bravely in this game but the home team just had too much for them on the day. A good sporting display from both teams which was well handled by referee Gerry Gallagher.
Glencar Inn Saturday Reserve Division
Donegal Town Reserves 2 Erne Wanderers Reserves 1
The fixture was played at the Lakeside Centre, due to a reversal, in what were perfect footballing conditions.
Donegal started the brighter side with several spells of excellent possession football. Ben Sweeney was denied by the Erne keeper when he got on the end of a beautiful Gary Ward through ball.
Ward proved a threat to Erne, delivering several dangerous crosses into the Erne box. Donegal Town opened scoring when David “Ted” Bustard was taken down by the Erne keeper, following a beautifully flighted long ball from Ryan Hegarty. Gary Ward made no mistake from the mark. 1 – 0 to Donegal Town at half-time.
Erne started the second half the better team, forcing Donegal to retreat deep into their own half and forcing them to play defensive football. The score was levelled after Erne were awarded a penalty, the Donegal keeper had no chance with a well-placed strike finding the back of the Donegal net.
Donegal were not prepared to go home with a point. Persistent pressuring of the Erne defenders by the substitute Ciaran Monaghan paid off when his through ball found the feet of “Ted” Bustard, who rounded the last man and keeper and finished neatly. 2 – 1 to Donegal Town at full time. Deserving of a mention was the performance of Warren Montgomery in the centre of midfield for Donegal Town.
Keadue Rovers Reserves 4 St. Catherines Reserves 1
It was the visitors who took the lead in the first few minutes of this game after a free kick rebounded to a St Catherine’s player and he finished well.
This seemed to spark the Keadue team into life as they went on to dominate the 1st half finding the net four times with three goals coming from Donal Rodgers and one from James Ferry to leave Keadue leading 4-1 at the break. St Catherine’s dominated the 2nd half and had several good chances but failed to convert any. The games finished 4-1 to Keadue. Good team performances from both.
Curragh Athletic Reserves 1 Milford United Reserves 2
This game between Curragh and Milford Reserves was played under lights in the Curragh Sports Complex.
Curragh were the better footballing side with some nice passing from Dermot Shields and Michael Kearney who were pulling the strings in midfield. It was 0-0 at half time.
The second half saw Milford start well with JJ Fleming scoring on 54 minutes. Curragh came into it more and more but a slip was punished when Kieran Blaney scored. Curragh got one back though Simon Cromie.
Glenree United Reserves 2 Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 2
This reversed game at ‘The Moss’ was very competitive and ended in a draw.
It was Glenree who took the lead through a super strike from Martin Cullen in the 30th minute. In the second half the equaliser came through Mark Griffin in the 53rd minute.
It was end to end and the Glenree outfit took the lead again when Cathal McGinley Snr. swung in a peach of a cross which John Mc Clafferty firmly finished past the keeper on 67 minutes. In the final passage of play Drumoghill won a free kick which was flicked onto the back postand was finished by Mark Griffin for his second of the game and to ensure his team a draw. Best for Glenree were Martin Cullen and Conor Casey. Referee: Barry Hunter
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 6 Cappry Rovers Reserves 0
Castlefin Celtic recorded a fine 6-0 victory against a young Cappry Rovers side.
The hosts took the lead in the 10th minute when Matthew O’Rourke latched onto a ball over the top and slotted home. Castlefin dominated throughout and Paul Logue increased their lead after his shot from 20 yards nestled in the bottom corner after 35 minutes.
The second half began in the same sort of fashion and a Keith Nelis cross found Gavin Mc Nulty who finished well at the back post on 55 minutes. The remainder of the second half was a one sided affair and the hosts increased their advantage with goals from James Mc Menamin, Thomas Devlin and O’ Rourke. Best for Castlefin: James Mc Menamin and Gavin Mc Nulty. Best for Cappry: Team performance. Referee: Dessie Mc Laughlin
Ulster Junior Shield
Cootehill Harps 0 Glenea United Reserves 3
Glenea United Reserves ensured that the Donegal Junior League would have at least one representative in the Ulster Junior Shield Final this season.
On Saturday they travelled to Co. Cavan to take on Cootehill Harps Reserves in the first of two semi-finals to be contested over the weekend. The Donegal Junior League have an enviable history in this competition since it’s inception in the season of 2013/2014. The inaugural winners were Raphoe Town who defeated Aileach Reserves in a close final played at Maginn Park. Twelve months later it was the turn of Convoy Arsenal to revel in glory. They also defeated Inishowen League opposition to claim the crown.
Diamond Park, Ballyare was the venue for their historic victory over Glengad Reserves. Fast forward to 2016 and the prospect of an all Donegal Junior League Final. Glenea United Reserves drawn away to Cootehill Harps Reserves and Glencar Celtic gifted a home match against Killylough F.C. Kevin Mc Fadden, son of Tommy, is at the helm of the Glasserchoo second string this season.
They are currently in a great position in the Glencar Inn Saturday Reserve Division sitting just two points behind Castlefin Celtic Reserves with a game in hand. An extended Cup run can work both ways but Mc Fadden will be focusing totally on the positives having reached the Final without doing any damage to their League Title ambitions.
On Saturday Tommy Rodgers opened the scoring before Michéal Mc Hugh doubled their advantage. Some knowledgeable in the game will tell you that 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline as the leaders can easily lose focus and get overhauled. That wasn’t allowed to happen on the high spec Astro Turf of the Cootehill venue.
Donal Coll got Glenea’s third goal to ensure hie team have a Final to look forward to come the closing weeks of the 2014.2015 season.
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