There was another action-packed weekend of action across Inishowen with Premier Divison, Division One and Division Two fixtures all taking place.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Illies Celtic 4 Culdaff FC 0
After an even opening, the home side struck on 10 minutes when Liam Doherty fed brother Paul who beat his man and unleashed a brilliant effort from twenty yards to the top corner giving Darragh McLaughlin no chance.
When a defensive clearance came off another defender the ball fell to Gavin Doherty and he slotted low to the corner from twelve yards to double the lead. Culdaff replied and were out of luck when Paul McLaughlin broke clear but saw his well-struck shot crash off the bar.
On the stroke of half-time Liam Grant found Paul Doherty and this time he unleashed an even better effort from all of thirty yards which flew into the top corner. There was little action in the second period with most of the play bogged down in midfield.
Culdaff tried hard to get into the game and Bryan McCandless fired one effort just over and another wide but they were no more than half chances. Illies then broke on 76 minutes with Liam Grant beating two men and crossing for Kevin McGonagle to slid the ball low under McLaughlin and clinch the three points.
Strand Hotel First Division
Dunree United 3 Buncrana Res 0
In this local derby at St Egneys Park the home side almost opened the scoring in the very first minute after a Liam Baldrick pass over the top released Darryl Moran but his first-time effort was well saved by Paul McDaid. Dunree then took the lead on the half-hour mark when Moran cut in from the left-hand side and fired a superb twenty yards effort into the bottom corner.
The visitors best chance of the half saw a Ryan Curran header superbly tipped over by Philip Doherty. Dunree got a great start to the second period when a Philip Mc Guinness cross was headed home from six yards by Moran on 53 minutes.
Midway through the half, they made it three nil when Bernie Doherty beat a defender and slotted past McDaid from ten yards. McDaid then made a fine double save to deny Moran his hat-trick in the closing stages.
Division Two
Illies Res 1 Clonmany Res 1
Illies had the first chance but Ronan Hegarty failed to hit the target when well placed on 11 minutes. Clonmany responded and a superb through ball from Dessie Doherty released Thomas Comiskey but he lifted his effort over the bar. On 33 minutes the home side took the lead after a cross from Dominic Doherty found Hegarty to head high past, Liam McGonigle.
Illies spurned a great chance after the break to double their lead when Hegarty sent Shane Devlin in when McGonigle forced him wide he fired into the side netting.
Clonmany upped the tempo and equalised on 66 minutes when a Conor Doherty cross deceived the home defenders and Jason McDaid fired past Kevin McGonagle from twelve yards.
Both defences then were on top until 84 minutes when Hegarty sent Brendan Doherty clear with a ball over the top but he fired wide.
Aileach Youths 5 Rasheney Res 4
In fine conditions, Aileach made the early running with Rasheney happy to break when the opportunity arose.
From one of these breaks, the visitors took the lead in the 10th minute when a through ball released Nathan McConalogue who shot just inside the near post.
Rasheney doubled their lead five minutes later when the Aileach defence failed to clear on a number of occasions and the ball eventually broke to Matthew Duffy to score from fifteen yards.
Aileach finally started to create in the final third and a Benny Hegarty shot was parried by Declan Grant into the path of Darren Bradley who pulled a goal back.
Aileach pulled level on the half hour when Gavin Doherty advanced from midfield before firing a shot from twenty-five yards into the corner.
Minutes later Rasheney regained the lead when Nathan McConalogue headed into the bottom corner from fifteen yards. Aileach started the second half in determined mood but the Rasheney defence marshalled by Corney McCole were holding firm.
Aileach finally pulled level again on the hour when Ryan Wilson advanced from right back and played a wonderful one-two with Aaron Doherty before placing the ball into the bottom corner.
Aileach took the lead for the first time with twenty minutes remaining when Matthew McDermott’s corner was bundled home by Benny Hegarty.
Aileach looked to have sealed it with 10 minutes to go when Gavin Doherty broke through the middle of the Rasheney defence and squared for his brother Dermot to tap home.
Rasheney set up a grandstand finish when with five minutes to go Aaron Harkin fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Rasheney tried hard for an equaliser in the closing moments but McElhinney and McGowan defended strongly to ensure Aileach took the points.
Culdaff Res 4 Carrowmena FC 2
There was a quick start to this game with the visitors Drew Crumlish rounding Puaric O’Donnell in the home goal but firing into the side netting from a tight angle.
A minute later the home side took the lead when Matt McDaid threaded a great ball into Jack Mclaughlin who was upended and he hammered the spot-kick low to Brian Houghton’s left.
Carrowmena got back on terms on 21 minutes after a free kick into the area was headed up in the air and as the ball dropped Declan McGuinness fired a sweetly struck volley past O’Donnell for a superb goal.
But Culdaff regained the lead seven minutes later when McLaughlin beat his man inside the area and squared for Ben Curley to slot home from six yards McGuinness was very unlucky then with a stunning thirty yards volley which dropped just over the bar, but within minutes the visitors equalised again.
Andrew McLaughlin free-kick found Raymond Campbell who headed powerfully to the roof of the net Culdaff upped the tempo after the break and in the opening minute Curley found McLaughlin who displayed great fee to unleash a right-footed effort which Houghton saved well McLaughlin then pounced on a defensive error before racing into the area, rounding Houghton and slotting home to regain the lead for the home side.
Curley blazed over on the half turn before he set up McDaid who fired wildly over when unmarked from fourteen yards.
On 79 minutes a loose ball in the visitors defence fell to McLaughlin and he hammered to the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick. Carrowmena tried hardtop get back into the game but the home defence stood firm.
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