Here are all of the results and match reports from this week’s Donegal League fixtures.
Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Letterkenny Rovers 4 v 0 Cappry Rovers
In a commanding display, Letterkenny Rovers secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Cappry Rovers. Despite early pressure from Cappry, the Letterkenny Rovers defence stood strong with goalkeeper Mark Anthony Mc Ginley denying several attempts. Nathan Plumb opened the scoring in the 17th minute, followed by Zach Gorman’s penalty just before halftime putting Letterkenny 2-0 ahead. Cappry’s hopes dwindled further when they were reduced to 10 men just before the break. In the second half, Letterkenny capitalized on their numerical advantage with Lee Mc Monagle and Plumb adding to the tally. Cappry fought hard and had several chances but couldn’t break through the Letterkenny Rovers defence and had to defend for large spells of the second half as the pressure was piled on.
Thursday 4th April 2024
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Convoy Arsenal 1 v 3 Bonagee United
(No Report Submitted)
Saturday 6th 2024
Glencar Inn Saturday Division One
Cappry Rovers Reserves 1 v 3 Strand Rovers
Cappry welcomed Strand to a wet and windy Finn Valley Centre on Saturday. Conditions favoured the away side in the first half but it was Cappry who dominated the early exchanges, Jamie Fallon coming closest when his header rattled off the bar. Cappry broke the deadlock through a powerful David Carr strike from the edge of the box. Strand soon got their equaliser through a speculative effort from Mitch Ward who cleverly used the wind to his advantage and fired home from distance. On the stroke of half time Strand got their second, James Mc Cole brought the ball down and cooly played through Cainan Mc Daid who slotted past the keeper. Although conditions got worse the game was still end to end in the second half with both sides coming close, Cappry getting the big chance of the half when Ryan Mc Ghee struck the bar. Strand secured the victory with ten minutes to go when Shane O’ Donnell slotted home from the edge of the box.
Glenea United Reserves 1 v 0 Fintown Harps AFC
In very blustery conditions for football, Glenea Reserves got the better of the Gaeltacht Lár side. It was the home side that started with the aid of the strong wind and forced a number of corners but were unable to convert any of them. Fintown tried hard to get into the game as an attacking force but were unable to create any chances. Glenea continued to press and Michael Ferry came close on 25 minutes when his close-range effort went over the bar. Ethan Mc Allister was next to test the away keeper but saw his effort well saved. On the stroke of halftime Luke Mc Carry saw his in swinger headed off the line. In the 2nd half despite playing against the strong wind it was the home side that continued to press and on 50 minutes Michael Ferry saw his header blocked by an away defender. As the half progressed Fintown came more into the game and Peter Mc Glynn saw his effort just clear the bar. On 70 minutes Glenea almost took the lead when Shane Coll’s free kick deceived everyone and the away keeper was forced to tip it over the bar. Both sides continued to look for a lead goal and on 83 minutes PJ Doogan got onto a Luke Mc Carry through ball and he slotted past the keeper. In a frantic finish Fintown pushed hard for an equalizer but the home defence managed to keep them for a hard fought win. In trying conditions, it was team efforts from both sides. Referee: Gerard Devenney.
Kildrum Tigers Reserves 4 v 0 Donegal Town Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Oldtown Celtic 6 v 3 Arranmore United
Oldtown took a big step to securing the title after a nine-goal thriller at the Letterkenny Community Centre. Drew Connolly headed wide early before Arranmore took the lead through Damien Weber with a shot from the edge of the box. Oldtown soon settled and Kevin Mc Grath fired home the equaliser. Arranmore then took the lead for a second time when Alan Stevenson fired home from 8 yards when Oldtown failed to clear a cross. The lead was short lived again as Anthony Browne equalised from a Luke Nelis cross before firing Oldtown in front from close range. Oldtown added a 4th before the break when Ciaran Gibson header bounced off Drew Connolly and into the net. 4-2 at the break. Oldtown started the brighter in the second half and Kyle Gormley added a 5th with a 30 yard strike which fired into the top corner. Arranmore kept pushing and were rewarded when Glenn O’ Donnell fired home from the spot when a penalty was awarded. Oldtown added a 6th late on when Luke Friel turned his man and showed composure with a fine finish. Referee: Vincent Mc Loughlin
St. Catherines Reserves 3 v 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Copany Rovers 0 v 0 Castlefin Celtic Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Drumbar United 3 v 2 Swilly Rovers Reserves
In a hugely important game for both sides, the speed of the game matched the high winds. It was Drumbar who took the lead when Vinny Breslin put the keeper under pressure and forced an error and he ran through to finish to make it 1-0. Drumbar then doubled their lead when Dylan Mc Hugh finished well into the corner of the Swilly net. Swilly pulled one back when a ball played over the top of the Drumbar defence, against the wind, found the Swilly striker in prime position to finish well and bring it back to 2-1. Drumbar scored a 3rd right on stroke of half time when Dylan Mc Hugh found the net again to give Drumbar a 3-1 lead going into the break. Swilly started the second half with the strong wind on their backs and reduced the deficit to one goal when one of their midfielders hit a perfect effort beyond the reach of the Drumbar keeper to make it 3-2. Swilly continued to keep Drumbar in their own half for much of the half. Drumbar put in a fantastic defensive display to see out the game 3-2 winners.
Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 2 v 4 Ramelton Mariners
Not a great day to play football but credit to both teams serving up an entertaining game. Three mistakes in the Drumoghill defence left Mariners 3-0 up at the break. Back came Drumoghill in the second half with Eunan Kelly scoring twice to leave it 3-2 with 20 minutes to play. Pushing hard for the 3rd goal Drumoghill threw the kitchen sink at Mariners. Mariners scored their 4th to kill the game off in the 88th minute. Eunan Kelly best for Drumoghill. Evan Hewitt was best for Mariners.
Dunlewey Celtic 2 v 0 Gweedore Celtic Reserves
Gale force winds in Glentornan Park for this local derby when Dunlewey were looking to bounce back from a defeat to league leaders Ramelton last time out. Dunlewey started with the wind at their backs and created a few early chances and they took the lead on 20 minutes when Chris Cannon slotted home neatly. Dunlewey doubled the lead on 35 minutes when Christopher Barrett slotted the ball in the bottom corner after great football down the left wing and Keith Sweeney pulled the ball back to Barrett who made no mistake. 2-0 to the hosts at half time. Gweedore Celtic battled hard to get back into the game using the wind to their advantage. Dunlewey’s defence stood strong and coped well with everything that was thrown at them. A few half chances for both sides in the second half but neither keeper was too troubled. Referee: Marty Mc Garrigle
Milford United Reserves 4 v 2 Cranford United Reserves
Milford started off very well with a great goal by Conor Meakin when the ball caught the wind and flew into top corner. Milford took a step back from then with Cranford having a lot of the ball. Cranford equalised with a great run into the back post after a great cross to slot it in past the Milford keeper. The game was well balanced with Milford dominating the later stages of the half with a great header scored by Shane Mc Fadden and then Meakin getting on the score sheet again before the break. Cranford opened the scoring in the second half with a quick goa, but couldn’t convert after that with Milford adding another through a penalty with Ciaran Blaney hitting the back of the net.
Sunday 7th April 2024
Brian Mc Cormick Sports Premier Division
Fanad United 3 v 0 Swilly Rovers
(No Report Submitted)
Keadue Rovers 1 v 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic
Keadue Rovers and Kilmacrennan Celtic played out a 1 – 1 draw at Central Park in extremely windy conditions that made the game a bit of a lottery. Keadue, aided by a very strong wind, were quicker to settle, playing the better football and with Peter Mc Gee showing well on the left flank, he had two good chances in the opening twenty minutes, but neither came to fruition. Their better play was rewarded in the last ten minutes of the first half as they pinned the visitors back and after forty minutes some excellent wing play from Brendan Mc Cafferty, saw a cross into the box partially cleared before Chris Greene rifled an effort that deflected of Keadue’s Aidan Brennan and into the net. The home side were good value for this one goal lead but knew they’d face an uphill battle against a strong wind in the second half. At the start of the second period it was Keadue who were on top for the first ten minutes, with both Peter Mc Gee and Aidan Brennan missing what turned out to be crucial chances. As the game went on it became scrappier and Kilmacrennan started to win some of the midfield battles which forced Keadue into conceding a few free kicks around the hour mark. There were two in quick succession from close to the halfway line and while the first came to nothing Kilmacrennan’s second free kick from Paul Bradley, aided by the strong breeze, found the top corner of the Keadue net for 1-1. In the end, a stalemate, which Kilmacrennan will be content with, while for Keadue, it will be considered two points dropped. Team efforts from both outfits. Referee: Vincent Mc Laughlin.
Milford United 3 v 1 St. Catherine’s
Milford recorded a very important victory at home to St. Catherine’s at a blustery Moyle View Park on Sunday to lift themselves out of the bottom two. They now travel to Gweedore Celtic on Sunday next in a winner takes all encounter with the loser relegated and the winner will contest the play-off game. Milford took the lead on 24 minutes when Cathal Mc Gettigan hit a rocket into the top corner from 30 yards after good work by Killian Mc Bride. Ryan Cunningham levelled matters on 40 minutes when he pounced on a poor Milford clearance to neatly tuck the ball in to the bottom corner. Milford playing into the wind in the second half played good football and were rewarded on 65 minutes when a Killian Mc Bride cross was misjudged by Andrew Mullen at the near post and the ball ended up in the net. Five minutes later Jonny Logue headed home from a corner and despite a bit of pressure, Milford ran out comfortable winners.
Temple Domestic Appliances Division One
Donegal Town 4 v 4 Lagan Harps
(No Report Submitted)
Letterkenny Rovers 7 v 0 Cranford United
Letterkenny Rovers moved a step closer to clinching the Division One league title with a comprehensive 7-0 victory over Cranford at a windswept Leckview Park. Lee Mc Monagle bagged a hat-trick and with Donegal Town dropping points, it means Rovers have secured promotion to the top flight and just need a point next weekend to be crowned champions. The hosts lead 3-0 at the break. Mc Monagle took just four minutes to open the scoring, linking up with Adam Murphy before drilling a shot low into the bottom corner of the net beyond Jason Hegarty. Henry Welles doubled their lead on 20 minutes, drilling home from close range after Hegarty made a fine save initially. Rovers were awarded a penalty with just over ten minutes to go before half-time when Mc Monagle was upended inside the area. The in-form striker made to mistake from the penalty spot. Following the interval, Rovers made it 4-0 with their first attack of the second half courtesy of a rasping strike from Nathan Plumb and Mc Monagle quickly added a fifth to complete his hat-trick. Joel Gorman found the net with a well-executed strike on 65 minutes to make it 6-0 before substitute Nathan Bonner made a surging run into the penalty box before he applied a neat finish to complete the scoring in the dying minutes. Referee: Sean Houston.
Brian Mc Cormick Cup
Lifford Area
Kildrum Tigers 4 v 0 Drumoghill F.C.
Kildrum Tigers retained the Area Shield after a comfortable victory over neighbours Drumoghill. In difficult windy conditions the home side went into the break two goals to the good, first half goals from Brian Breslin and Frank Mc Brearty. Kildrum added another two in the second half, Ethan Coll made it three, before Mc Brearty added the fourth to cement the result.
Ulster Shield
Culdaff F.C. 2 v 4 Keadue Rovers
(No Report Available)
Donegal League – all this week’s action and results was last modified: April 7th, 2024 by