League Play Off
Gleneely Colts 0 Sea Rovers 0 Gleneely win 4-3 on penalties
Played before a big crowd in brilliant sunshine in Maginn Park, this Division 2 play-off game was as expected, a tight affair needing penalties to decide the title.
It was end-to-end from both teams from the start with Sea Rovers with the better chances. On fifteen minutes a Daniel Gallagher cross found Andrew Gallagher eight yards out and his effort brought a fine one handed save from Ciaran Gallagher in the Gleneey goal.
Gallagher then held Joey Holland’s header before Tiernan Stevens shot wide when well placed. At the other end a Tristan Mc Colgan effort was held by Marc McLaughlin. On 28 minutes Daniel Gallagher’s shot was turned around the post by Gallagher for a corner.
The second half was a stop start affair with not many chances for either side. Gleneelys Shane Diver headed wide and Manus Doherty’s long-range shot was held by Mc Laughlin and for Sea Rovers Conor Kelly failed to connect with a Conor Mc Cluskey cross.
Chances kept coming with Gleneely substitute Billy Mc Cann’s long range free held by McLaughlin before, at the other end Daniel Gallagher had a shot from atight angle across goal and wide.
Penalties ensued where Gleneely won 4-3 to clinch the title and gain promotion and leave Sea Rovers to return for a play-off against Buncrana Res on Wednesday evening.
Fr O’Gara Cup semi-final
Cockhill Youths 6 Rashenny FC 0
Fresh from their success in the Ulster Junior Shield, Cockhill started well and went ahead early as Mason McDaid struck well from a Connor McDaid free kick delivery.
Minutes later a Ryan McDaid chance sailed over the bar before the home side increased their lead as Paul Mullan headed home after good work Conor Allen down the wing.
Cockhill continued to press and Ryan Downey headed wide from Mason McDaid s corner. At the other end Darragh O’Donnell held a few Rashenny free kicks from distance, but Cockhill regained control with Downey going close with a good strike from the edge of the area before Mullan was denied by a superb save by Sean Friel.
A Rahenny mix up at the back allowed Paul Mullan to slide home unchallenged for his second goal before the break.
Rasheeny started the second half sharply as Darragh O’Donnell made great save to deny David McLaughlin but then Mullan was unlucky to not get his hatrick after good work from Ryan McDaid saw Conor Allen add a fourth after beating a defender in the box and sliding it low past Friel.
Rashenny tried to respond and Ryan Doherty narrowly missed with a free kick from long distance. Cockhill ended the game strongly with Ryan McDaid adding a fifth after good work from Christy Duffy.
Paul Mullan completed his hattrick after a brilliant Danny McDaid cross to send Cockhill into the final against Redcastle.
Fr O’Gara Cup semi-final
Redcastle United 7 Cockhill Colts 0
Redcastle proved too strong for Cockhill Colts in this semifinal in the opening minute when Stephen Grant picked out Gavin Grant who crossed for Mark Farren to slot past Graham Doherty.
Six minutes later they made it two nil after Jack Mc Connellogue fed Gavin Grant who shot low past Doherty.
Shaun Curran then saw a corner headed home by Darragh McConway to leave the home side three nil ahead at the break.
Before the break the colts responded with a Liam O’Donnell cross finding Liam McCarron who drove wide.
The second half followed the same pattern and McConnellogue headed home the fourth before McConway pounced on a good save from Doherty to drill home for a fifth.
Late goals from McConway and Darren Kelly completed the scoring.
Donegal Signs Challenge Cup
Cockhill Celtic 3 Culdaff FC 0
The home side took the lead on 9 minutes with an incisive move down their left. The overlapping Brendan McLaughlin’s first-time cross was swept home at the front post past Patrick McLaughlin by Luke Rudden.
The home went close again when Odhran O’Brien Daly’s header was cleared off the line, but they did double their lead just before the half hour after Jack Mullan’s initial effort hit the bar and Rudden was first to react and sidestepped the keeper before firing home.
Rudeen then fired into the side netting and the chances kept coming with Liam Grant’s dink over the advancing keeper dropping wide before Mullan sidefooted over after Rudden’s layoff.
Culdaff’s best chance came on 65minutes when Keith Norris showed great pace down the right. His pass found Brendan McLaughlin but his layoff was fired over by Noel McLaughlin.
Cockhill got their third on 72 minutes when Lee McColgan’s in swinging free kick from the right found Garbhan Friel.
His initial header was parried by McLaughlin, but he nodded home the rebound. Soon after Jay Bradley headed against the bar before Brendan McLaughlin’s free kick for Culdaff was deflected towards Tiernan McGeoghan who failed to connect.
Culdaff pressed again late in the game and Norris went close when he lifted a shot past Harry Doherty but found the side netting.