Cockhill's derby win takes them to summit of USL
The Ulster Senior League promises to go right down to the wire after Cockhill Celtic moved ahead of Letterkenny Rovers with a 4-1 derby win over Buncrana Hearts.
Cockhill Celtic 4
Buncrana Hearts 1
In this highly eventful game it was the home side who claimed all three points to move top of the Ulster Senior League.
The opening was frantic as both teams took a little time to settle. On six minutes Cockhill's Garbhain Friel made room in the box only to shoot wide into the side netting with other options available.
Hearts had the advantage of a stiff breeze in the first half but on nine minutes it was the home side who took the lead. Jimmy Bradley found space in his own half before playing a ball in behind the Hearts defence, where Mark Moran showed strength and pace to get past Gary Duffy and race inside the box to square for Malachy McDermott, who side-footed into the net from eight yards past the unlucky Lee McFadden who managed to get a hand on it.
Hearts produced their first chance of note after 25 minutes when Patrick McMyler found space at right back to play a good ball into the box only for the unmarked Johnny McCarron to head over from 10 yards when well placed.
Hearts now started to pile on more pressure to force an equaliser and on 38 minutes they were awarded a free when Barry McColgan was adjudged to have brought down Gerard McLaughlin. Cutliffe took the free from 22 yards and with the aid of a deflection, off the wall, was bound for the net only for Cockhill keeper Stephen Conroy to produce a wonder save to tip it over the bar.
Buncrana got back on level terms on the stroke off half time when John O'Loughlin played a ball over the defence to the feet of Cutliffe inside the box, the strike made room to shot high to the net from eight yards and the teams went in at the break all square at 1-1
Cockhill spurned a great chance to take the lead on 67 minutes when a free by Gerry Gill on the corner of the 18yard box was not held by McFadden but McKinney's shot from six yards hit the post and back to the keepers thankful arms.
On 80 minutes Gill found space on the right wing for Cockhill and as he wriggled his way past Barry McFadden produced a great cross to the back post for captain Liam O'Donnell to power a header home from eight yards to send the Cockhill section of the large crowd into a loud roar of celebration that was matched by the jubilant players.
The visitors restarted the game reduced to 10 men as Cutliffe got his marching orders after some words to the referee. Hearts changed things again and went with a 3-4-2 formation to try salvage something from the game but this created more problems.
On 84 minutes they were cut open like a knife through butter as Kieran McLaughlin picked the ball up in the home defence before combining well with Paul McKinney on the wing.
McLaughlin advanced with the ball at his feet into the Hearts half and after another 1-2 on the edge of the visitors area with Garbhain Friel produced a cool finish low to the keepers bottom right hand corner. At 3-1 up, the home side started to play the ball around with ease and the Hearts players looked tired.
Cockhill wrapped things up on 88 minutes when a ball over the top caught the Hearts defence high and Aiden O'Donnell raced through to lob the keeper from just outside the area. Hearts tried to get something late in the game but the home defence stood firm.
A good and entertaining derby game played in good conditions before a large crowd. The 4-1 score after a tight opening period gave the home side a deserved victory, their third win over Buncrana this season, to move them a point clear of Letterkenny in the title race although Rovers having a game in hand. A good team performance from Cockhill with McMyler and Timlin showing well for the visitors
Killea FC 4
Convoy Arsenal 0
Killea chalked up an easy 4-0 win in a low key, leisurely paced, end of season contest.
Convoy did have their moments and created a couple of opportunites but by and large Killea's 16-year old goalkeeper Terence Feeney had little to contend with. On the other hand a splendid display by Convoy's keeper Mark Kelly helped nullify Killea's attacking threat.
The home side,who dominated the possession for long periods, led led 2-0 at half-time. Chris Toner headed in Sean Roddy's cross for the opener and right on the stroke of half time Toner turned provider setting up Killea's top marksman this season, Tommy Meehan, for the second score.
In the second half Neil Harkin's volley from the corner of the penalty area and Gary Crossan's 20 yard drive doubled the Killea advantage.
Kildrum Tigers 1
Fanad United 2
Brendan Devlin's second-half brace gave Fanad United all three points from their trip to St Johnston on Friday night.
Neither side has been firing on all cylinder this year in a poor campaign by both's lofty standards. On Friday it was Kildrum who started the bighter and they hit the front when Stephen O'Donnell's sweet strike from 20 yards found the back of the net. Despite having the better of the play in the first-half, Kildrum failed to add to their tally.
Raymond McDaid's men were punished for their lack of clinicism when Fanad got the equaliser.
The deadly Brendan Devlin headed home unmarked the back post on the hour. Fifteen minutes from time, Fanad hit the front with Devlin again punishing slack marking in the Kildrum rearguard when he expertly fired home in the box.
Kildrum did have a late chance to get a share of the spoils. Sub Ronan Coyle had brilliantly volleyed home, but the referee's whistle had already gone to award a penalty. However, Coyle saw his effort well saved by Oisin Barrett in the Fanad net.
Drumkeen United 1
Swilly Rovers 2
Jonathan Minnock got life underway as player-manager at Swilly Rovers off to a bright start with a 2-1 win over Drumkeen United in a gmae that was played in brilliant sunshine on Thursday evening at Drumkeen.
Swilly took the lead when the Drumkeen defence failed to close down Micheal McHugh, who shot past the 'keeper from 10 yards. Drumkeen tried hard to get on level terms before half-time, but failed to score.
The home team started brightly in the second-half and Peter Namee scored to draw Drumkeen level after 20 minutes of the second-half. McHugh put Swilly back in the lead after 75 minutes. Drumkeen threw everything they could at the Swilly defence but found Jonathan Minnock in outstanding form for Swilly.
DPD Couriers USL Division One
Kildrum Tigers 4
Convoy Arsenal 1
Kildrum Tigers rounded off their Division One League season on Saturday with a comfortable win over Convoy Arsenal at Station Road Park.
The home side started well and had a number of good chances early on, but they failed to find a way past Conor Cairns in the Convoy goals.
Five minutes before half-time, Kildrum got ahead when they were awarded a penalty and Johnny McGinty stepped up to score, though Cairns got a hand to his effort.
Their lead didn't last too long, though, as Convoy got level two minutes later when Seamus Sweeney fired home after Blackburn rounded 'keeper Tinney following a mistake in the Kildrum defence.
In the second-half, McGinty had an effort held by Cairns before Conor Crossan did well to take the ball off Sweeney's toe after he got around Tinney.
On 79 minutes, Kildrum got ahead again when a brilliant Glen Bovaird cross was headed home by Shane Browne.
After Bovaird was denied by Cairns, Kildrum hit a third when an enterprising McGinty effort from distance found the net and late in the day another Bovaird cross was headed home by Paul Toland.
Kildrum now look forward to Thursday night's Cup semi final away to Swilly.
Swilly Rovers 0
Letterkenny Rovers 1
Swilly Rovers started this game the brighter when Shane Fisher crossed from the left was met by Adrian Toland, who shot over from four yards on five minutes.
Ryan Toland's perfectly delivered free kick was headed just wide by Kyle Black of Swilly on 21 minutes. Brian Pyper had fine shot blocked on the line on the half-hour. Letterkenny's Daniel McCauley had a fine drive well saved by Mark Duffy on 35 minutes, the same player shot just wide for Letterkenny on 55 minutes after some good approach play.
On the hour Rory O Keefe's cross from the left for Letterkenny found the inrussing Daniel McAuley who finished in some style from eight yards. On 70 minutes Mark Duffy produced a fine save to deny Daniel McCauley who was proving to be a handful for the home defence.
James Doyle made a fine run on 80 minutes and gave a good pass to Corey McCahill whos shot found the side netting. A good hard fought local derby with lots of youth on display.
Best for Swilly were James Doyle and Ryan Toland. Best for Letterkenny were Alan Boal and Daniel McAuley.
Results
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League
Drumkeen United 1-2 Swilly Rovers
Kildrum Tigers 1-2 Fanad United
Cockhill Celtic 4-1 Buncrana Hearts
Derry City 4-0 Bonagee United
Killea FC 4-0 Convoy Arsenal
DPD Couriers USL Division One
Kildrum Tigers 4-1 Convoy Arsenal
Swilly Rovers 0-1 Letterkenny Rovers
Bonagee United 1-1 Drumkeen United
Fixtures
Donegal News Ulster Senior League Cup Final
Sunday September 5th, 5pm
Leckview Park, Letterkenny
Cockhill Celtic v Derry City - Referee: Aidan Redican. Assistants: Stephen Toner and Con McLaughlin.
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League
Thursday September 2nd, 7.45pm
Fanad United v Killea FC - Packie Coll
Friday September 3rd, 6.30pm
Letterkenny Rovers v Kildrum Tigers Tommy McAree
Sunday September 5th, 2pm
Buncrana Hearts v Drumkeen United
USL Division 1 Cup Semi Finals
Thursday September 2nd, 7pm
Bonagee United v Letterkenny Rovers - Vincent McLaughlin
Swilly Rovers v Kildrum Tigers - Mick Lagan
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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