Reports: Cockhill Celtic win Inishowen League Premier Division crown

Cockhill Celtic sealed the Jackie Crossan Premier Division title in their first season back in the Inishowen League with a win at Greencastle thanks to Lee McColgan and Corey McBride's goals.

Greencastle FC 0-2 Cockhill Celtic

Needing a point to clinch the title Cockhill began well with a Lee McColgan free saved by Caolan McGrory. Garbhan Friel then broke on the right and crossed for Brendan McLaughlin but he was denied by a superb Ruari O’Donnell tackle.

They took the lead on 12 minutes after Peter Doherty at the back post headed a deep free-kick back out to McColgan who hammered low past McGrory from sixteen yards. Greencastle responded and O’Donnell crept in at the back post but fired over the bar.

Kyle Harkin then crossed for Nigel McMonagle who failed to direct his header on target before Harkin had a free gathered by Harry Doherty in the Cockhill goal.

The visitors had the final chance of the half after McLaughlin broke into the area on the left but fired into the side netting.
A scrappy second half saw Luke Rudden head the first chance wide for the visitors when well placed. Greencastle hit back with Nigel McMonagle breaking on the right and shooting just past the left-hand post. The home side then had a spell with Seamus McLaughlin advancing on the left and his dangerous cross was scrambled clear.

Their best chance came midway through the half when McMonagle got in behind the visitors' defence but under pressure, his half-volley was well saved by Doherty. Cockhill sealed the victory and the league title when a Corey McBride free from the right dropped under the crossbar giving McGrory no chance. In the later stages Cockhill had a Peter Doherty shot saved and both Rudden and Friel blazed over as they saw the game out.

Buncrana Hearts 4-3 Illies Celtic
Buncrana Hearts saw their slim chances of the Premier Division title slip away with Cockhill winning at Greencastle but did all they could to keep in the race with a stirring comeback victory.

Illies took the lead in the sixth minute after Paul Doherty rose unchallenged to head home from a corner past Taylor Clarke.
From another corner, Dominic Coyle saw another header saved by Clarke. The home side replied with Aaron McDaid firing wide from Matthew Browne's cross before Shaunie Bradley cut inside a defender but saw his effort saved by the legs of Michael Owen Doherty.

The Hearts were unlucky on 25 minutes from a Conor Doherty corner when Kevin O’Loughlin’s header crashed off the bar. But Illies were causing problems, especially in the flanks and Shaun McCallion broke on the right and crossed for Coyle to control and fire low past Clarke from nine yards.

They then made it 3-0 in the 36th minute after McCallion beat three men and was upended in the area leaving Adrian Donaghey-Doherty to send Clarke the wrong way from the spot. Buncrana got a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when a Calvin Gallagher Crossfield pass found McDaid who advanced along the byeline and squeezed the ball home from a tight angle.

The home side upped the tempo after the restart and dominated. They got another goal back in the 49th minute when a Kieran McDaid cross cum shot deceived Doherty and crept in at the post. Six minutes later they got back on terms after Kieran McDaid's cross found Zach McFadden who superbly guided a volley from seven yards past Doherty.

And the turnaround was completed when they took the lead in the 65th minute after Kieran McDaid's cross was met with a superb glancing header from Aaron McDaid. The home side had two further late chances with Aaron McDaid firing into the side netting before Bart Wesolowski ran onto a through ball but Doherty advanced to smother.

Jackie Crossan Premier Division Promotion /Relegation Play Off
Glengad United 0-0 Culdaff FC 0
AET Culdaff win 5-4 in sudden death penalty shootout
Glengad United's 15-year stay in the Premier Division was ended on Saturday evening in Maginn Park wen they fell to a penalty shootout defeat to neighbours Culdaff who are now promoted.

As expected in a local derby the first half was a very tight affair with few chances and the game was dominated by both defences. Culdaff had the first sight of goal on eight minutes after a short corner played to Aiden Cunningham saw his cross headed back by Ryan Greene for Michael Coyle but under pressure, his header was claimed by Michael McLaughlin.

The only other threat came at the other end in the 27th minute when Terence Doherty collected a throw in on the right inside the area and hooked the ball over his head which Patrick McLaughlin punched clear under pressure.Culdaff started the second half well and Euan McFeely had an effort from the right hand side of the area off target.

On 55 minutes Keith Norris won a race for possession on the left and his driven cross found McFeely whose effort was blocked before Glengad scrambled the ball away. Glengad responded with Matthew Mooney's corner flashing across goal to Seamus Doherty whose first time effort was blocked by a defender. Substitute Stephen Doherty then found space to unleash a thirty yards effort which flashed over the bar.

On 76 minutes Glengad had the best opportunity of the game after Terence Doherty broke past the last defender and advanced towards the area but his effort was superbly saved by McLaughlin. Culdaff replied and substitute Brendan Mclaughlin’s cross cum shot glanced off the face of the bar before the same player spurned a gilt edged opportunity from point blank range.

After good interplay, the ball was fed to another substitute Noel McLaughlin on the right and his low cross fell to brother Brendan who inexplicably fired wide from four yards. Glengad dominated the first period of extra time with Terence Doherty seeing a shot from the edge of the area saved before having another effort flash just wide.

Substitute Oran Doherty then had an effort gathered at the second attempt before Stephen Doherty raced through the middle but McLaughlin advanced to smother at the edge of the area. Culdaff started the second period well with a Brendan Mclaughlin free and a snapshot from Coyle parried away on both occasions by McLaughlin.

Glengad spurned the final chance and another good one after a superb reverse pass from Stephen Doherty sent Terence Doherty clear but Mclaughlin blocked with his legs. The final few minutes were interrupted by the sprinkler system but the match ended and the shootout ensued. It was three each after the reglation five and then both sides missed. Both then scored before Mclaughlin saved and substitute Matthew McGoldrick fired home to send Culdaff back to the top flight.

Strand Hotel First Division
Redcastle United 3-2 Rashenny FC
The home side began well with Stephen Grant crossing for Josh McConnellogue but he fired over the bar from the edge of the area.

But on five minutes McConnellogue fired the home side ahead collecting an Eamon Donnelly pass before drilling low past Sean Friel. But Rashenny grew into the game with Jon Grant seeing an effort from close range saved by Michale McCole .
Then from a Redcastle corner David McLaughlin broke the length of the field and forced McCole into another save from the edge of the area.

On 40 minutes McLaughlin cut in from the left and found Cormac Dillon but he fired just past the right hand post.
Against the run of play in the 44th minute the home side doubled their lead when Donnelly collected a ball into midfield and released Grant to slot low past Friel. Redcastle had the first opportunity of the second half also when Lee Barr fed Grant whose cross picked out Darragh McConway but he fired just wide.

But Rashenny responded and in the 55th minute got a goal back after a superb run and cross from Doherty picked out McLaughlin who headed to the top corner. Redcastle again stretched their lead on 75 minutes when Mark Farren collected a ball on the edge of the area and cut inside to shoot past Friel from fifteen yards.

The visitors rallied and on 82 minutes made it 3-2 after Ryan Doherty's cross found John McLaughlin to head past McCole. Redcastle had a late chance then with Shaun Curran finding Farren but he shot narrowly wide.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two A
Sea Rovers 4-1 Cockhill Colts
Played in glorious sunshine at Gortnamullin Rovers knew only a victory would guarantee them a potential play-off for the league title.

The home side got off to the perfect start when a long kick from Rovers keeper Mark McLaughlin fell to Andrew Gallagher who finished perfectly to put the home side ahead. In a good evenly matched game with the greater of goal-scoring opportunities falling to Rovers, a great strike by Daniel Gallagher forced Cockhill keeper Declan Caldwell into making a fine save. Rovers kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Andrew Gallagher beat a defender and shot low past the keeper Caldwell to leave them two goals to the good at the interval.

The home side began the second half well and a good touch by Daniel Gallagher rounded one defender and a great strike from outside the box put the ball out of the reach of the keeper to fire Sea Rovers three goals ahead. Cockhill responded and won a corner which fell kindly to Jude O’Donnell who tapped in from close range to reduce the deficit.

Cockhill pressed but a well-claimed ball by Mark McLaughlin whose long ball again fell to Andrew Gallagher who took a fine touch and lobbed the keeper to complete his hat trick. Rovers sub John Doherty rattled the crossbar with a great strike then before the last effort of the game fell to Jude O Donnell from Cockhill whose header went just wide of the post.

Rovers win coupled with Gleneely's win means the league goes to a play-off between both teams next Sunday in Maginn Park with a 12 noon kick-off.

Gleneely Colts 3-1 Culdaff Res
Needing a win to force a playoff for the league title Gleneely got the perfect start in the 10th minute when a Tristan McColgan corner found Nathan Doherty on the edge and his shot squeezed inside the post past Odhran Douglas.

They had another chance on 20 minutes when a long kick out from Ciaran Gallagher found McColgan in behind the visitors' defence but he fired wide. Culdaff equalised midway through the half after Dermot Dover converted a penalty when Noel McLaughlin was fouled in the area. At the other Shane Diver had a chance on the half-hour when another long clearance from Gallagher got him in behind but Oran Douglas pulled off a good save to push it wide for a corner.

Gleneely had the Nathan Doherty’s shot from the edge of the area was well saved on the line by Douglas. Gleneely regained the lead on 70 minutes after a Tristan McColgan corner found Shane Diver on the six-yard box and he back-heeled into the net. Gleneely made it safe then later when a Billy McCann shot from out on the left nestled in the bottom corner. Matthew Doherty had a late chance but lifted the ball over the bar when well placed.