Inishowen Football League
Donegal Signs Reserve Shield ‘Round 1’
Cockhill Celtic Reserves – 2 (OG & A Fletcher)
Redcastle Reserves – 1 (Hoy)
Cockhill threatened first when Alan Fletcher played James Barber in down the wing and his deep cross was well defended and Conor Kelly cleared the danger for Redcastle. Evan Craig then almost found himself clear on goal for Redcastle when played through by Shay Davenport, but Cockhill’s Shaun McDaid showed his experience to recover well and make a telling challenge to hold Redcastle at bay. Both teams showed some good passing in the middle of the park without creating too many clear cut opportunities. Cockhill eventually found a way through. Good work down the left between Tristan Donaghy and Cian Downey released Adam McLaughlin in behind who fired across a dangerous cross that took a deflection off Redcastle’s Gary Kelly giving Paul Doherty no chance in the Redcastle goal as it and ended up in the net to give Cockhill the lead. Cockhill almost made it two nil shortly after. Alan Fletcher hit a great shot from the edge of the box, but it was well saved by Redcastle’s Paul Doherty, but it fell kindly to Shaun McDaid ten yards out, but his effort was well saved again by Paul Doherty in the Redcastle goal. Redcastle replied almost immediately as Rory Hirrell shoots over from just outside the box. Cockhill hit back again when Darren Robinson almost gets on the end of a great through ball from Adam McLaughlin but Redcastle keeper Paul Doherty is sharp off his line.
Paul Doherty in the Redcastle net makes another good save this time for Adam McLaughlin as Cockhill almost stretch their lead before half time. Redcastle started the second half very strong and put Cockhill under pressure right from the off. A great through ball by Gerard McLaughlin finds Evan Craig but Cockhill keeper Ryan Fitzpatrick saves the initial effort well but the ball falls for Ronan Hoy who places the ball well in to the empty net as draw Redcastle level. A similar move shortly after almost gives Redcastle the lead but young Cockhill keeper Ryan Fitzpatrick gets enough on it to stop Ronan Hoy making it two for Redcastle and the covering Cockhill defenders Shaun McDaid and Barney Gubbins combine well to clear the danger. Redcastle continued to put Cockhill under pressure playing some nice passing through the middle to push Cockhill back. As the half went on Cockhill started to come back in to it and created their first chance of the half with Tristan Donaghy finding some space down the left and was unlucky when his shot just went past Paul Doherty’s left hand post. Then Adam McLaughlin created another chance to beat the Redcastle keeper after creating the chance for himself turning well in midfield and beating a few Redcastle players before his shot is well saved again by Paul Doherty. Redcastle replied with some more pressure forcing a few corners in a row but the Cockhill defence held firm under some considerable Redcastle pressure.
Adam McLaughlin who had a fine match again almost found the net but again Redcastle goal Paul Doherty saved comfortably after Adam created some space for himself in the box but fired his shot straight at Paul Doherty. Paul Doherty capped a fine performance on the day when he pulled off a top quality save diving well to his left to push wide a great effort from the edge of the box from Alan Fletcher which looked in all the way until Paul Doherty got his fingertips to it. Cockhill pushed for a winner in the final minutes. Some good work down the right between Cian Downey and Conor McDaid forced a corner for Cockhill. The corner was taken by Adam McLaughlin and Alan Fletcher rose well to head the ball in to the net to give Cockhill the lead with only minutes remaining. Redcastle threw men forward, putting Cockhill under a bit of pressure with minutes remaining. However, leaving themselves light at the back it allowed Cockhill to make a quick counter and Odhran O’Brien-Daly was unlucky not to make it three for Cockhill as his volley was again well saved by Paul Doherty as Cockhill saw the match out for a hard earned win against good, young Redcastle team