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QPS 1 Aileach 3
Aileach took the spoils in this North West Champions League game played at Rasheney QPS had the first chance of the game on 15 minutes when Michael Nicholas floated in a corner which was headed clear by a defender, then Anto Mc Colgan fired in a shot from 18 yards that was held by Ciaran Gallagher in the Aileach net, On 18 minutes Anthony Doherty tried his luck for Aileach from the edge of the box, but JP Mc Colgan saved well, 2 minuets later the point had a let off when Anthony Doherty got on the end of a Ciaran Craig left wing cross but his header hit the bar and went over, Raymond Buchanan with a 25 yard free kick which was held by keeper Gallagher on 25 minutes and a Kevin Wallace header which went over the bar on 29 minutes came close for the swifts, on 36 minutes Liam Burke’s goal bound shot was cleared off the line by Oisin Mc Colgan, Aileach kept pressing and Burke had a chance after being set up by Ciaran Craig but JP Mc Colgan in the swifts goal made a good save, Craig shot over the bar on the stroke of half time as Aileach finished the half strongly, after 60 min Raymond Buchanan headed Michael Nicholas corner over the bar at the near post, on 61 minutes Raymond Buchanan’s corner was met by the head of Oisin Mc Colgan and the effort was cleared off the line, Then Aileach’s Sean Mc Kinney tried his luck with an effort from distance which Mc Colgan dealt with, the deadlock was broken on 64 minutes when Buchanan’s free into the box was fumbled by the keeper under pressure and Kevin Wallace stabbed home from close range, Aileach were level 5 minutes later when Craig floated a free into the swifts box and Cathal Mc Elhinney headed home from 10 yards, Aileach had another chance on 75 minutes when Anthony Doherty broke through the swifts rearguard bur Mc Colgan was quickly out to block, Aileach took the lead on the stroke of full time when Anthony Doherty sprung the offside trap and slotted home, Kevin Wallace got a second yellow for his protestation’s at this decision and was duly sent off, Dean Barron with a volley for the swifts which went narrowly wide came close for the swifts, Aileach sealed it in stoppage time when Substitute Dermot Mc Glynn headed home from 10 yards to seal victory for the Burnfoot men.
Clonmany Shamrocks 2-2 Mourne Harps
Clonmany got off to a great start but some uncharacteristic errors especially in defence meant that in the end they were fortunate to salvage a point.They opened the scoring on 7 minutes when Michael Devlin’s delightful dink over the top released John McLaughlin and he calmly rolled the ball past keeper Rory Winters from just inside the area.McLaughlin then saw a free kick from the edge of the area rebound off the defensive wall for a corner which the Strabane defence cleared to safety. An error in the Clonmany defence on the quarter hour when they failed to clear a harmless ball allowed Mournes John Mclaughlin to squeeze the ball past Peter Devlin from close range.Minutes later the Strabane side took the lead after Gerard Murray’s crossfield shot from thirty yards deceived Devlin and landed in the bottom left hand corner. It was a good strike but one which the Clonmany custodian would have been disappointed not to have saved. Another misplaced header then gave Mourne’s McLaughlin a clear sight of goal but he miscontrolled before in a swift Clonmany counter goalscorer John McLaughlin found space on the left but his shot lacked sufficient power to really trouble Winters. On 33 minutes Mark Mclaughlin was caught in possession outside his own area and David Taylor’s first time attempted chip landed on top of the net.Clonmany should have got back on terms on 43 minutes when a superb inswinging cross from the left by Paul McLaughlin found namesake John but at full stretch he directed his effort over the top.Mourne almost increased their lead on the stroke of half time when Murray fed McLaughlin who controlled and his first time shot flew past the far post. Mourne continued on the restart with substitute Christy Devine finding space between two defenders but poor control allowed Devlin to race from his line and gather.Clonmany upped the pace with Mark Mclaughlin surging forward from right back past three defenders and into the area but fired straight at Winters. They got back on terms on 69 minutes after John McLaughlin’s near post delivery from a corner found substitute Brendan Devlin who glanced a header to the net from six yards. Devlin then had a shot from an angle on the right but Winters parried and when the ball fell to Michael Devlin at the back post he was off balance and failed to direct the ball on target. Mourne had the best opportunity to win the game when they were awarded a penalty for handball on 82 minutes but McLaughlin blasted the spot kick over the top. The outcome of the Mourne / Clifton Villa game will give Clonmany a fair idea of what they require to qualify for the semi finals.
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