Kilmacrennan hold on to take the win in seven goal thriller against Glenea

Kilmacrennan Celtic held on for a narrow win in a seven goal thriller against Glenea United for three points in the Brian McCormick Premier Division at the Letterkenny Community Centre.

Kilmacrennan were well in control in the first half, and brilliant long range goals from Matthew McLaughlin and Conor Black got them into a good position, while Conor Temple added a third before the break.

Mark Patterson made it 4-0, but a Cathal McGeever goal and a red card for Temple gave Glenea some hope.

And substitute Seamus Doogan volleyed in with ten to play, before he scored in similar fashion in added time.

But time ran out on them as Kilmacrennan held on for a second win in six games, while Glenea are still searching for their first win on their return to the top tier.

Glenea had the first half chance when Cathal McGeever played the ball through for Calvin Murray, but he couldn’t get a shot away when 1-on-1 with Christopher O’Donnell. 

Kilmacrennan then had a chance as a long ball towards Mark Patterson saw the winger take control with his back to goal, but his overhead kick went wide. 

Tiernan McGinty tried his luck from nearly 40 yards, but O’Donnell held the ball, and Kilmacrennan soon took the lead. 

It came as the ball was being contested near the centre circle and eventually was passed off to Matthew McLaughlin, who took a touch to set himself and rifled a brilliant shot into the top corner. 

Five minutes later, Shaun Curran was booked for a tackle on Conor Temple and got injured in the process, with Glenea playing the next attack with ten men.

And it cost them as Conor Black cut in from the right and curled a left footed strike into the far corner from 25 yards out. 

And again, it was just another five minutes when Kilmac got their third, a long ball forward saw a foot race between Temple and the Glenea defence, with the forward winning that race, before poking past Shaun McClafferty.

And Glenea mustered up little in return, Blake McGarvey having an effort saved by O’Donnell for their only real chance before the break.

But they came out much more threatening in the second half, Darren McGeever doing well along the byline before fizzing the ball across the six yard box, only for Declan McGarvey to clear, while Shane Coll’s cross towards the back post was headed over by Cathal McGeever.

Kilmacrennan then got a fourth ten minutes into the half as they won the ball high up and had a numbers advantage, Temple playing in Patterson on the right of the box, and he fired in at the near post.

But the visitors weren’t giving up, and when Blake McGarvey won possession in the middle of the park, he found Darren McGeever and as he cut in and tried to get a shot away, the ball fell to Cathal McGeever, who curled into the bottom corner just after the hour mark.

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Five minutes later, Kilmacrennan lost Temple to a second yellow and the momentum swung in favour of the visitors, Darren McGeever having a shot saved as they looked to get another goal back.

It took some time, but they did get a second on 82 minutes as Stephen Doak crossed from the right towards substitute Seamus Doogan.

Only on the pitch for less than two minutes, Doogan first time volleyed the ball in from the left for another brilliant goal, which sparked Glenea back to life again.

And they got another back in added time with what was nearly a carbon copy of the previous, Doak again crossing from the right towards Doogan, this time a bit closer to the goal, and he bundled the ball in towards the near post.

Time was against the Glasserchoo side, who had a dangerous free and corner delivered in, but Kilmacrennan defended well to hold on for the three points.

Kilmacrennan Celtic: Christopher O’Donnell; Declan McGarvey, James Doherty, Ryan Shields, John Sandilands; Mark Patterson, Conor Black, Matthew McLaughlin (Aiden Sweeney 55), Christopher Dillon, Paul Bradley; Conor Temple. 

Glenea United: Shaun McClafferty; Luke McCarry, Stephen Doak, Conor Coyle, Shaun Curran (Shane Coll 23); Blake McGarvey (Seamus Doogan 80), Barry McGinley, Cathal McGeever, Darren McGeever; Calvin Murray, Tiernan McGinty.