Donegal take one goal advantage into Oscar Traynor second leg against Inishowen

The Donegal Junior League will take a one goal advantage into the second leg of their Oscar Traynor clash after a 3-2 win over the Inishowen League in Diamond Park on Sunday.

They would have been a bit disappointed with that at full time, given they led by three at the interval after Shane McNamee opened the scoring, while they hit two just before the break thanks to Simon McGlynn and Jonny Robb.

But Inishowen fought back in the second half and hit the net through the impressive Jay Bradley and captain Peter Doherty to leave just a goal in it heading back to Maginn Park on December 13, with a spot in the National semi-final up for grabs.

Conditions in Ballyare were tricky on a wet and windy afternoon, and it took both teams time to settle.

With few chances early on, the first opening fell when Brendan McCafferty’s cross to the back post fell to an unmarked Patrick Carr, but he headed over.

Inishowen had a couple of openings after, first as Kevin O’Loughlin had a header go wide, while Conor Graham played in Jay Bradley on the left, but his attempt to chip Michael Lynch went over.

The first goal came on 24 minutes after a poor pass back from O’Loughlin towards goalkeeper Taylor Clarke, saw Shane McNamee nip in front and score with a first time finish.

Inishowen looked for a leveller and they had a host of chances, first as Jamie McKinney dragged wide before Peter Doherty did well to get a cross in, but Dean McCarry put it out for a corner.

Lee McColgan’s cross after a good move was headed out to Bradley, and his goalbound effort took a slight deflection to take just wide of the post, while there was a bit of pinball in the box from the resulting corner as Eamonn Sheridan’s side put in a trio of good blocks to deny the visitors.

Caolan Doherty then did well to get a low cross into Bradley at the near post, but Lynch brilliantly tipped it over the bar and the next corner was again well defended.

And the next goal came after an Inishowen corner was cleared and a long ball from the home side was misdirected out for a corner by O’Loughlin.

Gareth Harkin swung it in and Simon McGlynn flicked it on, taking a touch off a defender and finding the far corner.

That was a minute before the break, and the scoreline flattered the hosts, but they got one more in added time after great work from Padraic Gilsenan down the right to win possession back.

McGlynn twisted and turned and got a cross in to the front post where Jonn Robb was in the perfect position to flick the ball into the far corner for a three goal lead at the break.

It was a bit more of the same after the restart, Bradley heading over from a Graham corner, while Luke Rudden broke through on the right and hit the side netting.

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But Andrew Foley’s side got one back just before the hour mark, Graham playing through Bradley, who took a couple of great touches to beat the defence, and he slotted low past Lynch.

Garbhan Friel had a tame effort saved, but Inishowen got a second with 20 minutes to play, a free from Tiernan Ruddy to the back post was headed back across by O’Loughlin and Peter Doherty finished into the far corner.

Both sides then had a couple of chances, McCafferty making a great block to deny Friel, while Harkin’s short free to Shane McGinty at the edge of the box was going towards the bottom corner, but Clarke made a great save.

Rudden almost caught out Lynch, but the Kildrum man saved well, while Carr headed just wide after rising highest to meet a McGinty corner as we approached the final ten minutes.

And both sides threatened with headers, Doherty having one blocked after a corner, while Ryan Shields’ effort at the back post was held by Clarke.

And in the seventh minute of added time, Inishowen had a free cleared and despite a two-on-one for Ronan McHugh and Delap, the whistle sounded for full time as Donegal take a one goal advantage into the second leg in Maginn Park on December 13.

Donegal Junior League: Michael Lynch; Padraic Gilsenan, Ryan Shields, Dean McCarry, Brendan McCafferty; Aidy Delap, Gareth Harkin, Patrick Carr, Simon McGlynn (Ronan McHugh 67), Shane McNamee (Shane McGinty 58); Jonny Robb (Eddie O’Reilly 67).

Inishowen League: Taylor Clarke; Lee McLaughlin, Peter Doherty, Kevin O’Loughlin, Lee McColgan; Jay Bradley (Brendan McLaughlin 63), Jamie McKinney (Jack Bradley 63), Conor Graham (Tiernan Ruddy 63), Caolan Doherty (Garbhan Friel 45), Damian Duffy; Luke Rudden.

Referee: Vincent McLoughlin.