IT was a damp and miserable start to the season for Donacloney last Wednesday– and not just weather wise either.

For their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Aghalee Village has sent them out of the Marshall Cup at the first time of asking.

The Cloney's bad luck is continuing following a tough pre-season and their relegation from Division Three of the Mid Ulster League last season. They were due to commence life in Division Four on Saturday past but the foul weather put pay to that encounter.

Indeed it looks like plans to move back to their proper home ground at the former McCartan's site in the village will have to be put back a bit longer as the River Lagan, which runs alongside the pitch, burst it's banks with what was a field being prepared for football matches now resembling a lake.

Instead Kernan Playing Fields played host to the match and Cloney got off to a shaky start, falling behind to a scrappy goal midway through the first half.

They never recovered and fell further behind in similar circumstances just before the interval.

The locals tried to up the pressure to try and find a path back into the match but shortly again Aghalee pulled further ahead, again a goalmouth melee leading to the Village's third goal.

Donacloney did pull a goal back midway through the second half through Karl Cullen's spot kick but it was to be too little, too late.

On Saturday Donacloney play host to Craigavon City at Kernan, kick off 2.15pm.