THREE GOALS in the first half set Lagan Harps up for their second League and Cup double in a row.
Lagan Harps 5 Bonagee United 0
Nakita Burke’s brace and a fine third, scored by Caroline Gallagher, had Lagan well on their way at the changeover with Danielle McDevitt and Aine Deasley completing the rout in the second period at Leckview Park.
Bríd McGinty’s team still have the Ulster Cup final, against Greencastle United, to come next Sunday afternoon, with a treble haul of honours on the offing for the Orchard Park outfit.
The ordeal was harsh on Bonagee, but once Lagan began to turn the knife late in the first half the writing was on the wall for Seamy McGinty’s girls.
They’d shaded the early exchanges, but when Burke – just back in the Lagan side in recent weeks – broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, the way back was always going to be a lengthy one.
Lagan were without regular goalkeeper Niamh Mailey, who is on holiday, and Amy Boyd, one of Lagan’s main goalscoring threats at the other end, donned the gloves, favoured to young ‘keeper Neve Scanlon.
Bonagee forced a couple of corners and free kicks in the early moments, but the first chance came when Burke and Zoe Green – who was named player of the match – combined with Green only denied by a fine tackle by Grainne Gallagher.
Lagan took the lead when Burke seized on a momentary lapse by the Bonagee defence and slipped a clincial shot beyond the advancing Denise McElhinney.
Natalie McFadden shot wide as Bonagee sought a way back into the tie, but in the 28th minute Lagan were two ahead when Burke, fed by Green, finished for her second.
With half-time approaching, Lagan effectively sealed the win. With Bonagee standing off, Gallagher had time and space and the midfielder curled perfectly into the roof of the net.
Bonagee began well in the second half, Deborah Kerrigan riffling into the side netting. Bridgeen Devenney and Shannon McBride combined to tee up Anna Doherty, but the Bonagee captain shot over the top.
Twenty minutes from time, Lagan added a fourth as underage internationals Greene and McDevitt combined with McDevitt applying the finish from Greene’s deep cross.
Late in the game, the fifth arrived, a clearance from Lagan’s goalmouth going back to the net off substitute Deasley.
Lagan Harps: Amy Boyd (Neve Scanlon 85); Kaneshia McKinney (Michelle Kelly 78), Aoife Page, Chantel Kelly, Zoe Green; Ciana Brogan (Aine Deasley 61), Nadine Crawford, Caroline Gallagher, Danielle McDevitt; Amanda Callaghan, Nakita Burke.
Bonagee United: Denise McElhinney; Leona Russell, Amy Thompson, Grainne Gallagher, Claire Orr; Shannon McBride (Olivia McGinley 84), Alice Diver (Caoimhe Kelly, half-time), Anna Doherty (Aoife Gallagher 70), Bridgeen Devenney; Natalie McFadden, Deborah Kerrigan.
Referee: Marty Quinn.
[adrotate group=”53″] Tags: