LETTERKENNY ROVERS out-muscled derby rivals Bonagee United to move into the next round of the FAI Youth Cup at The Aura Centre.
Letterkenny Rovers 5 Bonagee United 1
James Tourish, Tarlach O’Boyle, Codey Brogan, Shane Doherty and Darragh Morrison netted for Anthony Gorman’s team, who have had long runs in this competition over the last two seasons.
A deflected free-kick by Oisin Purdy had Bonagee in touch at half-time, when Letterkenny Rovers led 2-1, but the third goal, struck by Brogan 12 minutes into the second half, had the hosts heading for the winning post.
[adrotate group=”80″]It was a day tinged with sadness. Before the game, a minute’s silence was impeccably observed in memory of young Orla McNulty from Killyclug, who died during the week.
Orla’s brother, Sean, plays at left-back for Bonagee and while he was absent from the team today, he huddled with his team-mates during the minutes’s silence, while other members of the McNulty family were in attendance.
Rovers were on their way to victory with two goals in the opening 12 minutes.
[adrotate group=”85″]Tourish’s influence was all over this game, with the full-back scoring one and setting up another two goals. It was Tourish who opened the scoring in the 8th, minute, firing a free kick from 20 yards past Peter O’Donnell, the Bonagee goalkeeper.
Just four minutes later, Tourish’s free was brilliantly flicked to the net by O’Boyle.
The pair combined again soon after from a corner, but O’Boyle glanced wide, while O’Donnell saved another teasing Tourish free on the half-hour.
Bonagee United
Rovers were rocked when Purdy saw a free at the other end deflect past Eoghan Jordan to reduce the arrears.
However, just before the hour mark, Rovers made it 3-1. O’Boyle brilliantly skipped past a defender, after being sent away by Brian Diver. O’Boyle’s centre was turned home by Brogan.
[adrotate group=”46″]Three minutes later, Doherty headed home, again from a Tourish delivery.
Rovers had plenty of chance to add to their tally, Doherty firing wide with the best of the, but substutute Morrison added the fifth after connecting with a cross by Ciaran Daffan.
Letterkenny Rovers: Eoghan Jordan; Calvin O’Brien, Eoghan Kelly, Ruairi Dennehy, James Tourish; Brian Diver, Jerome Angel-Atuahene, Shaun Curran, Tarlach O’Boyle; Codey Brogan, Shane Doherty. Subs: Ciaran Daffan for Tourish (64), Conor Lynch for O’Brien (64), Darragh Morrison for Brogan (72), Brandon Manus for Diver (77), Cameron Gormley for Angel-Atuahene (77).
Bonagee United: Peter O’Donnell; Eoin O’Donnell, Darren Coyle, Jordan Rodgers, Kyle Gormley; Adam Hannaway, Oisin Purdy, Daniel Stolarczyk, Stephen Lafferty; Matthew de Cook, Ryan Moran. Subs: Ronan Cullinane for Hannaway (73), Conor Logue for de Cook (73), Ronan Downey for Moran (83), Stephen McLaughlin for Stolarczyk (83).
Referee: Dessie McLaughlin.
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