BONAGEE UNITED go joint top of the Ulster Senior League tonight with Cockhill Celtic when getting the better of ten man Letterkenny Rovers 1-0 at Leckview Park on Sunday.
Letterkenny Rovers 0 Bonagee United 1
Games between the two derby rivals have always been keenly fought encounters and the touchpaper was lit in this one when Peter Moran’s men went ahead on 7 minutes when Francesco Crisci did well to latch onto a Gareth Breslin throughball and he did well before squaring for Aidan McLaughlin who fired past Rory Kelly.
Rovers were shocked at such an early concession but came roaring back and created a number of good chances with Steve Okakpo-Emeka twice forcing Gareth Wade into good stops  before Paul McVeigh also saw one cleared off the line on 19 minutes.
[adrotate group=”80″]Eamon McConigley’s men thought they had levelled on 21 minutes but saw McVeighs header ruled out for offside rather harshly according to them.
That frustration was added to when McVeigh had a gilt edged chance on the half hour mark but he chose to shoot when maybe other options could have yielded better results.
That turned out to be a real turning point so early in the game as those frustrations at not taking his chances eventually boiled over and McVeigh saw red for an off-the-ball incident on 35 minutes.
[adrotate group=”85″]That rocked Rovers back and Bonagee went for a second before the break and came close through a Chris Moran free and a McLaughlin header.
Rovers came out in the second half rejuvenated and tried to take the game to 11 man Bonagee but chances were at a premium although Ryan Lonergan shot straight at Gareth Wade on 50 minutes while sub David Shovlin also shot straight at Wade after latching onto a throughball from midfield, while Bonagee sub Gavin McBrearty forced a good save form Rory Kelly on 70.
With Rovers pushing forward Aidan McLaughlin almost added number two with the best chance of the second period  but Kelly made a good save to deny him what would have been the insurance goal on 83 minutes.
[adrotate group=”76″]A resilient and well organised Bonagee saw out the game comfortably enough and were in no mood to give away any easy chances and they now go joint top with reigning champions Cockhill although Cockhill will go top on their own if they can win at Swilly Rovers next week as Bonagee have a free weekend while Rovers will regroup ahead of a tough trip to play Fanad.
Letterkenny Rovers; Rory Kelly, Ryan Lonergan. Chris Flanagan, Ryan Gildea, Declan O’Donnell, Kevin McGrath, Daragh Black, Brian McVeigh. Paul McVeigh, Christy Connaghan, Steve Okakpo-Emeka. Subs: David Shovlin for Lonergan (70), Odhran McMacken for Okakpo-Emeka (72), Paddy Diver for Brian McVeigh (75).
Bonagee United: Gareth Wade, Jamie Lynagh, Taylor Russell, Gareth Breslin, Darek Frankowski, Chris moran, Evan McCrory, Aidan McCauley, aidan McLaughlin, Francesco Crisci, Shane O’Doherty Sub: Gavin McBrearty for O’Doherty (70)
Referee: Marty McGarrigle.
Tags: