BONAGEE UNITED SNATCHED a dramatic draw from the jaws of defeat in Triagh-A-Locha this evening.Â
Fanad United 2 Bonagee United 2
Goals in either half by Ciaran Blaney and Allen Passoma looked to have sewn up the win for Fanad, but never-say-die Bonagee (pictured above) rescued a share of the spoils late in the night.
Evan McCroary set up a grandstand finale when a majestic hit from 25 yards looped over Niall Shields in the Fanad goal to bring Bonagee back into it in the 86th minute.
It had ‘consolation’ written all over it – but not in Bonagee eyes and in the final minute of normal time Noah Sanni pounced in a crowded penalty area to slam home what seemed an unlikely equaliser.
The old adage about it being a funny old game rang true. Bonagee had only two attempts on goal, but bagged a goal each time.
Blaney headed in a 40th minute opener and an entertaining game remained in the melting pot until Passoma turned home in the 77th minute.
Fanad had lost their opening game 4-0 at Keadue, but Shane Friel’s team will certain look at this one as two points dropped.
It took them some time to find a rhythm. Patrick Carr’s influence in the game was steadily growing and it was from his teasing corner kick from the left flank that the home side took the lead.
Carr floated over a dangerous in-swinging and Ciaran Blaney superbly flicked a header beyond the reach of Matthew Gallagher in the Bonagee goal.
Bonagee began the evening the brighter, but the lack of a little precision in the final third hurt them until the final moments.
When Passoma converted from five yards 13 minutes from the end, it looked game, set and match, the lively front man firing to the net having connected to John Haraghty’s right-wing delivery.
Bonagee refused to wilt, though, and from somewhere, Bosco Gallagher’s team summonsed a response.
Strangely, there was a sense here that they could actually have won it if they had been rather more adventurous – although there was no doubting the fact that they’d got out of jail.
James Sharkey was first to threaten on seven minutes, but his header landed into the arms of Niall Shiels, Fanad’s stand-in ‘keeper – with Oran Blaney on holidays – after Evan Bonner’s deep cross found the striker unmarked at the far post.
They were chances that would become a rarity between then and the conclusion for the Dry Arch side, with McCroary’s super strike opening the hope before Sanni squared the circle with the leveller.
Fanad United
With night falling around Sheephaven’s waters, the floodlight switch was flicked and it seemed to also spark the home team into action.
John Heraghty picked out Passoma to create their first chance, but his header was without the correct co-ordinates.
With Fanad coming into the game more, Eoghan Rafferty was a lick of paint away from a stunning opening goal, but an ambitious effort crashed off the Bonagee crossbar.
After Blaney’s header broke the deadlock, Fanad went in search of a second, but Carr was denied by the tips of Gallagher’s fingers on the stroke of half-time.
They might well have doubled the lead when Blaney again wriggled free of Bonagee’s shackles ten minutes into the new half, but he headed wide on this occasion after connecting to another Carr set piece.
When Passoma did drill in a second, Fanad were on their way to a win – or so they thought.
Fanad United: Niall Shiels; Shaun Coyle, Tiernan Cushnan, Ciaran Blaney, Odhrán Shiels; Eoghan Rafferty (Hayden Curran ‘81), Sean Little, Patrick Carr, Oisin McFadden; Allen Passoma, John Heraghty.
Bonagee United: Matthew Gallagher; Jack Lafferty, Christopher Duddy, Evan McCroary (Vinny Toye), Evan Bonner; Wallace Tavares, Ryan McGinty (Eoghan Harkin, half-time), Noah Sanni, Conor Logue (Louis Hanlon ’61); James Sharkey (Conor Temple ’71), Oisin Purdy.
Referee: James Malseed.
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