LETTERKENNY Rovers are back in the John Gorey Curran Cup final after an exciting derby win over Bonagee United tonight.
Bonagee United 2 Letterkenny Rovers 5
By Chris McNulty at Dry Arch Park
Jack Dwyer and Tobi Akinyimika scored two apiece and Caolan McConnell was also on the mark as Anthony Gorman’s team (pictured after recently winning the Donegal Youth League) moved into a final meeting with Lagan Harps.
Jack Murphy and Peter Carr netted for Bonagee, but the hosts were unable to prevent Rovers from claiming a deserved and ultimately comfortable win in the second half.
Dwyer broke the deadlock in the second minute. With the hosts appealing for an offside that never came, Dwyer shot home via a deflection.
Bonagee were level on 15 minutes as Murphy tucked home from the spot after Carr was upended.
From close range, Nathan Plumb tested Cian Harkin, the Bonagee ‘keeper, who was busy on the night, but who impressed in spite of the defeat for his side.
Murphy almost had Bonagee in front when a cross-cum-shot riffled back off the post.
Harkin saved from Plumb’s tester from the edge of the box while the home ‘keeper held onto a free-kick from Gavin McGee.
The first-half clock was in the red when McConnell tucked into the bottom corner when the home rearguard stopped dead in its tracks and failed to deal with a ball into the danger zone.
Rovers, energised by that goal, began brightly again in the second half and Kealan Dunleavy headed narrowly over.
Jonathan Coady was inches from a stunning third for Rovers on the hour, but his swerving effort careered back from the inside of the post with Harkin beaten. Coady’s strike, struck wonderfully from the outside of the boot, deserved a goal, but the goal shook and Bonagee survived.
However, the hosts were architects of their own undoing when they gifted Rovers possession, Dwyer nipped in to coolly finish.
Harkin parried away from Friel in those moments when Rovers were rampant, but Carr sped clear to fire in and tee up a grandstand finale.
Rovers were denied by what seemed a peculiar offside call as sub Kealan Collier tapped home after Akinyimika got the better of Harkin out on the right.
However, Akinyimika finished well late in the game after Harkin saved from Dwyer.
And the substitute added his second and Rovers’ fifth after Harkin pushed away a shot from Collier.
Bonagee United: Cian Harkin, Darragh Kirk, David Boakye, Taylor Cassidy, Sergie Alcorn, Dylan O’Brien, Jason Martin, Ryan Creevy, Peter Carr, Jack Murphy, Adam Murphy. Subs: Liam McAlary for Alcorn, Jason Blake for A.Murphy, Luke Doherty for Marton, Adam Carr for O’Brien.
Letterkenny Rovers: Aaron Hepburn, Kealan Dunleavy, Gavin McGee, Thomas Keys, Kyran Coyle, Kieran Tobin, Conor Friel, Jonathan Coady, Jack Dwyer, Nathan Plumb, Caolan McConnell. Subs: Leon Doherty for Friel, Tobi Akinyimika for McGee, Adam Yissau for McConnell, Cory Brolly for Keys, Kealan Collier for Plumb.
Referee: Dessie McLaughlin.
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