Sean McCarron netted a debut hat-trick as Letterkenny Rovers defeated Bonagee United in a crazy Donegal News Ulster Senior League Cup clash at Leckview Park.
Letterkenny Rovers 5 Bonagee United 3
It rained goals during a downpour as Letterkenny managed to make difficult a game in which they seemed to be cruising through after racing into a 4-0 lead by the 40th minute.
McCarron’s hat-trick, though, helped stave off comeback by ten-man Bonagee as the ex-Finn Harps striker began the season just how Eamon McConigley would have wished.
At the recent launch of the new season, McConigley spoke of the importance of adding another prolific sword to his attacking arsenal. While he’ll have been concerned at how easily they let Bonagee into a game from which they ought to have been gone, McCarron’s treble will certainly rise the Cathedral Town’s optimism, even if they know they can’t defend this generously.
Bonagee were obliging early on, but they were left to rue a red card for Mark Harkin, less than a minute after his introduction just after the midway point in the opening half.
Rovers fired a couple of early warnings across the Bonagee brows, Marty McGinty saving from Pajo Rafferty before a brave block by Glenn Gallagher prevented Rafferty from opening the scoring while Steve Okakpo-Emeka drilled wide.
The hosts took the lead when Rafferty finished after McCarron was given the benefit of doubt on a hint of handball in the area.
Just 70 seconds later, Rovers doubled the lead as McCarron’s shot bounced away from McGinty and trundled in off the post.
With Bonagee still reeling they lost another goal and a man in quick succession.
McCarron’s precise through ball played Kevin McGrath in and he made no mistake with a cool finish past the helpless McGinty.
New Bonagee boss Tony O’Carroll sent Harkin on in a bid to add something, but they were rocked when his first and only contribution was a wild lunge on Tristan Ferris that drew a red card.
McCarron blasted across McGinty to the far corner to make it four-nil and it looked like curtain.
But Bonagee pulled two back before the break. Matty Harkin netted from close range before turning provider for Jamie Lynagh, who capitalised on slack Rovers defending to reduce the arrears further.
Two minutes into the second half, Rovers were stunned when Michael Funston – back at Bonagee after a 13-year senior career and over 300 appearance for Harps – saw a long-range free deflect past Rory Kelly.
McGinty denied McCarron with his fingertips while the Bonagee netminder clawed away a teasing McCarron free.
But McCarron wouldn’t be denied again as he wonderfully steered in first time from the edge of the box.
Bonagee sub Daniel Stolarczyk couldn’t keep his shot down as the visitors sought another way back and Rovers’ Brandon Manues, Rafferty, Darren McElwaine and Chris Malseed all went close late in the day, but the scoring was, finally, over and Rovers were off to a winning start.
Letterkenny Rovers: Rory Kelly; Tristan Ferris (Ruairi Dennehy 62), Conor Tourish, Ryan Gildea, Chris Flanagan; Steve Okakpo-Emeka (Brandon Manues 80), Chris Malseed, Christy Connaghan, Kevin McGrath (Odhran McMacken 55); Pajo Rafferty, Sean McCarron (Darren McElwaine 77).
Bonagee United: Marty McGinty; Rory McCrossan, Caillin McLaughlin, Glenn Gallagher (Darren Hunter 63), Scott Rice; Aaron Wasson (Daniel Stolarczyk 68), Michael Funston, Jamie Lynagh (Jordan Rogers 81), Ciaran Daffan (Mark Harkin 24); Matty Harkin, Dean Larkin.
Referee: Michael Connolly.
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