Rainey secures late draw for USL at Inter-Pros

written by Chris McNulty October 4, 2019

The Ulster Senior League scored a late equaliser in their opening game of the FAI Intermediate Interprovincials at Ashbourne United.

Ulster Senior League 1 Connacht FA 1

Pictures by Stephen Doherty

Bonagee United’s Ryan Rainey earned his side a point with just two minutes of the tie remaining.

After a quiet start to the game, the Ulster Senior League started to dominate the proceedings and were unlucky not to score on a few occasions after strikes from Bonagee United pair Michéal Doherty and Ryan Rainey.

Kevin McGrath (Letterkenny Rovers) then had a shot well saved by the Connacht keeper with the rebound falling to Adam Duffy but his strike on goal was blocked and went away for a corner kick.

Into the second half and in a even game with both defences on top it was Connacht who opened the scoring from the penalty spot courtesy of Jordan Loftus – a former Finn Harps striker – in the 74th minute.

Anthony Gorman made wholesale changes bringing on the allotted five subs and eventually they equalised in the 88th minute when substitute BJ Banda found Ryan Rainey inside the 18 yard box and he fired home past the Connacht netminder. A

t the final whistle the referee sent off the USL’s Emmet Friars which results in him missing Saturday’s fixture against the Munster Senior League.

Ulster Senior League:Rory Kelly (Letterkenny Rovers), Mark Harkin (Bonagee United), Ryan Lonergan (Letterkenny Rovers), Emmet Friars (Letterkenny Rovers), Lee Toland (Letterkenny Rovers), Chris Malseed (Letterkenny Rovers), Gareth Breslin (Bonagee United), Ryan Rainey (Bonagee United), Michéal Doherty (Bonagee United), Kevin McGrath (Letterkenny Rovers), Adam Duffy (Cockhill Celtic). Subs used: BJ Banda (Letterkenny Rovers), Laurence Toland (Cockhill Celtic), Garbhan Grant (Bonagee United), Stephen Duffy (Cockhill Celtic), Dean McCarry (Fanad United).

Results, Friday 4 October
Ulster Senior League 1-1 Connacht FA
Leinster Senior League 2-1 Munster Senior League
Fixtures, Saturday 5 October, Ko 2.30pm
Ulster Senior League v Munster Senior League
Leinster Senior League v Connacht FA

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Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

Rainey secures late draw for USL at Inter-Pros

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