JASON MARTIN’S deadly double, either side of the interval, saw Bonagee United move within two points of second-placed Letterkenny Rovers in the Donegal Youth League.
Letterkenny Rovers 0 Bonagee United 2
By Chris McNulty at Leckview Park
Martin struck on 41 and 50 minutes to give Paul Higgins’ Bonagee a derby win over their cross-town rivals.
Martin slammed the opener high into Aaron Hepburn’s net after the Rovers net-minder couldn’t hold onto Dylan O’Brien’s drive from distance.
Rovers had won all of their League games until this one, but the Leckview men were left reeling when Martin headed home from a pin-point Liam McAlary cross. McAlary flung in the ball after a fine move down the right and Martin nodded in from close range.
Bonagee had sent an early warning shot across the Rovers brows when Peter Carr’s cracking effort rattled the post after Jack Murphy’s deft touch teed up the attempt.
Murphy saw a free kick well charged down before Rovers almost fashioned an equaliser when Jack Dwyer headed against the crossbar from a Conor Friel cross. Dwyer had been in a similar position earlier in the game, but couldn’t direct that one on target.
Friel himself tested Cian Harkin, but the composed and reliable Bonagee ‘keeper had little trouble in holding the effort.
Jonathan Coady saw his shot fly wide as Rovers probed in search of an equaliser.
The visitors argued that they should have had a penalty late in the first half when Carr went down under Kyron Coyle’s challenge, but Packie Coll, the referee, was having none of the loud appeals.
Rovers were rocked when Martin headed in goal number two, but Anthony Gorman’s hosts had chances to get back into the game.
Adam Yisau should have hit the target when a great chance presented itself while Corey Brolly headed wide soon after.
A Dwyer shot deflected wide and Leon Doherty fizzed a fine shot just past the Bonagee post.
As Rovers pushed, Thomas Keys headed into the arms of Harkin. Largely, though, Sergey Alcorn and Taylor Cassidy were able to clear their lines when Rovers broke, but Bonagee did need a goal-line intervention from Dylan O’Brien to deny Dwyer.
The lively Dwyer, who had been booked for a foul in the 20th minute, was given his marching orders in the dying moments as a second yellow and an accompanying red were flashed for dissent.
Letterkenny Rovers: Aaron Hepburn, Leon Doherty, Caolan McConnell, Thomas Keys, Kyron Coyle, Corey Brolly, Jonathan Coady, Adam Yisau, Corey McBride-Gillen, Conor Friel, Jack Dwyer. Sub: Fouad Bashar
Bonagee United: Cian Harkin, Darragh Kirk, Taylor Cassidy, Sergey Alcorn, Jason Martin, Dylan O’Brien, Liam McAlary, Jack Murphy, Peter Carr, Josh McCullagh, Adam Murphy. Subs: Caolan Maltha, Ryan Creevy, Luke Doherty, Adam Carr.
Referee: Packie Coll
