FINNIAN O’DONNELL NETTED A second-half hat-trick as Bonagee United marched into the final of the Donegal Schoolboys Under-14 Champions League final.
Letterkenny Rovers 0 Bonagee United 6
Bonagee win 8-2 on aggregate
O’Donnell’s clinical treble swept Bonagee to a comfortable win over derby foes Letterkenny Rovers at Leckview Park.
Dylan Woods and Ronan McKinley netted the first-half goals that put Bonagee in control of a tie that was delicately poised at 2-2 following the first leg.
[adrotate group=”37″]O’Donnell’s trio of strikes and McKinley’s second of the evening made safe Bonagee’s passage into the final, where they’ll meet Gerry Crossan’s Swilly Rovers on Saturday at 5pm, back in Leckview.
Bonagee took the lead in stunning fashion in the 17th minute as Woods latched onto a breaking ball, when McKinley’s cross was cut out, around 25 yards from goal and lashed a superb effort beyond Killian Gribben in the Rovers goal.
[adrotate group=”63″]Just before half-time, Bonagee doubled the advantage as McKinley’s drilled attempt from the right-hand side went in off the base of the post.
In between times, Bonagee goalkeeper Adrian McLaughlin kept out a free kick from Gerard Duffy with the follow-up by Marty Duffy blocked.
Jack Murphy tried his luck from 15 yards, but his effort was narrowly wide of the far post.
[adrotate group=”41″]Bonagee had began the better with O’Donnell going close from six yards when caught in two minds at the far post.
Last week, the teams shared the spoils in a 2-2 thriller at Dry Arch Park, where Josh McCullagh snatched a late equaliser for Bonagee.
Letterkenny Rovers Under-14s
Jack Murphy had cancelled out an early goal from Toki Hassan for Rovers, with Joel Gorman’s penalty bringing Michael Boyle’s Rovers back to Leckview with a pair of away goals in their pockets.
Woods and McKinley cancelled them out and when Bonagee got their third, on 41 minutes, as O’Donnell tucked past Gribben after rolling inches wide moments earlier when he raced clear from half-way.
[adrotate group=”42″]Rovers’ Adam Yisau wasn’t far off when he might have hit the target as a chance presented itself. With perhaps more time than he imagined, Yisau couldn’t keep his shot on target.
O’Donnell sped away from Liam Hannigan and rounded Gribben for his second and Bonagee’s fourth 14 minutes into the second half while McKinley tapped home after O’Donnell’s shot was saved.
The gracenote was added as O’Donnell slotted in number six with time almost up.
[adrotate group=”64″]Letterkenny Rovers: Killian Gribben; Leon Doherty, Liam Hannigan, Callum Friel, David Boyle (James Gallagher); Ciaran Moore (Jake Fitzsimons), Gerard Duffy, Joel Gorman, Marty Duffy; Toki Hassan, Adam Yisau.
Bonagee United: Adrian McLaughlin; Josh McCullagh (Ciaran Gallagher), David Smith, Eoin Dowling, Ben Gallagher; Ronan McKinley, Kieran Tobin, Dylan Woods, Adam Murphy (Shaun Tinney); Jack Murphy, Finnian O’Donnell.
Referee: Marty Quinn.
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