IF EVER there was a game to showcase the ailing Donegal Women’s League in a good light then this was it.
Lagan Harps 1 Bonagee United 1
Bonagee United upset Lagan Harps’ title charge with a gutsy effort that secured them a point at Orchard Park in a game that was in the melting pot for 95 uneasy and feisty minutes.
Amanda Callaghan’s goal in the first half had edged Lagan in front, but resilient Bonagee hit back and Natalie McFadden’s 70th minute goal secured a precious and priceless point for Seamy McGinty’s team.
[adrotate group=”70″]That is only to tell part of the tale on a night when Bonagee had stars aplenty, with goalkeeper Denise McElhinney making some top drawer saves, the pick of them from Danielle McDevitt in the dying moments.
McDevitt let fly from 20 yards, but McElhinney, reaching back with her right arm at full stretch, superbly turned over the crossbar.
Five minutes of added time were played at the end of an absorbing contest and there were chances at either end in those edgy moments.
Lagan Harps
Lagan’s Amy Boyd managed to breach the resistance in the 92nd minute, lobbing over McElhinney, but the Lagan attacker was pulled back for an offside infringement.
Right on the blow of Con McLaughlin’s final whistle, Olivia McGinley flashed wide at the other end – after Natalie Sweeney wasn’t far away before then – and the energy-sapping night was, finally, at a close.
[adrotate group=”37″]Bonagee are still six adrift, but can expect to receive three points for the non-fielding of an opponent recently and these teams have to play again so the title race is very much on.
Defending champions Lagan had won the previous meeting of the teams 3-0 and appeared to be closing in on the retention of the title, but Bonagee played here as if affronted by the suggestion that the Orchard Park side would be handed the crown gift-wrapped.
A battling stalemate, during which Leona Russell and Grainne Gallagher in particular stood tall, while McFadden ploughed a lonely existence up top to good effect.
[adrotate group=”38″]The influence of Nadine Crawford and Caroline Gallagher, the pistons of the Lagan engine, were curbed by Bonagee’s packed midfield, where Emma Ryan, Amy Thompson, Alice Diver and Bridgeen Devenney were in combat from start to finish.
Lagan had the bulk of the possession and the chances, but were frustrated for long spells of a night that began against the rather peculiar backdrop of the drones of the local pipe band, leading an Orange Order parade through Manorcunningham.
McDevitt fired wide from a deep Crawford cross and Amy Boyd riffled wide when she seized on a loose ball on the edge of the box.
Meghan Reid headed just off target after losing her marker in a crowded penalty box, but the hosts broke the deadlock when Callaghan crashed home at close range from a Crawford corner.
It was one of the few moments when Bonagee switched off and it was another reminder of Lagan’s ruthless streak in these situations.
[adrotate group=”46″]Three minutes later, Bonagee had McElhinney and Claire Orr to thank for not falling further behind. Boyd was denied by a wonderful save by McElhinney and McDevitt’s follow-up was taken off the line by Orr.
On the stroke of half-time, Bonagee were inches from drawing level. Devenney’s corner fell invitingly, Diver made space when there was little room to maneuverer, teeing up Ryan whose dipping shot crashed off the crossbar.
Diver, after taking a pass from McFadden, had a sight of goal, but Crawford’s block and interception were timely.
McElhinney saved again from Boyd and Gallagher was restricted to attempts from distance that didn’t trouble the Bonagee netminder.
With 20 minutes left on the watch, Bonagee – without Anna Doherty, Shannon McBride and Deborah Kerrigan – got the goal they so badly craved. McElhinney’s long punt was controlled well by Thompson and her through ball set up a race for possession.
McFadden got there just ahead of goalkeeper Niamh Mailey and rolled to the bottom corner for a goal that, at the very least, will take the title race to the wire.
[adrotate group=”76″]These teams are scheduled to meet on the season’s final day. A bit to go yet, but it’s already got the makings of another blockbuster.
Lagan Harps: Niamh Mailey; Meghan Reid, Kaneshia McKinney, Chantel Kelly, Aoife Page; Danielle McDevitt, Nadine Crawford, Caroline Gallagher, Ciana Brogan; Amy Boyd, Amanda Callaghan.
Bonagee United: Denise McElhinney; Leona Russell, Amy Thompson, Grainne Gallagher, Claire Orr; Natalie Sweeney, Emma Ryan, Bridgeen Devenney, Alice Diver, Olivia McGinley; Natalie McFadden.
Referee: Con McLaughlin.
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