BONAGEE UNITED’S pursuit of Lagan Harps at the summit of the Donegal Women’s League was kept alive thanks to Deborah Kerrigan’s double at Glenree this evening.
Glenree United 0 Bonagee United 2
Kerrigan struck a goal in each half to give a below-par Bonagee the win over a youthful Glenree.
Cathal McGinley’s hosts, fielding several underage players here, put it up to Bonagee at times.
Bonagee made life difficult for themselves, but were left indebted to two clinical strikes by Kerrigan.
The first arrived in the 25th minute. Alice Diver played a delicious pass that sliced open the Glenree rearguard and Kerrigan hammered past Claire Friel from 15 yards.
Bonagee couldn’t put the game to bed and lived dangerously at times. Until, that was, Kerrigan doubled her tally and finally secured the win with 15 minutes remaining.
Olivia McGinley’s deep cross to the far post was touched in by Natalie McFadden. Kerrigan still had work to do, but showed a neat turn of feet before firing home from close range.
Bonagee had opened with Kerrigan laying on a chance for McGinley, whose shot wasn’t far away.
Glenree United
Glenree gave Bonagee a real scare when Julie Trearty found herself in on goal but, after beating Denise McElhinney, she rolled inches wide of the target.
Bridgeen Devenney, at the other end, fired at Friel from a good position, while the ever-lively Kerrigan, following another neat piece of play by Diver, was narrowly wide.
But the Convoy woman did break the deadlock, although the Dry Arch side – missing the likes of Amy Thompson, Claire Orr, Emma Ryan, Natalie Sweeney and Anna Doherty from their ranks for this one – missed a series of chances early in the second half.
Devenney shot just over the crossbar six minutes into part two before Shannon McBride, on as a substitute, drove over the top when a little less trajectory would’ve seen her on the scoresheet.
McBride, after good combination work from Kerrigan and McFadden, was denied again while Kerrigan showed her worth again with an enterprising shot that dipped narrowly wide of the far post.
[adrotate group=”46″]Just when the nerves were beginning to whistle, Kerrigan sealed the deal with a crucial second for Bonagee, who again saw young Caoimhe Kelly show well on the right flank, with Diver, McGinley, Leona Russell and match-winner Kerrigan to the fore.
Glenree United: Clare Friel; JJ McGinley, Orla McGonigle, Siobhán Sweeney, Hannah Shiels; Noelle McMenamin, Lauren Carr, Megan McGee, Julie Trearty; Brenda Sweeney, Thea Duffy. Subs used: Laura Dugera, Aisling McBride.
Bonagee United: Denise McElhinney; Sarah Doherty, Leona Russell, Grainne Gallagher, Naomi Moore; Caoimhe Kelly, Alice Diver, Bridgeen Devenney, Olivia McGinley; Natalie McFadden, Deborah Kerrigan. Subs used: Shannon McBride, Mary Doherty.
Referee: Liam McLaughlin
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