LETTERKENNY ROVERS CLAIMED the win and the derby bragging rights against Bonagee United in the Donegal Youth League at the Aura Centre this evening.
Letterkenny Rovers 2 Bonagee United 1
Second-half goals by Codey Brogan and Tarlach O’Boyle gave Anthony Gorman’s team a win that was more work than it ought to have been.
Even with those goals, the night wasn’t quite as straightforward as it seemed and Matthew De Cook pulled one back for Bonagee four minutes from the end, catching Eoin O’Boyle, the Rovers goalkeeper, out with a fine hit from outside the box.
The introduction of Peter McEniff five minutes into the second half sparked Rovers into life.
[adrotate group=”76″]The punch had gone from them at the interval, but McEniff livened their charge up and he had a big hand in both goals.
The first arrived on 55 minutes.
McEniff did well initially and he fed Brogan down the left channel. Referee Liam McLaughlin played a good advantage, Brogan waited, drew the goalkeeper, Peter O’Donnell, and squared invitingly for O’Boyle to steer home into the unguarded net.
With 12 minutes remaining, the lead was doubled. Again McEniff had a big hand in the goal. He sent O’Boyle away and roles were reversed as he centred and Brogan finished.
Rovers, who suffered a 3-1 defeat by Fanad on Saturday after a 5-1 win over Gweedore United, had the better of the first-half chances and it took a goal-line intervention by Sean McNulty to keep the sheet clean as he blocked after Brogan worked a chance and even rounded O’Donnell.
Brogan’s header, from a Cameron Gormley cross, flashed wide when he might’ve felt he should have hit the target, while another Gormley cross needed only a touch that wasn’t forthcoming.
Shane Doherty fashioned a chance in a crowded position just outside the box, but the angle was too narrow and he shot wide.
On the stroke of half-time, James Tourish’s free was flicked goalwards by Ciaran Daffan, but O’Donnell made the save.
The play hadn’t been totally one way in the opening period with an offside call cutting short the celebrations of Oisin Purdy, who beat O’Boyle.
Purdy, from distance, was off target and another attempt by De Cook crept just wide.
[adrotate group=”38″]Before Tarlach O’Boyle opened the scoring, it took a strong save by Eoin O’Boyle to keep out Pudy after he was put in the clear while Gormley shot when he should have squared and O’Donnell saved.
O’Boyle saved superbly to deny Bonagee an equaliser, getting down to save a header by substitute Ronan Downey, while McNulty made another brave block, throwing himself in the way of a stinging follow-up by Brogan after Brian Diver was thwarted by O’Donnell.
Brogan did manage to get on the scoresheet and it was enough to ensure a tense, yet tepid, derby win for the hosts.
[adrotate group=”46″]Letterkenny Rovers: Eoin O’Boyle; Calvin O’Brien, Eoghan Kelly, Ciaran Daffan (Peter McEniff 50), James Tourish (Reece Duncan 65); Tarlach O’Boyle, Angel-Atuahene (Daire Crossan 73), Shane Doherty, Cameron Gormley (Brian Diver 65); Cody Brogan, Sean Curran.
Bonagee United: Peter O’Donnell; John O’Donnell, Kyle Gormley, Darren Coyle, Sean McNulty; Jamie Gallagher (Ronan Downey 61), Paddy Sharp (Jordan Rodgers), Daniel Stolarcyzk, Ryan Moran (Max Dunnion 78); Matthew De Cook, Oisin Purdy (Stephen Lafferty 88).
Referee: Liam McLaughlin.
ROUNDUP
GWEEDORE Celtic bagged an entertaining 4-3 derby win over Gweedore United this evening.
Micheal Roarty and Kyran Glennon each scored twice for Celtic while Stephen McFadden and Michael McHugh (2) got the goals for United.
Fanad United overcame Milford United 4-1, completing the night of home derby wins.
Michael Devine scored twice for Fanad with Louis Hanlon and Brad Patterson also on the mark, with the consolation goal netted for Milford by Darragh Greene.
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