BONAGEE UNITED SAFELY PROGRESSED to the second round of the FAI Intermediate Cup as Peter Moran’s men hit Swilly Rovers for six at rain-soaked Dry Arch Park.
Bonagee United 6 Swilly Rovers 1
A brace by Aidan McLaughlin – his first in the second minute and his next two minutes from time – was intersected by goals from Chris Moran, Darryl Brown, Ryan McFadden and Anthony Appiah.
There was a considerable gulf between the sides, as was reflected in the scorelines, with a largely youthful Swilly no match for Peter Moran’s useful hosts, who continued their unbeaten start to the season.
Swilly included new signing Seán Hume, a former Aberdeen youth player, at the heart of their defence.
Hume had made his name at Bonagee before being snapped up by Aberdeen, but his return to Dry Arch Park didn’t exactly get off to a dream start.
It was from an attempted header back to Caolan Bolton, the Swilly goalkeeper, by Hume that Bonagee (pictured above before their recent win over Fanad United) engineered the opening goal after only 90 seconds.
McLaughlin showed his trademark predatory instincts, seizing on Swilly’s crossed wires to convert from close range.
Bonagee doubled their lead in the 17th minute. This time, McLaughlin forced an error in the Swilly midfield and Dean Larkin swept the ball wide to Appiah on the right flank.
Appiah’s cross to the far post found the lurking Brown and the former Derry City prospect turned home.
It could have been worse as, in between the goals, it took a vital interception from Duncan Patterson to head behind when Brown seemed set to connect with McFadden’s deep cross.
Dean Larkin deserved a goal in the 12th minute when he set himself up with a superb first touch on the edge of the box, but he prodded a shot inches over the Swilly crossbar.
The afternoon was turning into an ordeal for Swilly, whose back four was made up entirely of teenagers, while Gareth Wade, their first choice number 1, didn’t recover from a shoulder injury in time.
The inexperience told as Bonagee scored a third ten minutes before the break.
A poor clearance found Moran and the midfielder picked his spot and beat Bolton with a composed finish from close-on 30 yards.
Swilly had their moments, but Laurence Toland twice fired into the arms of Matthew Gallagher, standing in for the unavailable Eugene Ferry in the Bonagee goal.
Swilly sent on Michael McHugh, the former Bradford City striker who was 44 in April, and his flick-on should have resulted in a goal for Marty McDaid, but he nodded over the target.
Larkin and Brown went close, but they made it four-nil when McFadden drilled in off the bar after Appiah’s industry created the chance.
McHugh still has the nose for a goal and the veteran frontman stole in behind for a 76th minute goal that was scant consolation for the visitors.
Appiah coolly converted an 84th minute penalty after he’d been bundled over himself and McLaughlin finished well for number 6, ending the day as he’d started it, with a goal.
It continued Bonagee’s perfect start to the campaign, but Swilly have now shipped 16 goals in three games.
Plugging those leaks will be top of the priority list for Jason Gibson in the coming weeks, while Bonagee look forward to round two – where the reward for a win is a place in the national draw of the competition.
Bonagee United: Matthew Gallagher; Gareth Breslin, Darren Hunter, Declan Lynch (Michael Carroll ‘81), Dean Bonner; Ryan McFadden, Chris Moran (Paul Clarke ‘76), Dean Larkin, Darryl Brown (James Carolan ’65); Aidan McLaughlin, Anthony Appiah.
Swilly Rovers: Caolan Bolton; Dylan Hegarty (Caolan Murray ’76), Duncan Patterson, Seán Hume, Shaun Crossan; Brandon Toye, James McCahill, Daniel O’Donnell (Shay Durning ’51), Marty McDaid; Calvin Mooney, Laurence Toland (Michael McHugh, half-time).
Referee: Vincent McLoughlin.
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