LETTERKENNY ROVERS MIGHT have an FAI Intermediate Cup to look forward to but there was no red carpet rolled out by neighbours Bonagee United tonight.
Bonagee United 1-0 Letterkenny Rovers
Eamonn McConigley and his side can have few complaints at the loss – sealed by Dean Larkin’s goal – which means the Leckview Park team’s title hopes hang by a thread.
Photo caption: The Bonagee United team – minus their unprepared goalkeeper Eugene Ferry – before the Ulster Senior League clash against Letterkenny Rovers
Rovers have a date against Crumlin United at the Aviva Stadium on May 14 and take on Athlone Town the following weekend in the Daily Mail FAI Senior Cup. But tonight, there wasn’t the same intensity of recent weeks and Bonagee were deserving winners.
The hosts should not have had to worry late on with only a one-goal cushion.
Larkin scored the only goal on 22 minutes when he tucked past Sean Friel at the front post after a centre from Anthony Appiah on the left.
At that stage, Peter Moran’s team were getting more into the game.
The Letterkenny Rovers team that were beaten tonight in the Ulster Senior League against Bonagee United at Dry Arch Park
On two minutes, a corner from Letterkenny Rovers’ Mark Forker was flicked on by Tristan Ferris and Brian McVeigh just couldn’t get onto it at the back post.
The best early chance for the hosts came when Shane Bradley was forced to clear when Ryan McFadden had been set free by Larkin.
Bonagee continued to make opportunities and Larkin wasn’t far off with a header, Letterkenny’s Kevin O’Donnell was forced to clear from a dangerous McFadden cross and Ciaran Curran also shot over.
Still 1-0 up at half-time, Bonagee were relived to see a header from Paul Yank Boyle – Rovers’ most prominent player – go wide.
It was, though, Bonagee who looked more like scoring and Larkin tested Friel from the edge of the area and a Colm P Bodd half-volley was also saved by the Rovers goalkeeper.
[adrotate group=”38″]The visitors were fortunate when an already booked O’Donnell took down Forker but referee John Coll resisted.
Darren McElwaine went close with a late header following another Forker corner but by that stage it really should’ve been over as Appiah dragged a shot wide.
Bonagee were almost made pay for that when Christy Connaghan flashed a late effort just wide from the edge of the penalty area.
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