LAGAN HARPS are aiming to retain their League and Cup double as they take on Bonagee United in the Glencarr Inn Cup final this evening at Leckview Park (kick-off 6.30pm).
BrÃd McGinty’s team (pictured above) secured the League title with a 3-0 win over closest rivals Bonagee two weeks ago when goals by Amanda Callaghan, Amy Boyd and Caroline Gallagher sealed the deal at Dry Arch Park.
Having been pushed all the way in the League, Lagan will know they’ll be in for a battle at Leckview when they put the Glencar Inn Cup on the line.
Last season, a Gallagher hat-trick and another treble by Nakita Burke steered Lagan to an exciting 8-4 win over Glenree United in the final.
[adrotate group=”37″]Grainne Gallagher and Shannon McBride played for Glenree in that final, but have since switched to Bonagee and could play in this evening’s decider for Seamy McGinty’s team.
Burke has recently returned to the Lagan side having not played in the early rounds of the Donegal Women’s League.
Burke scored in the Ulster Cup semi-final win over Illies – Lagan still have that final to look forward to against Greencastle – and also played in the title decider againt Bonagee.
[adrotate group=”38″]Lagan can call on the likes of underage internationals like Boyd, Ciana Brogan, Zoe Green and Danielle McDevitt, while the likes of Gallagher, Nadine Crawford and Niamh Mailey also bring considerable experience and big game know how.
The Orchard Park side have been the dominant side of late in the local scene and a cracking Cup tie is anticipated here when these two collide again.
Lagan won two of the three League meetings between the two, with the other ending in a one-all draw.
[adrotate group=”53″]Gallagher and McBride are just two of the new faces at Bonagee this season as the improving Dry Arch side have moulded a strong side.
Around the experience of Denise McElhinney in goal, top scorer Natalie McFadden and the likes of Amy Thompson, Claire Orr and Leona Russell, Bonagee (above) have added Gallagher, McBride, Deborah Kerrigan and Alice Diver to their ranks.
Despite Chantelle Grant being out with a cruciate injury, sustained late in the first game against Lagan, Bonagee had a memorable run to the semi-final of the WFAI Intermediate Shield, only losing 1-0 to Manulla last Sunday in Mayo.
The recent return to the fold of Anna Doherty from injury has been a boost for Bonagee and the signs all point to a gripping encounter.
[adrotate group=”70″] Tags: