Goalkeeper Paul McCauley atoned for an early earlier in the best possible fashion as Donegal League champions Drumoghill overcame USL side Bonagee United in the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup.
Drumoghill FC 2 Bonagee United 1 (after extra time)
The Moss was braced for penalties when, with just two minutes of extra time remaining, McCauley saved a penalty from Bonagee midfielder Aidan McCauley.
It was the chance for nine-man Bonagee – who had Chris Moran and Gareth Breslin sent off in normal time – to get to a penalty shoot-out, but it was the Drumoghill number 1 who proved the hero of the hour.
Liam O’Donnell struck the match-winner for Michael Lynch’s team early in the second half of extra time after Pajo Rafferty had cancelled out a first-minute opener by Breslin that would have given McCauley nightmares, but for his late save.
A long ball by Breslin, from just inside the Drumoghill half, completely caught him cold with barely a minute played. McCauley seemed certain the ball was going wide, but it crept in at the near post.
Bonagee goalkeeper Gareth Wade saved from Rafferty as Drumoghill looked to carve a way back.
A year ago, Drumoghill defeated Letterkenny Rovers in this competition and on the back of a disappointing League loss to St Catherine’s a week ago there was a new bite back in the Moss men today.
They drew level on 33 minutes as Rafferty, after making Wade commit, tucked in the equaliser.
McCauley saved from Aidan McLaughlin and Dean Larkin, while home hearts were in mouths as another Breslin punt bounced awkwardly in McCauley’s eyeline at the end of the first half.
Bonagee United
Bonagee were dealt a major blow when, 12 minutes into the second half, Moran – having already been booked – needlessly lunged into O’Donnell on the edge of the penalty area.
Joe McHugh, the referee, was left with no option and it was just as well for Moran that O’Donnell wasn’t inches the other way as he’d have conceded a penalty on top of getting his marching orders.
The frustrations of his manager, Peter Moran, his father, were quite clear, at that point.
Drumoghill smelled blood, but Rafferty prodded wide and Richard Moore was denied by Wade as they sought a winner.
Bonagee’s number was reduced further when Breslin took down veteran Gerard McGranaghan and was given his second yellow. The subsequent free, by Moore, was beaten away by Wade.
Early in the second half of extra time, Drumoghill bagged the winner as O’Donnell made no mistake with a cool finish after being set away by Rafferty.
A shrill of the whistle for a free-kick led many, including Drumoghill’s Philip Whyte, to believe that full-time had been called, but there was still time for that moment of late drama.
Aidan McLaughlin was felled, but one McCauley denied the other; Drumoghill go through and Bonagee go back to the drawing board.
Drumoghill FC: Paul McCauley, Ray Quinn, Tristan Ferris, Gerard McGranaghan, Philip Whyte, Karlos Rodgers, Jay Dee Alawiye, Chris Malseed, Pajo Rafferty, Richard Moore, Liam O’Donnell. Subs: Ethan McCready for Rodgers (74), Gareth Hamilton for Ferris (104), Richard Tinney for Rafferty (107).
Bonagee United: Gareth Wade, Gareth Breslin, Taylor Russell, Darek Frankowski, Darren Hunter, Aidan McCauley, Chris Moran, Dean Larkin, Aidan McLaughlin, Sean Meenan, Ryan Moran. Subs: Jamie Lynagh for R.Moran (59), Daniel Stolarczyk for Meenan (73).
Referee: Joe McHugh.
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