JONNY BONNER AND Kieran McDaid were part of the IT Carlow side that won the CFAI Colleges and Universities Football League Division 1 title this afternoon.
Bonner scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa from Cork at Hadden Park in Killester.
For new manager Luke Hardy, it was a tremendous achievement in his first season in charge of IT Carlow and the college claim their first Premier League triumph since 2012.
Stiofain Naofa actually had the better of the opening half with the evergreen Danny Murphy playing up front and proving to be a constant threat; testing Carlow goalkeeper Darren McGarry with a free-kick.
Carlow eventually found their rhythm with both Bonner and Dean Broaders going close to breaking the deadlock. But Broaders was not to be denied from the penalty spot on 73 minutes after Andy Mulligan was taken down.
Carlow looked to be on their way to clinching the win until Murphy fired in a free-kick to the far post in the closing minutes and centre-back Mady Noah Cisse directed the ball in.
Extra-time proved to be a fiercely contested period until three minutes from time when Bonner linked up with Ryan Delaney to convert the winning goal.
IT Carlow: McGarry; Dempsey, Delaney, Last, O’Boyle; McAlavey (Poole 100), Dunne, Bonner, O’Rourke (Mulligan 71), McDaid (Croke 100); Broaders (Morgan 108).
Colaiste Stiofain Naofa: Daly; Kirby, McNamara, Holland, Cisse; Coughlan, Kennedy (Cott 46), Caulfield, Kenny; Murphy, O’Regan (Corcoran 100).
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).
Photo caption: Buncrana duo Kieran McDaid and Jonny Bonner with the CFAI Colleges and Universities Football League Division 1 trophy in Killester this afternoon
Both men are from Buncrana with Bonner on the books of Wexford Youths and looking ahead to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, which kicks off next week.
McDaid spent the second half of last season at Finn Harps having helped the Inishowen League win the Oscar Traynor Cup last season. He’s currently playing for Buncrana Hearts.
Next Tuesday, IT Carlow are in action in the Umbro Cup semi-final when they host Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
Tags:@ITCarlowSoccer1 Well Done Boys ?⚽ pic.twitter.com/qXM9A1TAbU
— Maria Malone (@mollymaria11) February 24, 2016
