LETTERKENNY ROVERS BOOKED their place in the decider of this year’s Donegal News League Cup after coming from behind to beat Bonagee United in a close fought game at the Showgrounds.
Bonagee United 1-3 Letterkenny Rovers
This victory sets Rovers in good stead for their big trip to Cork next weekend for their Intermediate Cup semi-final clash with Ringmahon Rangers and their FAI Senior Cup first round game with Portmarnock FC the following week.
The first opportunity of the game fell the way of the visitors in the 12th minute, when a cross from Paul McVeigh seemed to catch the Bonagee defence napping and Darren McElwaine managed to side-foot an effort wide from five yards out.
Bonagee tested young Sean Friel in the Letterkenny Rovers nets in the 15th minute, when Kevin Barr, who was lively throughout, forced a save with an effort from the edge of the box.
The deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute. A long ball out from the back was flicked on by the head of Barr into the path of Aidan McLaughlin, who managed to squeeze the ball home from ten yards. That lead lasted all of six minutes.
Ryan Lonergan, surrounded by two Bonagee players, managed to get his cross to the back post, where McElwaine was on hand to prod the ball home from three yards. An effort from McVeigh on the stroke of half time stung the fingers of Eugene Ferry, so the score at the interval was one each.
Letterkenny took the lead 10 minutes into the second period. A Mark Forker ball into the channel reached Stevie Okakpo who made no mistake from 12 yards.
Okakpo got his second two minutes later. A mistake by the normally reliable Gareth Breslin allowed the young Rovers striker give his side a two goal cushion. Chances were scarce for the remainder of the contest and it is the Letterkenny who continue their good run in the cup competitions this season.
Bonagee United: Eugene Ferry, Evan McCroary, Darren Hunter, Gareth Breslin, Barry McGinley, Anthony Appiah, Ryan McFadden, Dean Larkin, Jamie Lynagh, Kevin Barr, Aidan McLaughlin.
Letterkenny Rovers: Sean Friel, Ryan Lonergan, Shane Bradley, Paul Boyle, Johnny Minnock, Kevin McGrath, Mark Forker, Christy Conaghan, Stevie Okakpu, Darren McElwaine, Paul McVeigh
Referee: Packie Coll
