Darren McFadden struck a classy hat-trick as Bonagee United put Fanad United to the sword in a Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League goal fest at Dry Arch Park.
Bonagee United 6 Fanad United 2
By Chris McNulty at Dry Arch Park
The sides were level, one-apiece, at half-time, but the game sprang to life with three goals – two of them for the hosts – in the opening eight minutes of the second half.
The pick of McFadden’s treble saw him net the clincher, a delicious free kick, swept into the top corner off his left foot from 25 yards in the 68th minute.
Two minutes later, Bonagee struck again. Darren McMonagle scampered onto a glorious diagonal ball from his brother, Tommy, and arrowed past Dane Dunworth.
The cord was fast unravelling for Fanad by now.
With manager Arthur Lynch already banished from the dugout, Fanad went down to ten men as Dunworth was sent off when he clattered the in-rushing Garbhan Grant.
Michael Funston, on just a matter of minutes, dispatched the penalty past replacement ‘keeper Eoghan Jordan to complete the scoring.
Fanad had pounced for the opening goal of an entertaining night after just 11 minutes when McElwaine finished to the bottom corner after Bonagee’s rearguard failed to deal with a free kick.
Moments earlier, Bonagee’s Jordan Armstrong had one blocked from the goal-line while a fine tackle from Peter Curran prevented Darren McMonagle from getting in on goal. Curran’s challenge, inside the area, had to be on the button – and it was.
Bonagee levelled ten minutes later. McFadden, spotting Dane Dunworth, Fanad’s goalkeeper, off his line, found the top shelf in spectacular fashion. McFadden’s exquisite effort sailed home and Bonagee were back on an even keel again.
McFadden just failed to break the offside trap soon after as he latched onto a Jordan Armstrong pass.
Three minutes into part two, McFadden’s predatory instincts were outlined as he flicked home following excellent work down the flank by Jamie Lynagh.
But Fanad’s hit back almost instantly. David Tyrell couldn’t hold Michael Cannon’s free and Caolan Kelly was on hand to draw Fanad level.
Before they could draw breath, Bonagee were ahead as Gareth Breslin headed home.
Dunworth’s fingertips prevented McFadden from stretching the margin after the big frontman combined superbly with Jordan Amstrong to cut Fanad open.
But it wasn’t long before ‘Bear’ stepped up to curl home a free kick to complete his hat-trick and move Bonagee within a handful of points of joint leaders Cockhill and Letterkenny.
Bonagee United: David Tyrell; Jamie Lynagh (Codey Brogan 78), Mark Harkin, Gareth Breslin, Thomas McMonagle; Darren McMonagle (Sean Hume 78), Ryan Rainey, Deano Larkin, Garbhan Grant (Chris Flanagan 73); Jordan Armstrong (Michael Funston 65), Darren McFadden.
Fanad United: Dane Dunworth; Dean McCarry, Oisin Langan (Ed O’Reilly 78), Patrick McGinley, Peter Curran; Paddy Carr (Eoghan Jordan 73), Declan McGarvey, Caolan Kelly, Paul Bradley; Keelin McElwaine, Michael Cannon (Ryan McFadden 87).
Referee: Garbhan Taggart.
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