- Champions Bonagee Utd!
It was a beautiful Wednesday evening that hosted the Letterkenny and District U12 Cup Final, in Leckview Park, between Kilmacrenann Celtic and Bonagee Utd.
Kilmacrennan fresh from their Champions League win (AET) and League Champions Bonagee (by one point) took to the field to decide the destination of the third and final piece of silverware of the season.
With only one goal separating the sides in previous meetings, an immaculate Letterkenny Rovers pitch and perfect weather conditions, the scene was set.
A very proud manager (and dad!) Brendan Carolan and striker Michaela!
Referee Joe McHugh blew for the start and Bonagee sprung straight out of the blocks with stand-in Kilmac keeper Keelin Gallagher saving well from a Jordan Nugent Shot after two minutes.
Nugent then blazed a great chance over the bar from six yards on six minutes. Jack Murphy then shot narrowly wide. Nugent also went close on twelve minutes but it was Jacks brother Adam, who unleashed a fierce shot to the bottom corner, to open the scoring. Not to be undone, Jack then scored after some neat footwork beating three players before guiding the ball past the approaching Gallagher. Daragh Ellison made it three with a drive from the edge of the box when the ball broke after some resolute defending from Kilmac’s Steven Black and Connor McFadden.
Referee Joe McHugh awarded a free kick five minutes from half time which Steven Black expertly dispatched high over Bonagee keeper Dylan Doogan’s (Doogie) head from all of forty yards. Kilmac roared to life, egged on by the vociferous Kilmac support, started to take a foothold in the game.
Manager Hugo’s son, Steve McDaid entered the game for the injured Aaron Reid and immediately started an attack which was stunted by joint captain Jazzer Martin who played a diagonal ball which was cut out for a corner by the excellent Damien Egan. Jack Murphy’s precise corner was met by head of Daragh Ellison, but directed the wrong side of the crossbar.
The second half continued with a Kilmacrennan renaissance until Nugent made up for his earlier misdemeanours, dispossessing a Kilmac defender and knocking the ball past the keeper.
Kilmac, normally so prolific from set pieces had a corner cleared by Bonagee center-half Dylan O’Brien (Dobby) to full back David Smith who passed to Jonathan Coady in the center who laid off for Ellison who slipped it through to Murphy , he returned the ball to Coady who duly placed it in the top corner. 5-1. The goal of the match and typical of the football Bonagee have aspired to all season.
Kilmacrennan Celtic battled all the way
The ref awarded another rare free kick in a game he allowed to flow at every opportunity. Kilmac, always a serious threat from set pieces, managed to pull a goal back from the accomplished Steven Black.
However Bonagee’s dominance was restored when Jazzer got a toe to a mix-up in the box to lose his status as the only member of the squad not to score this season. The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for the arrival of substitute Michaela Carolan (Manager Brendan’s Daughter).
Peter Carr finished the scoring after good work from Ellison and Josh McCullogh to make it 7-2, a remarkable scoreline in a final despite Kilmac missing their first choice Keeper. Brendan’s Bats have now completed an historic League and Cup Double, a feat never before achieved by Bonagee Utd.
The game ended with Joint Captains Ellison and Martin inviting their team-mate Dean Adams to accept the cup with them. Daragh then thanked Kilmac for a good match and congratulated them on their Champions League Win in a gracious and heartfelt speech.
Linesmen : James Malseed and Marty McGarrigle
Man of the match : Daragh Ellison
Bonagee : Team Effort
Kilmacrennann : Steven Black, Keelin Gallagher, Mark Gallagher and Damien
Egan
BonageebUtd;
• Daragh Ellision (Joint Captain)
• Jason Martin (Joint Captain)
• Dean Adams
• Jack Murphy
• Michaela Carolan
• David Smith
• Jonathan Coady
• Dylan O’Brien
• Dylan Doogan
• Ronan Coady
• Oisin Farren
• Joe Harkin
• Adam Murphy
• Jordan Nugent
• Peter Carr
• Josh Mc Cullagh
KIlmacrenan
• Keelin Gallagher
• Steven Black
• Conor Black
• Ryan McFadden
• Conor McFadden
• Bobby McGettigan
• Mark Gallagher
• Jamie Grant
• Steve McDaid
• Damien Egan
• Aaron Reid
• Conor Cassidy
• Jack Alcorn