Bonagee United go four clear in USL with derby win over Letterkenny Rovers

Bonagee United opened a four-point lead at the top of the bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League on Thursday night.

Bonagee United 2 Letterkenny Rovers 1

Deano Larkin and Michael Funston netted as Jason Gibson's men defeated Letterkenny Rovers to, albeit with a game more played, extend their buffer over champions Cockhill Celtic.

Luke Parke kept the night in the balance until the end, but Bonagee chalked up a big three points. Rovers finished with nine men, Odhran McKane sent off in the first half and Rory Gallagher following him late in the game.

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Tony McNamee flashed an early attempt over the top, but it was Rovers who almost opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Dean McCarry had the chance after home goalkeeper Oisin Cannon misjudged a cross, but McCarry put his attempt over the crossbar.

That came after Simon McGlynn, having intercepted a loose backpass by Gareth Harkin, looked to profit, but Republic of Ireland amateur international Jack Parke averted the danger.

Cannon saved from a deflected effort by Adrian Delap before the red mist fell and McKane was sent off for an off-the-ball hit on Funston in the 34th minute.

Just 20 seconds into the second half, Mark Anthony McGinley saved at the feet of his former Finn Harps team-mate McNamee.

Bonagee took the lead in the 50th minute when Larkin headed home from a Conor Black cross.

Jamie Lynagh headed over the top and Black was denied by McGinley as Bonagee went in search of a second.

Harkin almost doubled the lead on the hour. After Lynagh and Funston had involvement, Harkin

pinged off the crossbar.

On 63 minutes, Funston skipped past two Letterkenny challenges and slipped his shot beyond McGinley.

However, Letterkenny pulled one back within four minutes as Luke Parke – younger brother of Jack from the opposing side – steered home after Tony Duffy, the younger sibling of Ireland senior international Shane Duffy, headed across goal.

Black fired narrowly wide with a chance to seal it and in the dying moments Gallagher was given a second yellow card after he threw the ball at assistant referee Alister Gourley, reducing Rovers' participants to nine.