McNamee extends Bonagee’s lead at summit of USL

Tony McNamee struck the only goal of the game as Bonagee United claimed a massive win in the bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League title race on Thursday night.

Bonagee United 1 Derry City Reserves 0

Bonagee moved moved seven points clear of ten-in-a-row hopefuls Cockhill Celtic, who have two games in hand.

By the time Cockhill play again, against Letterkenny Rovers next Friday, Bonagee could have a ten-point buffer, with Jason Gibson’s men to host Finn Harps Under-21s on Tuesday.

The two title chasers have to collide in what promises to me a mouthwatering last game of the season at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds.

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McNamee, as he has done so often in the last two seasons, proved the difference with a goal on the half-hour.

His former Finn Harps team-mates Gareth Harkin and Michael Funston combined to create the opening and McNamee steered home in style form Funston’s cross.

It was the young Derry side, under Gerard Boyle’s management, who opened bright and Drumkeen lad Sean Patton was denied by Bonagee ‘keeper Oisin Cannon before Kyle McCluskey drove over the top.

After McNamee broke the stalemate, Callum McCay was thwarted by Cannon.

At the other end, Dara McCauley, the Derry net-minder, turned around the post with his fingertips from a Harkin daisy cutter.

Funston smashed in from the right late in the first half, but McCauley touched over the top.

McNamee was only inches off target with a free kick early in the second half.

Stephen Black was unfortunate to be unable to get a better connection on a header when a free kick from the fit-again Micheal Doherty was put back across goal.

As the minutes ticket down, the natives grew restless, the memories of late concessions against Finn Harps and Cockhill in recent months still vivid.

McCauley beat away a stinging Dean O’Donnell shot in the dying moments and Bonagee saw out a hard-fought win that could prove telling.

Bonagee United: Oisin Cannon, Dan O’Donnell, Dean O’Donnell, Jack Parke, Stephen Black, Gareth Harkin, Michael Funston, Sean Hume (Micheal Doherty 59), Tony McNamee, Lee McMonagle (Peter Carr 79), Conor Black.

Derry City Reserves: Dara McCauley, Rory O’Donnell, Oisin Duffy, Kyle McCluskey, Liam Mullen (Ben McGonigle h-t), Callum McCay, Tiernan McGinty, Sean Patton, Mark Mbuli (Jack McMonagle 88), Tiernan McKinney.

Referee: Marty McGarrigle.