Milford dramatically edge Bonagee on penalties to gain Premier Division promotion

Milford United and Bonagee United will swap places in the Donegal League after a dramatic and at times unbelievable game in Ballyare on Sunday afternoon. 

Bonagee United 3 Milford United 3
(Milford win 4-3 on pens)

Milford took the lead twice via Gary Merritt but were pegged back both times courtesy of a brace from Lee McMonagle as the game went into extra time.

McMonagle bagged his hat-trick in the first-half of extra time and with the last kick of the game, Gary Merritt did the same to send the contest to penalties.

Bonagee put three of their five spot kicks away while Milford only missed their second and scored three in a row to triumph in a spectacular encounter. 

Some spectators may have still been finding their seat when Bonagee United fashioned the first chance of the game with Caolon McGettigan equal to a low shot from Aaron Wasson at close range. 

Milford responded quickly and created a decent opening of their own as Cathal McGettigan directed a low ball into the box for Gary Merritt to finish off but it was met with a textbook clearance from Taylor Russell. 

Joey Cullen had two efforts saved in quick succession just shy of ten minutes in as his initial header was palmed straight back to him and his follow up was clawed away by John Carr. The next opportunity that fell Milford's way resulted in the first goal of the evening. 

Bonagee United are now relegated from the top flight. 

Fionn Coll played a ball over the top and Merritt bided his time for Carr to rush off the goalline before a delicate lob over and into the back of the net.

Coady Brogan almost got Bonagee back level instantly but found Caolon McGettigan equal to his low effort. 

There was nothing McGettigan could do about the next shot on his goal though as Bonagee got their equaliser shortly after the half hour.

The ball sat up nicely for Lee McMonagle about 20 yards out and he unleashed a fierce strike into the top left corner beyond the reach of the netminder. The game wasn't level for too long though as Milford regained the lead in the 38th minute.

Gary Merritt bagged himself a brace as he shrugged off the challenge of Eoghan Doherty and placed the ball under the onrushing goalkeeper. Milford took that lead into the interval but Bonagee nearly hit back a second time just two minutes after the restart as Wasson stung the palms of McGettigan. 

Taylor Russell fancied his luck from distance after the hour and it wasn't too far away while Merritt forced a low save out of John Carr at the other end a few moments later. In the 66th minute, Bonagee got themselves back level for the second time. 

Eamonn Cannon got a deft flick on after a free kick and it fell to Lee McMonagle in the box and he held his nerve to calmly place the ball beyond McGettigan. 

The final 20 minutes of the game had three chances, one for Bonagee and two for Milford but neither could convert. Aidan McLaughlin fired wide from a narrow angle while an effort from Cathal McGettigan met a similar fate. 

Corey Lee McConigley had the best of the opportunities after a shot from Merritt was blocked but he opted to take a touch and that delay allowed Bonagee to recover and clear as extra time beckoned. 

McConigley was presented with the first opportunity of extra time but his attempted lob was well read by John Carr as Bonagee took the lead for the first time with two minutes to go in the first-half of extra time. 

Eoghan Doherty whipped a ball in from the left and after a failed clearance, the ball fell to McMonagle who fired into the top right corner with the aid of a slight deflection. 

Joey Cullen missed a gilt-edged chance less than five minutes into the second-half, firing over with the goal at his mercy and that looked to be a big moment as Paddy McGowan broke clear a few minutes later. 

Fortunately for Milford, his shot was dragged wide and with just seconds remaining, the game had one last moment of drama as Milford fired home a third goal. Merritt lined up a free kick from 25 yards and he made no mistake, firing low into the bottom right corner to send the game to penalties. 

Bonagee went up first and the score was one a piece after two penalties each. Jordan Gallagher and Gary Merritt tucked away their spot kicks while Paddy McGowan fired wide and Mark Flood had his shot from 12 yards saved.

Lee McMonagle made no mistake from the spot, neither did Cathal McGettigan but Aidan McLaughlin had his attempt saved by the palms of Caolan McGettigan. 

Jason McConigley fired home Milford's next spot kick to give Milford the advantage while Coady Brogan simply had to score to put some pressure on the opposition and Fionn Coll stepped up for the decisive penalty to send Milford United back into the Premier Division while Bonagee United would suffer the agony of relegation from the top flight. 

Bonagee United: John Carr; Coady Brogan, Evan McCroary, Taylor Russell, Eoghan; Lee McMonagle, Jordan Gallagher, Eamonn Cannon, Aaron Wasson( Paddy McGowan, 102); Aidan McLaughlin, Peter Carr. 

Milford United: Caolon McGettigan; Niall Murray, Ciaran Gibbons (Jason McConigley, ht, et), James Doyle, Mark Flood; Cathal McGettigan, Killian McBride, Joey Cullen, Gary Merritt; Liam Donnelly (Corey Lee McConigley, 71), Fionn Coll.

Referee: Mick Lagan.