Bonagee United seal FAI Women’s Amateur Cup semi-final spot

Bonagee United came from a goal down to defeat Ballingarry and seal a place in the semi-finals of the FAI Women’s Amateur Cup.

Bonagee United 3-1 Ballingarry

Chris McNulty’s side fell behind on seven minutes at Dry Arch Park when Eadaoin Lyons scored for the visitors, although were back on terms within three minutes thanks to an equaliser from Caoimhne Heron.

Parity remained until the 50th minute when Geraldine McLaughlin put Bonagee ahead before Bronagh Gallagher tucked home a third to seal the win with a minute to go.

All in all, it means a second ever Bonagee appearance in the last four, following on from last season where they were eventually beaten by Douglas Hall in Cork. There’s also a rubber-stamped spot in the FAI Women's Senior Cup.

Both McLaughlin and Gallagher tested Kate McCarthy in the Ballingarry goal early on but at the other end, following a long clearance from the goalkeeper, Bonagee allowed the ball to bounce and Lyons nipped in to lob Roisin McCafferty for the opening goal.

However, it was short-lived as just three minutes later on 10 minutes, some neat link-up between Gallagher and Heron saw the latter level with a fine finish.

Gallagher then almost put Bonagee in front, lifting the ball past McCarthy, only for Shannon Parabet to scamper back to clear off the goalline at the concession of a corner. Gallagher was then denied following a fine cross by Mollie Page by McCarthy.

There was little between them with Claire Coughlan and Lyons looking lively in attack for the Limerick team and right at the end of the first half, Fiona Hickey looped a header from Anna Mullane’s corner onto the roof of the Bonagee net.

Five minutes into the second half, when Siobhan Sweeney had won possession for Bonagee, Gallagher fed the ball wide to McLaughlin, who lobbed an advancing McCarthy from the corner of the penalty area to give Bonagee a 2-1 lead.

The home side looked reasonably comfortable for a spell before Ballingarry’s Lyons went down the right and with little option flew a shot from the wing which hit McCafferty’s crossbar. Then, two minutes later on 72, the same player drew a fine save from the Bonagee goalkeeper with a shot towards the far post.

Bonagee steadied and in the 89th minute, Gallagher nipped onto a short kick-out from McCarthy to Aine Sheehy to roll into an empty net to seal Bonagee’s progression.

Bonagee United: Roisin McCafferty; Catherine Grier, Amy Thompson (Caitlin Hume 82), Eimear Sweeney; Eva Harvey (Natalie McFadden 78), Ciana Brogan, Geraldine McLaughlin, Mollie Page, Siobhan Sweeney; Caoimhne Heron (Deborah Kerrigan 90+1), Bronagh Gallagher.
Ballingarry: Kate McCarthy; Anna Mullane, Grace Mulane, Shannon Parabet, Leah Twomey (Emma Noonan 78); Kate O’Connor (Wendy Gowe 90+1), Emer Hickey, Fiona Hickey, Aine Sheehy; Eadaoin Lyons, Claire Coughlan (Lucy Donovan 90+3).
Referee: Packie Coll