Captain Ciana Brogan delighted with Bonagee United's 'camaraderie and passion'

A cliche it might be, but Bonagee United captain Ciana Brogan believes the mix of youth and experience was the deciding factor in Sunday’s FAI Women's Amateur Cup semi-final win.

A 2-1 come-from-behind victory means that Chris McNulty’s side now face Terenure Rangers from Dublin’s southside to confirm who are the top intermediate side in the county. 

On Sunday last at Dry Arch Park, amid the showers, Bonagee had to weather things on the pitch as well, as they drew on the banks of experience to keep themselves in the contest after Naomi Flynn’s opener for Killester Donnycarney. 

One down at the break, Bonagee maintained the glass-half-full attitude and Brogan led by example to drill an equaliser on 55 minutes. Then, with the margins paper-thin, both teams had chances to win it with an air of nervousness, with so much at stake, until, three minutes from the end of extra-time, 16-year-old newbie Caitlin Fletcher struck what proved to be the winning goal.

“Everyone was tired and Caitlin has just come in with us over the last couple of months and she certainly has a bit about her,” said Brogan, who is studying for a Physician Associate degree at Magee University in Derry. “Maybe just no fear, in the way she took that chance. That suited her and I’m delighted for her.

“At half-time, we felt we were unlucky to be one down. Our performance in the first half meant we could be confident going into the second. There were positives having had a good bit of the ball and chances ourselves, more so than the negative of conceding the goal. 

“I didn’t think too much about it when my chance came. I just had a look up and saw there was a chance and went for it. Thankfully it went in. There’s a good mix of experience and young players and you gain from that. There can be nerves in the young players and it’s up to the more experienced ones to tell them not to be afraid to try something and make a mistake. We’re a team and it’s our job to carry one another. We just had to go for it. We had nothing to lose.”

With the score locked at 1-1 for 52 minutes, and the clock about to turn red from black, it looked as though the semi-final would be decided from the spot. Bonagee, having reached the last eight in 2019 and then the last four last year, had never reached the final before.

“Penalties were going through our heads,” 23-year-old Brogan added. “We have a good squad and people who are capable of taking them and scoring them. We weren’t afraid of penalties, with Roisín McCafferty in goal. We weren’t overly worried. We just had to take the chance. 

“It was tiring as they are a very good side and it was intense right from kick-off. We held ourselves well and had to be composed when we got the ball. Sometimes it was scarce. When we had to take the chances we took them. That’s what it was about today.”

With Kaneshia McKinney, who had worn the armband, sidelined with an ACL and offering vocal support from the dugout, Brogan has been fast-tracked to the role of captain. It’s an exciting chapter for Bonagee, with the FAI Women’s Cup draw pairing them with Sligo Rovers and domestic matters still to be settled - not to mention the upcoming FAI Women's Amateur Cup final.

“It’s a squad game and for me, being captain is not a big task,” she said of the added responsibility. “Anyone that was here today would see the camaraderie and the passion we have for this club, as a group. We’ve the Sligo Rovers game coming up but we’ve always said that’s just a bonus. For us, it’s about showing that we are the best intermediate team in the country and we have proved ourselves so far in getting to the final.”