Ballyraine edge Bonagee to reach John 'Gorey' Curran Youth Cup final

Ballyraine FC pipped Bonagee United in an absorbing John 'Gorey' Curran Youth Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

Bonagee United 2 Ballyraine FC 3

Brian Desmond, Shay Maloney and Ruairi Kavanagh netted the goals to edge Ballyraine through.

A gripping Cup tie wasn’t over until the final shrill of Richard Storey’s whistle. Deep into added time, Bryan Drum was denied by a superb save from Ballyraine ‘keeper Andrew Nicholls.

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When Drum - who netted earlier from the penalty spot - was taking aim, it seemed as if the big crowd would have to settle in for extra time, but Nicholls’ save gave Ballyraine a passage to the final.

There, they’ll meet Kilmacrennan Celtic, whose representatives were in attendance in big numbers to boost the attendance. With Letterkenny Rovers unable to field, Kilmac’ were given a walkover win and a ticket to the final.

Ballyraine made the early hay with Maloney thwarted by home ‘keeper Callum Crampsie before the same player fired a free kick through the Bonagee wall only for Crampsie to save.

Ballyraine broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when Desmond powered in from the right. Bonagee defender Daire Hume made a valiant attempt at halting the march, but Desmond riffled home.

Seven minutes later, after Ultan McMonagle saw a shot hooked off the line at one side, Tiarnan Callaghan was taken down in the area and Ballyraine awarded a penalty. Maloney went down the middle and Crampsie saved.

Energised now, Bonagee levelled in the 35th minute as Caolan McGarrigle stole in and beat Nicholls with a neat finish.

Just two minutes into the second half, Kavanagh converted from Kyle Martin’s pass to capitalise on a lapse in the hosts’ rearguard to restore the lead.

Within seven minutes, the lead was extended as Maloney lashed home in style.

Bonagee, the Donegal Youth League champions, hit back and Drum converted from the penalty spot after the hour.

Bonagee rallied, but Ballyraine defended stoutly. Crampsie saved from Conor Stewart who had a chance to put the issue beyond reach, but they needed that late, late - priceless - save by Nicholls before an eventful night finally came to a close.

Bonagee United: Callum Crampsie, Aaron Bonner, Micheal Mulrain, Daire Hume, Eoghan Doherty, Fintan Hassan, Kelvin Anderson, Ricky Guntrip, Bryan Drum, Ultan McMonagle, Aiden Brennan, Reuben Doherty, Caolan McGarrigle, Noah Du Plessis, Marc Casey, Shay Hegarty, Jamie Grieve, John Quinn.

Ballyraine: Andrew Nicholls, Caolan Bonner, Iarlaith Duffy, Caolan Monaghan, Connor Bonner, Ruairi Kavanagh, Eamonn Tinney, Shay Maloney, Kyle Martin, Mark Patterson, Conor Stewart, Ryan McGee, Bartek Wozniczak, Matthew Doran, Brian Desmond, Matthew Nee, Tiarnan Callaghan, Ryan Gallagher.

Referee: Richard Storey.