Zach Gorman treble fires Letterkenny Rovers to emphatic win over Bonagee United

Zach Gorman netted a hat-trick as Letterkenny Rovers hit Bonagee United for seven in the TDA Repairs Division 1 on Sunday.

Letterkenny Rovers 7 Bonagee United 0

Gorman’s treble fired the rampant Rovers to an emphatic derby victory.

Stephen McConell’s team were all but home and hosed with a Gorman brace adding to Lee McMonagle’s opener for a 3-0 interval lead. In the second half, Gorman, Adrian Delap, Nathan Plumb and Gareth Doherty all scored as Rovers twisted the knife further.

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McMonagle and Aaron Wasson swapped chances at either end in a cagey opening before Rovers broke the deadlock in the 13th minute.

Bonagee defender Kacper Zkrzatek was caught out with an attempted pass to centre-back parter Sean Hume. Lee McMonagle, who made the cross-town move from Bonagee recently, intercepted. McMonagle powered in and slotted beyond the advancing John Roulstone.

Seven minutes later, Rovers got a second. McMonagle and Roulstone contested a high ball into the area. With Roulstone grounded and Bonagee crying foul, referee Vincent McLoughlin waved play on and drilled to the net.

In between times, Dean McCarry headed wide from a Gareth Doherty corner while Dan O’Donnell powered wide from distance.

This was the first meeting of the clubs’ senior teams in the junior ranks since they joined the Ulster Senior League. Rovers have managed to retain some of their stellar names while Bonagee have seen the likes of Jack Parke, Tony McNamee, Conor Black, Stephen Black and Gareth Harkin head for pastures new.

The cessation of the USL has resulted in their being pitted together in Division 1, the second tier of the Donegal Junior League.

Favourites for promotion they might be and, certainly on the strength of this showing, Rovers will be atop the bookmakers’ blackboards for the silverware.

Late in the first half, Delap surged from deep inside his own half. Delap fed Gorman, who beat Rousltone with an excellent finish.

In the space of 12 minutes in the second half, Rovers scored four times. The 3-0 buffer had one hand on the points by the break and, although Bonagee did have moments with Zkrzatek seeing a firm shot cannon off Caolan McMonagle and Aaron Wasson was off target when he tried his luck from 20 yards.

Rovers were in no mood to ease on the gas and they hit a deadly purple patch.

Gorman completed his hat-trick in the 67th minute, superbly hammering a free-kick through the wall and past Roulston. Zkrzatek was penalised for a foul on Nathan Plumb right on the chalk of the penalty box. Zkrzatek escaped with only a caution and could possible count himself fortunate given that Plumb was surely ready to have a shot.

Three minutes later, the always-dangerous Delap weaved into position from the edge of the area and found the bottom corner in style.

Within a minute, with Bonagee really reeling, Plumb staved off two Bonagee defenders and fired home after being teed up by Doherty.

Eleven minutes from the end, the rout was completed when Doherty finished with Gareth Temple and Plumb doing the initial spadework.

In between times, McGinley did well to reach towards his top corner and palm away when Eoghan Doherty tried his luck. A clean sheet was an added bonus for the hosts.

Letterkenny Rovers: Mark Anthony McGinley, Nathan Bonner, Caolan McConnell (Rory Gallagher 63), Leon Doherty, Dean McCarry, Gareth Doherty, Zach Gorman (Danny Hall 79), Luke Parke (Gareth Temple 75), Lee McMonagle (David O’Donnell h-t), Adrian Delap (James Gallagher 79), Nathan Plumb.

Bonagee United: John Roulstone, Taylor Russell (Codey Broagn h-t), Eoghan Doherty, Kacper Zkrzatek (Padraig Gilsenan 79), Sean Hume, Dan O’Donnell, Aaron Lasson (Evan McCroary 79), Jamie Lynagh (Ulan McMonagle 79), Aidan McLaughlin, Deano Larkin (Faolan Gibson 79), Jordan Armstrong.

Referee: Vincent McLoughlin.