Bonagee overcome Halloween scare to edge Milford in Ulster Junior Cup

Fintan Hasson scored a dramatic winner as Bonagee United avoided an Ulster Junior Cup Halloween horror on Tuesday night.

Bonagee United 4 Milford United 3
(after extra time)

There were goals as frequent as the fireworks in the distance during a final half-an-hour that saw Milford twice come from behind to force extra time.

Bonagee were a little spooked at times during the extra period and penalties loomed when Hasson finally struck the winner.

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A corner from the left was only partially dealt with and Hasson pounced, the ball bobbling home past Killian Hagan.

The first half of this cup tie, rearranged from Sunday, was a slow burner with chances at a premium.

Ulsan McMonagle was denied by Hagan and Aaron Wasson latched onto a Hasson cross, but was unable to hit the target.

Cathal McGettigan forced John Roulstone, the home goalkeeper, into a save in the 34th minute while McGettigan went close again, clipping narrowly wide of the far post later in the half.

In the dying moments of the opening period, Hasson saw an effort blocked on the line.

Milford stunned their hosts when taking the lead on the hour, as Ryan Canning converted a teasing Gary Merritt cross.

Merritt had haunted Bonagee in May when his super hat-trick sent the promotion-relegation play-off to penalties before Milford won in the shoot-out, sending Bonagee down to Division One.

Roulstone saved from Corey Lee McConigley with Milford perhaps sensing blood, but Bonagee finally got their teeth into the contest as Aidan McLaughlin slotted home in the 66th minute.

Jason Gibson’s Bonagee flipped the night on its head on 78 minutes as Jordan Armstrong’s spellbinding first touch teed him up for a superb goal from the edge of the area.

Milford levelled the tie again in the 81st minute when McConigley converted after Roulstone beat away a wicked Gary Merritt free kick.

Padraic Gilsenan looked to have won it for Bonagee when he lashed high into the net just five minutes later, but the hosts were given a further fright when Ciaran Blaney fired home in added-on time.

Milford could have won it, too, but Roulstone saved well from the ever-dangerous Merritt in extra time.

The ghosts from their Diamond Park clash might have lingered, but Bonagee exorcised those demons and booked a place in the next round when Hasson pounced just two minutes from the end.

Bonagee United: John Roulstone, Padraic Gilsenan (Taylor Russell 89), Eoghan Doherty, Kacper Skrzatek, Gareth Breslin, Sean Hume, Aaron Wasson (Caolan McGarrigle 100), Ultan McMonagle (Faolan Gibson 63), Aidan McLaughlin, Jordan Armstrong, Fintan Hasson.

Milford United: Killian Hagan, Connor McHugh (Adam Campbell 51), Ciaran Gibbons, Oisin McHugh, Jacob Campbell, Eoin O’Donnell, Cathal McGettigan, Fionn Coll (Adam Hosford 72), Gary Merritt, Ryan Canning (Ciaran Blaney 80), Corey Lee McConigley.

Referee: Paddy Martin