First-half goals crucial as Bonagee get back to winning ways against St Catherine's

Bonagee United returned to winning ways on Friday night as goals by Ricky Guntrip and Tom Mullen saw off St Catherine’s.

After a last-gasp derby defeat to Letterkenny Rovers five days earlier, Packie Mailey’s Premier Division leaders got back on track again under the Dry Arch Park lights.

The temperature gauge was rapidly falling even by the time Guntrip opened the scoring after seven minutes with Mullen adding a second on 22 minutes.

St Catherine’s made the home support sweat for long periods, but Bonagee ‘keeper Andrew Nicholls and his rearguard managed to keep the sheet clean in spite of stern pressure from the Killybegs men in spells.

The opener arrived when, after Dan O’Donnell made ground in the middle third, Mullen unselfishly squared for Guntrip in the penalty area. The youngster made no mistake, tucking home the breakthrough goal.

Pacesetters Bonagee, who have games more played than their Premier Division rivals, were keen to atone for a 1-0 loss to Letterkenny Rovers the previous weekend and Mailey rang some changes to his starting XI.

Guntrip was one of those to profit with an elevation from the bench and he wasted little time in repaying the manager’s faith.

Bonagee could have added a second, but Padraig Byrne saved well from O’Donnell and Gavin Sweeney’s follow-up was off-target.

Bonagee doubled the lead when Mullen fired home to the bottom corner from 20 yards after Jamie Lynagh’s dangerous cross wasn’t dealt with.

On the stroke of half-time, Conor Doherty forced a super reaction save from Nicholls.

St Catherine’s, warming to the task on a cold night, started part two how they had ended the first and Josh Cunningham saw a shot deflected wide for a corner. 

A stretching Ryan Carr was unable to keep a header on target before captain Ryan Cunningham riffled off the base of the post.

Had they managed to breach the resistance by that stage, the closing chapter might’ve been rather interesting.

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Shay Maloney stemmed the flow when he thumped into the arms of St Catherine’s ‘keeper Byrne and, down the other end, Nicholls saved from Ryan Cunningham at the second attempt.

Aidan McLaughlin and Mullen shot wide as Bonagee went looking for a third.