Bonagee United and St Catherine's share the spoils in Premier Division opener

Bonagee United and St Catherine's played out an action-packed draw in the opening game of the Brian McCormick Premier Division in Dry Arch Park.

Bonagee took the lead on seven minutes as former Saints man Josh Maxwell was gifted an early goal, but Ryan Cunningham levelled the game up ten minutes later. 

The hosts had a load of chances with Micheal Doherty, Maxwell, Gareth Harkin, and Jack Parke all hitting the target, but Daniel Mullarkey pulled off some terrific saves to keep it level at the break.

And it was a bit more of the same after the break, with Man of the Match Mullarkey coming to his sides rescue on a number of occasions as it was backs to the wall for Shaun Kelly’s men, who defended valiantly to come away with a point.

Maxwell had an early chance in the first minute but fired wide, while Cunningham would have been disappointed not to open the scoring as he didn’t connect properly from a brilliant Noah Connor cross. 

And Michael Funston’s men took the lead as Fintan Hasson played a through ball to Maxwell, and while Odhran McGuinness got on to it, his pass back to Mullarkey was short, and Maxwell poked it past the ‘keeper and into the net.

Another good cross at the other end, this time from Colin Mooney found Cunningham at the back post who headed back across the goal, but Andrew Nicholls made a terrific fingertip save.

But they got level just after, Conor O’Rourke’s ball over the top latched on to by Cunningham who curled it on his left foot and while Nicholls got a foot to it, it bounced towards goal and in as Ciaran Kelly couldn’t stop it trickling over the line. 

It was all Bonagee after this, Micheal Doherty having an effort from range saved before heading over the bar, before a super touch and cross from Parke out right found Maxwell, who only had to find the target, but he fired over from a few yards out. 

Harkin tested Mullarkey next, but the stopper saved well before Maxwell played a neat 1-2 with David Boakye and flashed a shot inches wide of the far post.

Doherty then played Maxwell in 1-on-1 with Mullarkey, who made a great foot save and an even more impressive save from the rebound from Doherty.

But his best save came just five minutes from half-time, Hasson crossing low for Parke who blasted the ball high towards the roof of the net, but the ‘keeper got a strong hand to it again to keep the game level at the break.

That pressure continued after the break as Parke crossed for Maloney, but once again a point-blank save from Mullarkey kept it level as he parried it over the bar.

St Catherine's had a rare half chance as Nicholls came out to beat Dillon Doherty to the ball, and Niall Boyle went for goal from inside the centre circle, but he didn’t get the accuracy or range, while Mullarkey made another great save from substitute Aidan McLaughlin, getting down low, and Cunningham was there to clear off the line.

Doherty volleyed just wide soon after and into the final ten minutes Maxwell headed an effort that came off the bar, with Mullarkey looking to have got the slightest of touches on it.

Parke was next to connect with a header from a Harkin corner, but Mullarkey prevented him again just before Maxwell got in again 1-on-1, but couldn’t get the ball from out under his feet.

And as the game went into the seventh minute of added time, both sides looked for a penalty, as Harkin went down under a tackle from Boyle, but it was waved away, and the away side countered with Jack Elliot going down under pressure from Eoghan Doherty, but Gerald Devine wasn’t taking either on as he blew for full time soon after.

Bonagee United: Andrew Nicholls; David Boakye (Jamie Lynagh 63), Gareth Breslin, Ciaran Kelly, Ciaran Quinn (Eoghan Doherty 63); Jack Parke, Gareth Harkin, Shay Maloney (Aidan McLaughlin 72), Micheal Doherty; Josh Maxwell, Fintan Hasson (Adam Rodgers 58). 

St Catherine's: Daniel Mullarkey; Colin Mooney, Nathan Maxwell, Odhran McGuinness, Noah Connor (Kyle McGeoghan ht); Conor O’Rourke (Dillon Doherty 50), Jack Elliot, Alex McBrearty, Liam McLaughlin; Niall Boyle, Ryan Cunningham.

Referee: Gerald Devine