Maloney at the double as Bonagee United end Letterkenny Rovers' unbeaten run

Bonagee United recorded an emphatic derby win to bring an end to Letterkenny Rovers’ domestic record of over a year without a loss with a 3-0 win in the  Premier Division at Dry Arch Park on Sunday.

The hosts had the perfect start as Shay Maloney capitalised on a defensive error inside the first minute, and he added a second with a superb volley in added time of the first half.

Captain Dan O’Donnell added a third on the hour mark to inflict a first defeat outside of the FAI Junior Cup for Stephen McConnell’s side since April of 2024, including a run of 20 league games without defeat.

Bonagee were gifted a flying start as a defensive mix-up at the back, combined with the pressure from Josh Maxwell, saw the ball come out to Shay Maloney free in the box, and he swept the ball home inside 40 seconds.

Micheál Doherty fired over from distance afterwards, while Letterkenny Rovers threatened from a couple of set pieces from Joel Gorman, the first a free that went for a corner, and as it came out to the edge of the box, Dean McCarry volleyed towards goal, but Andrew Nicholls tipped it over the bar.

The hosts had a couple of chances to extend their lead as Jack Parke played a 1-2 with Josh Maxwell before firing wide, while a Gareth Harkin free went over the bar.

At the other end, Simon McGlynn did well down the left to try and create an opening for Lee McMonagle, but the striker’s effort went wide and he was flagged for offside.

Mickey Funston’s men finished the half strong however, as Dan O’Donnell and Maxwell forced good saves out of Blake Forkan, while McCarry had to clear a Maxwell header off the line.

They could have got a second when Doherty played in Maloney in the box and looked for the return when in space, but Maloney shot instead, which went wide.

But he made up for it in added time, a ball forward from Ciaran Kelly was headed by McCarry only to the forward, who took a touch and caught the ball on the volley, finding the bottom left corner to double his tally before the whistle.

They had another couple of chances after the restart as Maxwell forced a save from Forkan before firing wide, but Gareth Breslin’s heroics at the other end kept them two ahead.

A ball forward was flicked by McMonagle into BJ Banda, who rounded Nicholls, but Breslin prevented a certain goal by getting his body on the line.

Maxwell then struck the inside of the post with an effort on the left inside the box, but on the hour mark from a near identical position, Dan O’Donnell got possession and curled an effort towards the far corner and low past Forkan.

The hosts threatened further as a Harkin free was held by Forkan, while Harkin then pulled back a cross for Maxwell, who forced a save from Forkan at point-blank range.

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Another free, this time from Fintan Hasson, was saved by Forkan, while Zach Gorman rattled the crossbar at the other end in the 90th minute.

But the hosts held firm to confirm a clean sheet and a big win over the Premier Division champions.

Bonagee United: Andrew Nicholls; Ciaran Kelly, Tommy McMonagle, Gareth Breslin (Fintan Hasson 71), Eoghan Doherty; Jack Parke (David Boakye 79), Gareth Harkin, Dan O’Donnell, Micheál Doherty (Adam Rodgers 85); Shay Maloney (Ricky Guntrip 94), Josh Maxwell.

Letterkenny Rovers: Blake Forkan; Gareth Doherty (Shane McNamee ht), Dean McCarry (Kealan Dunleavy 93), Keith Cowan, Padraic Gilsenan; Joel Gorman, Luke Parke (Henry Welles 91), BJ Banda (Zach Gorman 65), Adrian Delap, Simon McGlynn; Lee McMonagle.

Referee: John Coll