‘Milestone for club’ with National League invite but league takes focus for Bonagee

As the Donegal Junior League returns to action this weekend, it has been a big Christmas period for Bonagee United after being accepted into the FAI National League.

The Dry Arch Park men, along with Letterkenny Rovers and Cockhill Celtic, are three of the 15 clubs that have been accepted thus far into the new step in the League of Ireland pyramid that will begin in Autumn 2026.

And manager Mickey Funston feels it is the next step forward for the club after the loss of Intermediate football in the form of the Ulster Senior League in 2023.

“It’s a milestone for the club, it’s one of those things that you’d like to think all Junior clubs would aspire to if they can build their club to come on to the National stage.

“For Bonagee to be able to do that with the facilities we have and with the number of young boys and girls in our academy is staggering.

“The club has really grown and strengthened, so it is a real milestone for the club to be accepted, and we’re proud for everyone that has been and gone to see where the club is now.

“Having played in the League of Ireland, I know that this is only the start and the hard work is still to come.

“The collapse of Intermediate football in Donegal was a travesty and it should never have been let happen, and I've been very vocal on this. To not have Intermediate football in Ulster is really poor, and clubs had to take it into their own hands to see if they could get a stepping stone.

“The Ulster Senior League was a massive loss because that gap from Junior football to Senior is nearly too much for players.

“If this third tier is that stepping stone to senior, then time will tell, but hopefully it will be.

While Funston was in favour of the move, he left the behind-the-scenes work to the executive at the club, who have been pushing for this and making sure they have their house in order, which got them accepted into what will be a North/South divide.

Currently, the FAI are seeking further applicants to make up the numbers for what they hope will be two divisions of ten teams, so five more clubs are being sought to join.

READ NEXT: Ricky Fernandez retained as Bonagee United Head of Academy

“I’m only there to look after the Sunday side and I made that very clear because I think you can take your eye off the ball if you don’t do that.

“It’s for somebody else and in the club to do and I had no want to get involved. The aspects are really exciting but I left the administration and the club putting themselves forward to the people that know the club best and that side of it.

“All the criteria is all met from the clubs named as far as I’m aware so it’s really exciting for football in Letterkenny, the North West Ulster to have three clubs competing at this standard and if you want to go and watch good football, then there’s no excuse now, whether you want to go to Cockhill or Letterkenny or Finn Harps of course.”

Having played in the League of Ireland for over a decade, making over 300 appearances for Finn Harps between the Premier Division and First Division, Funston knows the level needed to rise up to for this, along with the commitment needed.

Travel will also come into it, with some long away journeys anticipated, which also brings finances into the question.

“Bonagee are really well run, and they’re probably one of, if not the best run junior club in the county. Infrastructure would never be the problem at Bonagee, it’ll be more the financial revenue, and if it can be sustained year in, year out.

But only time will tell, even from your Shelbournes and Shamrock Rovers, who have been the last two champions all the way down, it has always been about finance and if you can attract the best players around.

“The local games with Finn Harps in the First Division were Athlone, Longford, or down to Galway, but to have the likes of Cockhill and just down the road (to Letterkenny Rovers) is great.

“There will be loads of football and good football to be watched, and this will hopefully show that there is a lot of talent in Donegal, but it will also take commitment from the players.”

But for now, the focus returns to the league campaign, with Bonagee unbeaten after six games, exactly one third through the season.

They were due to get back in action against Donegal Town last weekend, but all Sunday games were called off due to the bad weather.

After coming second last season, they’re currently two points off top, with a game in hand over neighbours Letterkenny Rovers.

But they travel to face St Catherine’s, who already got a point off Funston’s men at Dry Arch Park in the opening game of the season.

“St Catherine's is a very difficult place to go, and last year we went there on a day with a red wind warning and got a draw, which was a fair result. In the league this year, they were good for their point in Bonagee so it’ll be a real challenge, and that’s what I love about this division, any team on their day can beat anyone.

“We won’t have played football in eight weeks when we play this weekend, so we have to make sure we get going again, it’s like a reset or a summer break.”