Ronan McKinley strikes as Kildrum Tigers put dent in Bonagee United's title tilt

Ronan McKinley struck the only goal of the game as Kildrum Tigers put a big chink in Bonagee United’s Donegal League Premier Division title challenge on Sunday.

In a game where clear-cut chances were scant at Dry Arch Park, McKinley proved the match winner with a brilliant goal midway through the first half.

There might be quite a distance to go in the Premier Division race, but McKinley’s goal could yet prove a seminal moment, Bonagee now trailing their cross-town rivals Letterkenny Rovers by five points, albeit with Michael Funston’s charges having a game in hand.

Kildrum’s recent scheduled has been stop-start, but Shane McGinty’s side was good value for a deserved away win here, McKinley’s strike the sole separator.

The early exchanges were delicate with Bonagee’s Aidan Brennan hitting the crossbar just three minutes in; a moment that was a real warning shot for the Tigers. 

Gareth Harkin fired wide from the edge of the box for the home side before Kildrum goalkeeper Michael Lynch routinely held onto a Brennan effort soon after.

Kildrum broke the deadlock in the 21st minute. When Jonny Robb went to ground on the right hand side on a purposeful Kildrum attack, the visitors cried foul, but play quickly recycled and Jamie McKinney delivered the ball into the mixer.

McKinley, a former Derry City, Ballinamallard and Dergview player, took control and brilliantly slammed a left-footed shot high past Andrew Nicholls in the Bonagee goal to give Kildrum the lead.

Six minutes later, Nicholls had to be out sharp to thwart the advances of Robb, who sped away from Dylan McAteer down the left channel.

As half-time approached, Dan O’Donnell, the Bonagee captain, shot off target as his side, who were without Tommy McMonagle and Gareth Breslin, looked to get back on level terms.

Brian Breslin volleyed over for Kildrum and McAteer blocked from Robb who took a square pass from McKinley in the passages that followed the half-time break.

Bonagee had a heart stopping 4-3 away win at St Catherine’s last weekend and Funston included new signings Dylan McAteer, Matthew McLaughlin and Kyle Martin in his squad with the recently-returned Aidan Brennan included again having featured in Killybegs. 

Bonagee began to throw the kitchen sink in search of an equaliser and they might have drawn level in the 74th minute, but Jack Parke, who stole in to meet a teasing Micheal Doherty cross, nodded narrowly wide.

A robust and well-organised Kildrum, for whom CJ Clarke gave an excellent display in the engine room, could have put the game to bed nine minutes from the end but, having been initially denied by a fine save from Nicholls, Breslin headed his follow-up against the crossbar.

Bonagee sub Fintan Hassan blasted wide with visiting ‘keeper Michael Lynch content to watch the effort fly past his target.

After Kildrum saw penalty claims, for what they saw as a handball infringement, waved away, Bonagee were awarded a free kick in a dangerous area deep into added time at the end.

The looks at the watches were becoming more frequent but, while even Nicholls joined the attack, Kildrum - whose rearguard was superbly marshalled by Keenan Diver - held on for a deserved win, putting a dent in Bonagee’s title challenge in the process.

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Bonagee United: Andrew Nicholls, Aidan Brennan, Eoghan Doherty (Deano Larkin 77), Ciaran Kelly, Dylan McAteer, Gareth Harkin, Jack Parke, Dan O’Donnell (Matthew McLaughlin h-t), Josh Maxwell (Kyle Martin 80), Shay Maloney (Fintan Hassan 71), Micheal Doherty. 

Kildrum Tigers: Michael Lynch, Jamie McKinney, Duncan Patterson, Keenan Diver, William Lynch, CJ Clarke, Brian Breslin, Shane McGinty, Jonny Robb (Tiernan Brown 89), Ronan McKinley (Frankie McBrearty 78), Luke Toland. 

Referee: Mick Lagan.