Bonagee prevail in the rain to reach North West of Ulster semi-finals

Bonagee United became the first team to reach the semi-finals of the North West of Ulster Intermediate Cup on Friday night.

Bonagee United 2

Newbuildings United 0

The sheets of rain teemed upon Dry Arch Park for the duration. There were times when, having been a worry about the beginning, reaching the final whistle might have seemed improbable.

The surface, though, held up and the goals in the first-half from Jack Parke and Michael Funston went some way to warming the natives.

Newbuildings had their moments and might well have been in front before Parke broke the deadlock on the half-hour.

Jason Gibson’s Bonagee have Everton FC from the Munster Senior League visiting next weekend in the FAI Intermediate Cup and that was likely in mind with Packie Mailey not risked for this one.

Newbuildings thought they had opened the scoring when Aaron McGurk headed in from a Dylan McCorckell free kick only for an offside flag to halt his march.

Adam Dougherty flashed wide and Darran Robb shot over the top from a good position.

At the other end, Michael Funston, picked out by Daragh Ellison’s inviting pass, got around Adam Lamberton, the Newbuildings goalkeeper, but Thomas Wray cleared the danger.

Funston intervened in his own penalty box to thwart Charlie White, the Carrigans man who has recently moved from Finn Harps. White was eyeing up the target when Funston’s brave block took the ball to safety.

The elements were, at best, testing. Bonagee went in front when Parke fired all the way in from the right flank. Funston was among those who made an attempt at a connection, but Parke’s delivery flew to the net beyond Lambetton.

On the stroke of half-time, Wray handed Funston a gift with a misplaced clearance. Funston didn’t need a reminder of the invitation and the experienced midfielder lashed in off the crossbar.

Bonagee goalkeeper Oisin Cannon was out to save well from Newbuildings attacker McGurk and keep the sheet clean.

Tony McNamee might have put the game firmly beyond the rescue of Newbuildings, but Lamberton saved and Funston was off-target with the follow-up.

Bonagee United: Oisin Cannon, Jack Parke (Garbhan Grant 86), Jamie Lynagh, Mark Harkin, Gareth Breslin, Daragh Ellison (Conor Duggan 78), Michael Funston, Deano Larkin, Tony McNamee, Gareth Harkin, Micheál Doherty (Dan O’Donnell half-time).

Newbuildings United: Adam Lamberton, Adam Dougherty, Anthony Hargan, Grant Buchanan, Thomas Wray, Ross Dougherty (Matthew Harkin 72), Darran Robb (Jack McClelland half-time), Charlie White, Aaron McGurk, Dylan McCorckell (Matthew Pierce 56), Richard Lynch (Marc Smallwoods half-time).

Referee: Michael Connolly