Jack Parke’s fuse lit again as Bonagee chase Cup progress

Jack Parke has found his football spark again.

The 20-year-old moved to Bonagee United last summer after four years at Derry City.

Parke, an apprentice electrician, took some time to settle into his new surroundings, but the wing-back scored his first goal for Bonagee in last Friday’s 2-0 win over Newbuildings United in the North West of Ulster Intermediate Cup.

On Saturday evening, Bonagee host Everton from the Munster Senior League at Dry Arch Park in the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup (7pm).

“We want to get progress in the Intermediate and make the home advantage count,” Park said.

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“It’s nice to get a chance to play someone different. There’s a big prize for us at the weekend if we can win, maybe another big draw. We just have to take this round first and see what happens. ‘

“It’s a big competition to be in with all the big intermediate teams from all over Ireland in it. It’s great to be in playing against these teams.”

The Glenmaquin man played his schoolboy football with Lagan Harps before being recruited by Derry City when he was 16.

He played under Gary Duffy’s management at first. Later, he played for Paddy McCourt and Mark McChrystal, often lining out for the Candystripes in the Ulster Senior League.

Parke’s progress was such that he was called in to train with Derry’s first team.

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Cockhill face Liffey Wanderers in the FAI Intermediate Cup on Sunday

He said: “For my last year-and-a-half, I was in every day. I did a full pre-season, but then with my job commitments I didn’t make it in as much. I sort of got pushed to the side then.

“Derry was a good standard and a good experience. Playing the League of Ireland under-17 and under-19 against the big teams from Dublin and the derbies with Finn Harps were brilliant.”

As Parke weighed up his options, Bonagee seemed a good fit. Dry Arch Park wasn’t far from home and he knew Jason Gibson, the Bonagee manager, from his days with Lagan.

“Bonagee is probably the best run club around,” Parke said. “It was the best fit for me at the time. I’m looking forward to a big game on Saturday. Hopefully the weather holds out for it and we get a good crowd.”

Parke opened the scoring in last week’s defeat of Newbuildings - a result that fired Bonagee into the semi-finals of the cross-border competition.

“I like to get forward from full-back,” Parke said. “Someitmes it just does’t happen. It’s a good competition to be in. Again, you’re playing against new, different teams.”

Under Gibson, Bonagee have won the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup and the Donegal News USL League Cup in the last two seasons. Again, they chase silverware and are hoping to put a challenge in for the League crown won by Cockhill in each of the last eight seasons.

“It took me a while to get my bearings, but I’m used to it now,” Parke said. “The USL is a good standard and there’s never an easy game. Teams know each other so well too.

“We’ve had a good enough season so far. We’ve had a couple of games where we should’ve snatched something more. We missed chances against Letterkenny Rovers in two games we should’ve done better in. They’re behind us now and we’re hoping to kick on in these Cups now too.”

FIXTURES

FAI Intermediate Cup

Saturday, February 19, 7pm

Bonagee United v Everton FC

Sunday, February 20, 2pm

Liffey Wanderers v Cockhill Celtic

bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League

Saturday, February 19, 3pm

Finn Harps Under-21s v Monaghan United

Saturday, February 19, 7.30pm

Letterkenny Rovers v Derry City Reserves