Bonagee into the last eight after historic shoot-out win over Everton

Bonagee United reached the quarter-finals of the FAI Intermediate Cup for the first time in the club’s history thanks to a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Everton AFC from Cork.

Bonagee United 2 Everton AFC 2

(after extra time, Bonagee win 5-3 on penalties)

On a soaking Saturday night, Bonagee were celebrating in a Dry Arch downpour after a tense tussle that had a sprinkling of controversy at times.

Goals late in the first half of normal time by Micheál Doherty and Deano Larkin - the first of them which was the subject of large protestations from Everton - turned the night on its head after Alan Greaney’s opener.

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Chris Fox’s 56th minute leveller for Everton set up a grandstand conclusion.

When it went all the way to the dreaded spot kicks, with both sides having had a man sent off by that point, goalkeeper Oisin Cannon - who had saved a penalty from Jason Dunphy in normal time - Troy O’Sullivan.

While Christopher Fahy, Jason Forde and Daniel Long were successful for Everton from 12 yards, Bonagee had the perfect five.

Jordan Armstrong, Gareth Harkin, Tony McNamee, Dan O’Donnell and, finally, Daragh Ellison scored to secure a historic win.

Everton took the lead on the half-hour. Kelvin Connolly and Dunphy combined on the right-hand side with the latter’s searching low cross tucked home by the unmarked Alan Greaney at the far post.

Bonagee had had the bulk of the ball up until then, although chances were scant for the hosts.

Jack Parke, who posted his first Bonagee goal in last Friday’s 2-0 win over Newbuildings in the North West of Ulster Intermediate Cup, did call Everton ‘keeper Brendan Keating into action. Keating was equal to Parke’s shot from 20 yards, Bonagee’s first purposeful effort on goal.

Some stout defending by Ellison, a recent recruit to Bonagee having been at Sligo Rovers in 2021, prevented Connolly from getting a shot on target after Dunphy’s cross picked him out. Ellison was able to snuff the danger out with little fuss.

Bonagee flipped the game on its head with a brace of goals in the last four minutes of part one.

The equalising goal in the 41st minute had Everton seething.

Ellison’s quick throw-in set the wheels in motion and when Doherty tucked home, Everton’s followers fumed at the presence of a second ball on the pitch and vehemently querying the location the throw had been taken from. In spite of the protests the goal stood.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Bonagee were in front, Larkin stabbing home past Keating at his near post from Parke’s ball in.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Everton drew level. Fox delightfully clipped past Cannon from inside the D after Bonagee failed to properly clear another dangerous ball in from Connolly.

Bonagee had the ball in the net seven minutes earlier, but Packie Coll’s offside flag stopped McNamee in his tracks as he converted from Doherty’s delivery.

Keating produced a massive save just after the hour, somehow beating away at point blank range when Doherty connected with Parke’s perfectly-flighted cross from the right.

Ellison flicked a header wide after Keating palmed away from underneath the bar with Bonagee on top.

Everton had a golden chance to take the lead on 73 minutes. Cannon saved from Alan Greaney and when Dunphy’s follow up cannoned off Packie Mailey, the appeals began. Referee Marty McGarrigle pointed to the spot and produced a red card for Mailey, whose adamant claims that he had been struck on the face were in vain.

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Cannon dived to his left to save from Dunphy’s penalty and it felt a huge moment.

Late in the game, sub Dan O’Donnell almost produced a stunning winner, but his attempt from 25 yards flew over after McNamee and Jordan Armstrong worked a quick corner routine.

Gareth Harkin prodded wide with his left foot in the first half of extra time and the numbers were equalled when Everton sub Will Ahern was sent off in the 101st minute for a second bookable offence.

Bonagee United: Oisin Cannon, Mark Harkin (Jamie Lynagh 73), Packie Mailey, Gareth Breslin, Daragh Ellison, Jack Parke (Garbhan Grant 105), Gareth Harkin, Michael Funston (Connor Duggan 90+2), Micheál Doherty (Jordan Armstrong 85), Deano Larkin (Dan O’Donnell 80), Tony McNamee. 

Everton AFC: Brendan Keating, Kelvin Connolly, Jason Forde, Alan O’Mahony (Daniel Long 109), Troy O’Sullivan, Shane Fitzgerald, Alan O’Sullivan (Christopher Fahy 72), Chris Fox, Alan Greaney (Dylan Hayes 81), Jason Dunphy (Will Ahern 90), Cian O’Brien.

Referee: Marty McGarrigle