Night of history as Bonagee reach first Brian McCormick Cup final

History was both celebrated and created in Ballyare on Friday night.

Bonagee United 2

St Catherine’s 0

On the night when FAI President Gerry McAnaney was present to mark the 50th anniversary of the Donegal Junior League, Bonagee United reached their first Brian McCormick Sports Cup final.

Second half goals by Aidan McLaughlin and Coady Brogan sealed Bonagee’s place in the decider.

Fifty years to the day, Killybegs overcame the Army 7-2 in the first ever game in the Donegal League. There was no repeat of the scoreline, although the Killybegs representatives here, St Catherine’s, pushed Bonagee all the way.

Only when Brogan superbly bagged his side’s second, three minutes from the end, was their passage safe. Brogan cut in from the left-hand side and sent a sweet right-footed effort beyond Michael Mullin to the bottom corner.

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They took the lead in the 66th minute.  Evan McCroary’s persistence won possession back for Bonagee wide on the right. The diminutive McCroary scurried away and his cross was turned home by McLaughlin.

It was somewhat against the run of play with St Catherine’s having a big chance in the opening seconds of part two.

Ryan Cunningham raced clear, beating the offside trap, after just 18 seconds, but Bonagee goalkeeper John Carr was out well to thwart. The Dry Arch hearts were in the mouths from the resulting corner, too, with Alex McBrearty shooting off target.

Last month, First Division St Catherine’s upset the odds when beating top flight Cappry 2-0 in the Donegal Area Shield final with Ryan Cunningham and Alex McBrearty netting.

The Fishermen belied their status of being a tier beneath their opponents again with Odhran McGuinness riffling just over the top as the Emerald Park men began part two with a purpose.

On the hour, Evan Broderick headed wide from Conor Knox’s free kick and, just five minutes later, McLaughlin was wheeling away after breaking the stalemate.

Damien McClafferty’s Bonagee won the delayed Letterkenny Area final on Sunday, Darren Hunter scoring the only goal of the game in the first half.

St Catherine’s thought they might’ve taken the lead when Broderick rose majestically in a crowded penalty area to head goalwards in the eighth minute. Whether or not his header went over the line was irrelevant in any case, referee Dessie McLaughlin having just shrilled for a foul.

Moments earlier, John Carr’s fingertips turned a McGuinness shot around the post.

Bonagee, though, began to warm to the task and veteran midfielder Eamonn Cannon saw his teasing free, flash wide, via a deflection off a St Catherine’s man.

Just before the break, Cunningham was inches wide when he tried his luck and the deadlock remained intact as the teams headed for the interval.

Bonagee should have had their tickets to the final punched four minutes from the end, but McLaughlin side-footed over the top from Lee McMonagle’s centre.

That came just after Carr parried well from a stinging McGuinness drive, but it was game, set and match when Brogan arrowed in the second.

Bonagee United: John Carr, Evan McCroary, Coady Brogan, Sergey Alcorn, Duncan Patterson, Taylor Russell, Darren Hunter, Eamonn Cannon (Daniel Stolarczyk 89), Aaron Wasson (Jordan Gallagher 83), Aidan McLaughlin, Lee McMonagle (Niall McCrossan 89).

St Catherine’s: Michael Mullin, Conor Knox, Ryan Carr, Christopher Murrin, Shaun Kelly, Odhran McGuinness, Josh Maxwell (Dara Murrin 79), Evan Broderick, Ryan Cunningham, Dan Breslin, Alex McBrearty.

Referee: Dessie McLaughlin.