Doherty chips Bonagee closer to Cockhill

Micheál Doherty struck 12 minutes from the end to bring Bonagee United back onto the coat tails of Cockhill Celtic at the top of the Ulster Senior League.

Bonagee United 2

Finn Harps Under-21s 1

Five points is now the margin with the teams still to face each other, this victory at least ensuring that something of a title race may ensue in the coming weeks.

Tuesday night’s tame tussle at the Dry Arch seemed destined for a draw, an own goal late in the first half levelling for Bonagee after Liam Carlin’s free kick flew in on 22 minutes.

An off-colour Bonagee laboured for long spells before Doherty bagged the winner.

From a tight position on the right-hand side of the penalty box Doherty, with his lesser-used right boot, clipped the ball goalwards, his lofted effort looping in over Gavin Mulreany to the far corner.

Early in the night, Deano Larkin forced a save from Shea McBride-Friel, who played the first half in goal for a youthful Harps.

It was Stephen McNutt’s side who took the lead on 22 minutes when Carlin’s free from the right deceived Bonagee goalkeeper John Roulstone.

In the dying embers of the opening half, Jack Parke drew a fine stop from McBride Friel, but the resulting corner cannoned off the unfortunate Dylan Woods and into the net.

Mulreany repelled a free from Doherty, but it was Harps who looked like they might seize the initiative when sub Mark McGlynn saw an excellent effort wonderfully tipped over the top by Roulstone.

Doherty, though, would prove the winner on 78 minutes.

Harps did have chances and it took a double save from Roulstone to thwart Max Johnson and Shane Bradley.

At the other end, a top-drawer save from Mulreany, reaching full stretch to his right, kept out Sean Hume’s superb drive from distance.

Bonagee United: John Roulstone, Jack Parke, Jamie Lynagh, Gareth Breslin, Mark Harkin (Garbhan Grant 85), Dan O’Donnell (Aidan McLaughlin 74), Michael Funston (Conor Duggan 66), Gareth Harkin, Michel Doherty (Peter Carr 90+2), Deano Larkin (Sean Hume 83), Jordan Armstrong.

Finn Harps Under-21s: Shea McBride-Friel (Gavin Mulreany 45), Jack McGlynn, Liam Carlin (Josh McNulty 62), Hugh Aaron McGonagle, Stephen Black, Dylan Woods (Mark McGlynn 54), Ben O’Donnell, Jack Mullan, Evan Keown (Max Johnson 20), Sean O’Donnell (Shaunie Bradley 62), Conor Black.

Referee: Packie Coll.