All square - and still all to play for - as Bonagee, Kildrum draw a blank

Donegal League Premier Division title chases Bonagee United and Kildrum Tigers drew a blank at Dry Arch Park on Wednesday night.

Bonagee United 0

Kildrum Tigers 0

The result has perhaps given a chink of light to other sides whose hopes were rather more faint before this clash.

Kildrum still sit back in seventh, but the St Johnston men have four games in hand on Bonagee, on whom they have four games in hand - and who they have still to welcome to Station Road at the season’s end.

A draw does neither of these any particular harm although Kildrum will have headed back out the dual carriageway kicking themselves.

It was getting late in the night when Kildrum turned over a Bonagee breakaway. The ball was swiftly transferred diagonal towards Kevin McHugh, positioned just inside the Bonagee penalty area, slightly to the left. McHugh rolled inches wide of the far post.

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Moments later, Daniel Clarke’s searching cross was just a fraction too high for McHugh, who was unable to get the necessary purchase on a header at the far post.

In added time, William Lynch powered a header narrowly over John Carr’s crossbar.

Just after the hour, McHugh was denied by Carr after getting in around the back while another Clarke cross yearned for a finishing touch that never came.

A 3-0 home win over Keadue had Bonagee bouncing into this one while Kildrum, depleted somewhat still by a volume of absentees, had lost for the first time in the League on Sunday, falling 2-1 at home to Cappry.

Rory Carr, Lynch, Luke Toland, Aaron O’Donnell, Ryan Higgins and Odhran McMacken all came back to the Tigers XI while James Nulty began in his usual centre-back sentry having been in goal for the last two weekends.

Bonagee themselves had a big chance six minutes into the second half. Aaron Wasson, whose pace caused Kildrum no end of angst throughout, did well to fashion the chance, but Jordan Gallagher side-footed wide.

Aidan McLaughlin, fed by Gallagher, drew an early stop from Rory Carr, while Clarke shot at John Carr down the other end.

In the 31st minute, Brian Breslin tore down the right, but he prodded his shot into the side netting.

McLaughlin was off cue with a volley having teed up for himself and, with the final incident in part one, Breslin’s touch was too heavy and the moment was lost,

As Kildrum began to probe, Peter Carr did well to cut out from a dangerous-looking McHugh centre after the ex-Finn Harps forward got in on the right.

The night’s big chances had yet to arrive. None were taken, yet their true meaning has yet to be determined.

Only when the sums are tallied at the end will it really be known whether this was a case of a point gained or two lost.