Bonagee United edge Maiden City to win inaugural cross-border cup

Bonagee United hung on for dear life to capture the inaugural North West of Ulster Intermediate Cup on Friday night at Newbuildings.

Bonagee United 3

Maiden City 2

Bonagee scored three times in the first 20 minutes, but when Liford native Johnny Robb struck for Maiden City 12 minutes from time, it was game on.

Robb pounced with Bonagee switched off and Jason Gibson’s men were indebted to a heroic block from Packie Mailey deep into added time. Robb went for the target again but Mailey, only just on, flung himself at full stretch; as valuable a currency as the goals from Michael Funston, Deano Larkin and Darragh Ellson.

Just three minutes in, Funston opened the scoring in superb fashion. With Ray Kelly, the Maiden City goalkeeper off his line, the former Finn Harps star let fly from 35 yards. Funston’s effort flew over the stranded goalkeeper and dipped in to give the Dry Arch men the lead.

Kian Tansley smacked off the inside of the post with a snapshot form just outside the box that served as a real warning across the Bonagee brows.

Bonagee doubled the lead in the ninth minute, Larkin converting from Mark Harkin’s sweeping delivery.

Maiden City hit back and, after Lee Toland headed over from a corner, reduced the arrears in the 12th minute when Dylan Mooney managed to get around Oisin Cannon and steer home from a tightening angle.

Bonagee, though, didn’t panic and the frenetic nature continued when the Ulster Senior League representatives added a third.

Captain Jamie Lynagh flicked on a Micheál Doherty corner from the near post and the incoming Ellison stooped to head home.

Tansley was well over with a free at one end and Funston saw a low effort deflect away from goal as the pace simmered.

Just after the hour mark, an Ellison cross arrived a little late for Doherty, whose header was over while Dan O’Donnell fired into Kelly’s hands.

Even with a two-goal buffer, Bonagee weren’t comfortable and Robb made them sweat when he slotted in.

When Brennan Moore sliced over in the final minute, Maiden City’s chance seemed gone, but Bonagee still needed Mailey’s intervention before their slice of history was secured.

Bonagee United: Oisin Cannon, Mark Harkin, Gareth Breslin, Jack Parke, Jamie Lynagh, Michael Funston (Dan O’Donnell 63), Gareth Harkin, Deano Larkin (Jordan Armstrong 63), Darragh Ellison, Tony McNamee, Micheál Doherty (Packie Mailey 89).

Maiden City: Ray Kelly, Conor Moore (Dwayne McBrearty 71), Kealan McDermott, Lee Toland, Conor McGee, Tony Mullan (Robbie Hume 71), Lewis Dallas, Kian Tansley (Luke Curry h-t), Johnny Robb, Ryan McCaul (Brennan Moore 77), Dylan Mooney (Logan Street 90+1)

Referee: Joe Mullen.