Seventh heaven: Bonagee United secure first Donegal Youth League title

Bonagee United scored seven goals on Wednesday night as the Dry Arch side secured the club’s first ever Donegal Youth League title.

Bonagee United 7
Drumkeen United 0

Josh Maxwell’s hat-trick helped fire Gary McCrory’s team to the facile win that clinched the silverware against Drumkeen United at St Patrick’s Park.

Caolan Fox scored twice with Josh Doherty and Conor Gallagher also on target.

Bonagee spurned the chance to lift the crown a week earlier when losing 3-2 against Keadue Rovers.

The nerves might have whistled a little here, but Bonagee were 4-0 up - and all but home and hosed - by the 25th minute.

Doherty put them on their way in the ninth minute. Driving forward from just inside his own half, Doherty fired goanward and his shot squirmed between Callum Duffy and his post.

The lively Jamie O’Donnell had tried this luck just beforehand, but Matthew Gibson, the Bonagee goalkeeper, saved. Gibson held on moments later when O’Donnell tried his luck from a free kick.

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Bonagee were 2-0 ahead in the 18th minute, Fox drilling emphatically past Duffy from distance.

Just two minutes later, Fox was on the end of a sweeping Bonagee move to add the third. Luca Barrett’s initial delivery was cleared as far as Eoghan O’Doherty, who fed Fox and he did the rest.

Maxwell fired over the top after getting on the end of a cross from Fox, but a deflected Maxwell effort soon had Bonagee four in front.

Dylan McAteer might have got in on the act when he connected with a corner, but a Drumkeen defender managed to get in the way and they parted for half-time with a comfortbable 4-0 buffer.

Eight minutes into the second half, Maxwell slid in to convert after Duffy parried away a Noah Barrett cross. The lively Bonagee captain had weaved his way into position in a move that showed his class.

Maxwell completed his treble on 76 minutes, riffling home after a ball in from Gallagher.

Two minuets later, Maxwell and Dean Johnston combined and Gallagher applied the finish.

Drumkeen didn’t stop and Tiernan McCaffery forced Gibson to tip over form an ambitious attempt while Bonagee sub Zak Breen drew an excellent save from Duffy with a fine free kick that looked destined for the top shelf.

Bonagee United: Matthew Gibson, Darragh Hegarty (Jamie Grieve 63), Eoghan Doherty, Dylan McAteer, Josh Patton, Josh Doherty (Zak Breen 57), Luca Barrett, Noah Barrett, Ciaran Dalton (Daniel Dalton 15 (Conor Gallagher 72)), Josh Maxwell, Caolan Fox (Dean Johnston 78).

Drumkeen United: Callum Duffy, Tiernan McCafferty, Nathan Potts (Gavin Bonner 18 (Dabhan Doherty 34)), Callum Lynch, Pauric Gordon, Niall Sweeney, Stewart McCrabbe (Dylan Strain 15), Leigh Patton, Jamie O’Donnell, Ryan Kildea, Conor Crossan.

Referee: Trevor Hay.