McNamee brace edges Bonagee to win over Derry on a night of penalties

It was a night of penalties on Thursday night as Bonagee United opened up a gap at the top of the Ulster Senior League.

Bonagee United 2
Derry City Reserves 1

When Tiernan McKinney drew Derry, who fell behind to a Tony McNamee penalty in the 75^th minute, level, there were 92 minutes on the stopwatch.

And, yet, there was still time for a late, dramatic twist.

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Gareth Harkin skipped away from goalkeeper Fintan Doherty – back on the pitch where he cut his teeth as a goalkeeper of note – and went to ground. Referee Barry Maxwell pointed to the spot.

A hush descended on Dry Arch Park, but McNamee was the picture of cool as he stroked home the winner.

Early in the night, John Roulstone, standing in for the unavailable Oisin Cannon, parried well from Tiernan McGinty, the Tory man who recently moved to Derry.

Roulstone denied McGinty from point-blank range in the 26^th minute before Michael Funston struck the inside of a post at the other end.

There was a moment of danger for the hosts when McKinney pushed the ball past Roulstone inside the area, but Gareth Breslin, playing his first game of the season following an injury, was back to avert the panic.

Bonagee had big claims for a penalty nine minutes into the second half when McNamee went down under Doherty's challenge. Maxwell shook the head as Bonagee protested vociferously.

Roulstone intervened with a big save to deny Sean Patton – another of the Donegal men in the Derry line-up – whose deflected effort was turned away.

As Bonagee upped the ante, Conor Black fired wide and Doherty's fingertips turned over from Harkin's stinging shot.

Funston headed over and there was a sense that, maybe, it just wouldn't be their night.

Bonagee it the front when McNamee, whose cross had been handled by a Derry defender, fired in from the penalty spot.

Derry appeared to have earned a share of the spoils when MCKinney converted after Stephen Black was deemed to have fouled Callum McCay, but McNamee had the last and decisive say.

Bonagee United: John Roulstone, Jamie Lynagh, Gareth Breslin (Peter Carr 87), Mark Harkin, Stephen Black, Dan O'Donnell, Michael Funston, Gareth Harkin, Micheal Doherty (Sean Hume 30), Tony McNamee, Conor Black (Noah Barrett 90).

Derry City Reserves: Fintan Doherty, Conor Barr, Ben McGonigle, Kyle McCluskey (Oisin Duffy 85), Darragh McCloskey, Callum McCay, Conal McGarrigle (Jack McFeeley 61), Liam Mullen, Tiernan McGinty (Rory O'Donnell 69), Sean Patton, Tiernan McKinney.

Referee: Barry Maxwell.