Bonagee pick up first National League win in Donegal derby with Cockhill

Bonagee United picked up their first win of the FAI National League Group 1 campaign at the expense of Cockhill Celtic in a Donegal derby in Dry Arch Park.

The visitors took an early lead from a Luke Rudden penalty, but headers from Gareth Breslin and Micheal Doherty had the Letterkenny outfit in front.

Shane Moran added a third from distance before the break, and while Cockhill got one back through Danny McDaid, they couldn’t find an equaliser as they remain winless.

It was an electric start, with Gary Merritt playing a cross to Micheal Doherty, who laid it off to Ryan Rainey but his effort came off the post inside a minute.

But the Inishowen men took the lead inside three minutes, as a through ball from Tiernan Ruddy saw Luke Rudden get to the ball first ahead of Ciaran Kelly and Andrew Nicholls, with the goalkeeper taking him down.

Rudden stepped up and fired into the bottom left corner, sending Nicholls the wrong way.

Jay Bradley had the next chance with a shot that went astray, while Bonagee threatened with a Gareth Harkin shot but his effort hit off Gary Merritt, with the danger cleared.

But they did find the equaliser on 26 minutes, as a cross from Harkin towards the back post was met by Gareth Breslin, whose looping header went over Shane O’Gara and into the top corner.

It wasn’t long before the hosts hit the front, as the impressive Shane Moran won possession back, to find Caomhan Green who played it down the right win for Merritt to chase.

He just about got his cross away, to Doherty who headed back across the ‘keeper and in.

Rainey and a Toland corner forced O’Gara into saves, while Nicholls did well to get out quick and prevent Jay Bradley from getting through.

Moran then spun his man and shot from the edge of the box, but his effort wasn’t troubling O’Gara, although the next one did.

The midfielder won it back in added time, hitting it from 20 yards and finding the bottom left corner for a two-goal lead at the break.

Cockhill made changes shortly after half-time, with Odhran O’Brien Daly having a header cleared, while Lee McLaughlin forced Nicholls into an easy save.

O’Brien Daly should have done better with another free header, as Rudden controlled a cross from Seamus McLaughlin and shot, only for Nicholls to make a smart save as Cockhill began to press.

The game was almost sealed by Bonagee’s substitutes, with Aidan Brennan finding Matthew McLaughlin, who saw his shot crash off the post, as Daniel O’Donnell also struck for the net.

But Cockhill got a lifeline then with two minutes remaining, as Danny McDaid picked up possession at the edge of the box, finding the bottom left corner in similar style to Moran in the first half.

And with three minutes of injury time, the Inishowen men pushed for an equaliser, but Lee McLaughlin’s effort from distance went high for their only real final chance as Bonagee held on for their first win.

Bonagee United: Andrew Nicholls; Ciaran Kelly, Thomas McMonagle (Adam Rodgers 86), Gareth Breslin (Eoghan Doherty 71), Micheal Doherty (Aidan Brennan 78), Caomhan Green, Gareth Harkin, Shane Moran (Matthew McLaughlin 78), Lee Toland, Ryan Rainey (Daniel O’Donnell 78); Gary Merritt.

Cockhill Celtic: Shane O’Gara; Lee McLaughlin, Peter Doherty, Kieran McElroy, Brendan McLaughlin (Seamus McLaughlin 55) Adam Duffy (Jack Mullan 55), James Bradley (Danny McDaid 55), Jay Bradley, Tiernan Ruddy (Damian Duffy 81), Luke Rudden; Garbhan Friel (Odhran O’Brien Daly 55).

Referee: John Coll.