Cockhill Celtic and Bonagee United share the spoils in National League
Bonagee played more than 50 minutes with ten men, but held Cockhill at bay to earn a draw
Cockhill Celtic 1
Cockhill Celtic’s wait for a first National League victory continues as Bonagee United held off the home side, despite playing with ten men for 50 minutes.
Gary Merritt put the Letterkenny side in front on 37 minutes. However, Brendan McLaughlin equalised shortly after for Cockhill before Bonagee’s Lee Toland was sent for an early shower following a reckless challenge on Luke Rudden, who had to be withdrawn shortly afterwards.
Cockhill almost got off to the dream start when Danny McDaid played in Seamus McLaughlin who bore down on goal. His first effort was half-cleared before McDaid's shot from the edge of the box bounced around the Letterkenny side's six-yard box and away to safety.
Danny McDaid continued to be at the heart of Cockhill's attack. His switch of play to Brendan McLaughlin allowed the full-back to hit the byline, but neither Luke Rudden nor Seamus McLaughlin could turn it into the net.
Gary Merritt then had a shot that went a whisker wide of the post as Bonagee grew into the game. Merritt would punish the Cockhill backline moments later. A long ball from Michael Doherty put Merritt on his bike and he showed a clean pair of heels to burst onto it and beat keeper Shane O'Gara into the far corner.
Tiernan Ruddy nearly gave Cockhill an instant response, cutting inside and forcing a fine stop from Andrew Nicholl at his near post.
Shortly afterwards, Brendan McLaughlin drew Cockhill level.
Danny McDaid clipped a ball in behind, and with a lot of work still to be done, McLaughlin fired an arrow into the bottom corner.
Jack McMullan then had a shot saved by Andrew Nicholl before the goalkeeper was adjudged to have picked up a back-pass, resulting in an indirect free-kick that was blocked by Gareth Breslin.
The turning point in the closing stages of a relatively even first half came when Lee Toland was sent off for a firm tackle on Luke Rudden in front of the Mickey Gill Stand, leaving Bonagee a man down and Cockhill with a real shot at a first victory in the FAI National League.
Jack McMullan had a deflected shot crawl inches wide shortly after the restart as Cockhill continued to apply the pressure.
There was more controversy at the Cockhill end as Jay Bradley beat Gareth Breslin to the ball and slotted it into the net, but play was brought back for a free-kick much to the disgust of the home crowd.
Lee McColgan then controlled a diagonal ball from Danny McDaid. He beat his man and squared it to Nathan McDaid, who couldn't make contact when it looked certain a goal was on the cards.
Tiernan Ruddy then clipped the top of the crossbar from a free-kick just on the edge of the area with five minutes to go.
Nathan McDaid and Jay Bradley both spurned late chances to win the game from crosses. Bradley went for an overhead kick when Garbhan Friel picked him out six yards from goal.
Jay Bradley then had a dipping shot from the edge of the area well dealt with by Nicholl before Bonagee could have won it when Kyle Martin went bursting through, only to be denied by an acrobatic O'Gara stop.
Garbhan Friel was shown his marching orders after full-time following a confrontation with the referee.
As far as the man of the match is concerned, Danny McDaid showed experience beyond his years and stood out in an excellent game of football, but Cockhill will rue their missed opportunities.
They have a chance to finish their inaugural campaign in the League of Ireland Third Tier on a high next Saturday when they host Mervue United, in a backlog game that was postponed due to Storm Boelo.
Gavin Cullen had this to say after the game:
“Performance-wise, we were very good,” Cockhill manager Gavin Cullen said. “We're incredibly frustrated. I felt we dominated the ball and possession. Bonagee got a goal on the break, we scored a very good goal, and we had all the ball. They defended and did really well.
“We asked a lot of questions of them but just couldn't put the ball in the net.
“In the second half, the referees and officials ruined the game. We had a clear goal disallowed for no real reason. The amount of stoppages and breaks in play ruined the game. We want the game played at a high tempo, and it's seriously frustrating.”
Cockhill Celtic: O'Gara, L. McLaughlin, P. Doherty, J. Breslin (P Lewis, 78 mins), L. Rudden (J Bradley, 46 mins), K. McElroy (A Duffy, 46 mins), T. Ruddy, J. Mullan, D. McDaid, S. McLaughlin (N McDaid 78 mins), B. McLaughlin (Garbhan Friel, 86 mins).
Bonagee United: Nicholls, C. Kelly, T. McMonagle, G. Breslin, G. Harkin, M. Doherty, G. Merritt, R. Rainey, Keelan Green, S. Moran, L. Toland.
Referee: W Harvey.