Derry City Reserves 7 Bonagee United 0
DERRY CITY RESERVES showed their worth with a massive win over Bonagee United at Templemore.
Austrian defender Max Karmer fired Derry into the lead and in-form Cathal Farren doubled the advantage before Gareth Breslin put through his own goal before half-time.
Derry lined out with a strong hand that contained several members of Kenny Shiels’ first team.
Stephen Duffy made it four-nil early in the second half before Patrick McClean’s cross was finished by Karmer.
Duffy added his second and McClean finished the rout with Derry’s seventh on a day when the Candystripes shone.
Derry City Reserves: Shaun Patton, Scott Whiteside, Paddy McClean, Max Karmer, Jack Blake, Keith Ward, Gareth McGlynn, Rory Holden, Cathal Farren, Josh Daniels, Stephen Duffy. Subs used: Dylan Doherty, Sean Toland, Sam Todd.
Bonagee United: Gareth Wade, Noel Doherty, Taylor Russell, Gareth Breslin, Darek Frankowski, Chris Moran, Francesco Crisco, Jamie Lynagh, Aidan McLaughlin, Aidan McCauley, Dean Larkin. Sub used: Shane O’Doherty.
Letterkenny Rovers 2 Swilly Rovers 2
Darren McElwaine (Letterkenny Rovers) shields the ball from Damien Friel (Swilly Rovers) during their draw Ulster Senior League game. (North West Newspix)
SWILLY ROVERS bravely battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with hosts Letterkenny Rovers in a game where the home side finished with nine men following the late dismissals of Paul Boyle and Darren McElwaine.
The point earned by Letterkenny is enough to see them to the top of the table but that will be scant consolation as they know that they should have seen the game out when going two nil ahead.
Eamon McConigley’s team now have to sit and think of what might have been as they have no game now for three weeks due to the interpros next weekend and FAI intermediate Cup the weekend after.
Ties between these sides are always hotly contested and this one was no different and it was the visitors who started the better and twice came close through Ryan McDaid who forced Sean Friel into a smothering save while Lawrence Toland also came close in the opening minutes.
Letterkenny were slow to start but did come close on a a number of occasions through Kevin McGrath, Chris Flanagan, Paul Boyle and Igor Arriel (twice) but somehow failed to hit the target while Swilly came closest through a Jordan Toland free which Friel did well to turn around the post.
Swilly recently appointed Gerry Crossan as manager and he had his team well organised and Letterkenny knew they would have to be patient and the opening goal arrived on 40 minutes and a wonderful goal it was with Christy Connaghan firing a splendid 20 yard volley past Caolan Bolton after the initial groundwork had been done by Brian McVeigh and Chris Flanagan.
Swilly came close through a Dylan Hegarty effort but it was the home side who led at the break and were probably good value for the lead and after Darren McElwaine came close to doubling the advantage on 57 minutes it was Connaghan again who extended the lead on 59 minutes when firing home from close range after a delightful pass from Kevin McGrath.
That should have been game, set and match for Lettekenny, but Swilly got one back on 65 minutes when Kyle Burke’s shot beat Friel low to the corner to make it 2-1 with his first touch.
Swilly looked lively through Laurence Toland and Jordan Toland when breaking from defence although Rovers had a decent penalty shout turned down when McElwaine appeared to have been dragged down by a Swilly defender but those cries fell on deaf ears.
Swilly should have levelled on 82 minutes when substitute Mikey Sweeney capitalised on a defensive error but he somehow fired wide of the target with the goal gaping but they did get the equaliser on 85 minutes when Jordan Toland was adjudged to have been dragged back by Paul Boyle and referee Paul Duddy pointed to the spot.
That decision was contentiously disputed by the Rovers management who were further irked as Boyle saw a straight red for some verbals in the ensuing incident.
Toland was able to brush himself off and score to make it 2-2 with a well-struck spotkick.
Two minutes later, McElwaine was dismissed for an incident in the penalty box as his team was taking a corner.
Despite that decision, nine-man Letterkenny held out for a point and despite Swilly sensing to complete a remarkable recovery they will be happy to get their third draw in a row as Crossan’s side remain unbeaten and sets them up nicely for a trip to Cockhill in the Intermediate Cup in a fortnight’s time while Letterkenny are back in action in three weeks with a home game against Bonagee.
Letterkenny Rovers: Sean Friel, Paddy Diver, Ryan Gildea, Conor Tourish, Paul Boyle, Kevin McGrath, Chris Flanagan, Brian McVeigh, Darren McElwaine, Christy Connaghan, David Shovlin. Subs: Igor Arriel for Shovlin (26), Odhran McMacken for Diver (73).
Swilly Rovers: Caolan Bolton, Shay Durning, Paul Bradley, Dylan Hegarty, Damien Friel, Barry mooney, Mark Wilson, Jordan Toland, Ricky Fisher, Lawrence Toland, Ryan McDaid. Subs; Daniel O’Donnell for Wilson (41), Kyle Burke for McDaid (65), Mikey Sweeney for Fisher (77).
Referee: Paul Duddy.
RESULTS
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League,
Derry City Reserves 7-0 Bonagee United
Letterkenny Rovers 2-2 Swilly Rovers
INTERMEDIATE INTER-PROS
THE FIXTURES have been confirmed for next weekend’s FAI Intermediate Inter-League Tournament in Cork.
The Ulster Senior League squad will be under the guidance of Bonagee United boss Peter Moran, with Letterkenny Rovers’ Anthony Gorman also on the management team.
The USL will open the tournament on Friday at St Mary’s Park.
On the Saturday, the USL selection will take on Connacht in Corinthians Park before completing their weekend on the Sunday by taking on hosts Munster at Turner’s Cross, the home of Cork City.
The Ulster Senior League were last winners of the Michael Ward Trophy in 2013 and 2014.
The USL squad has yet to be finalised.
Friday, October 14, 7.30pm
Leinster Senior League v Ulster Senior League St Mary’s Park
Connacht v Munster Senior League Knockgriffin, Midleton
Saturday, October 15
1.30pm
Ulster Senior League v Connacht Corinthians Park, 3.30pm
Munster Senior League v Leinster Senior LeagueO’Shea Park, Blarney
Sunday, October 16, 10.45am
Leinster Senior League v Connacht Ringmahon Park
Munster Senior League v Ulster Senior League Turner’s Cross
CLUB NOTES
ULSTER Senior League clubs are asked to forward weekly notes to new League PRO Chris McNulty at chrismcnulty86@gmail.com for circulation to the media and for inclusion on the Ulster Senior League website.
