Connor O’Reilly netted a first-half hat-trick as Finn Harps Reserves piled misery on Bonagee United at Dry Arch Park tonight.
Bonagee United 1 Finn Harps Reserves 3
The Letterkenny teenager – a former Bonagee schoolboy – bagged a 21-minute treble to hand Joe Boyle’s side a deserved win beneath the Dry Arch lights.
Former Finn Harps star Michael Funston – who played over 300 senior games in the blue and white – pulled a goal back for Bonagee with just under half-an-hour to go.
Beleaguered Bonagee have had a trying start to life under new boss Tony O’Carroll and are still searching for a first League win of the year.
O’Reilly’s goals took Bonagee’s goals against column to 28 in just seven games.
O’Reilly opened the scoring after just four minutes. The stylish midfielder superbly took control of a cross from the right and volleyed left-footed past Gareth Wade.
Harps were in the mood early on with Ryan Finn curling over and Michael Gallagher bursting through only to be stopped in his tracks.
O’Reilly doubled the advantage in the 17th minute, latching onto Brian McClean’s headed clearance and riffling beyond Wade from 16 yards.
Bonagee United
It was one-way traffic and it took a fine stop by Wade to prevent Adam Duffy from twisting the knife further.
O’Reilly completed his hat-trick when he tucked home after Wade saved from the powerful Duffy.
Harps skipper Luke Nelis might’ve added to the tally late in the half, but fired wide from a good position.
Bonagee improved briefly after the break and Funston, after taking receipt of a diagonal Darren Hunter pass, kept his cool to slot past Harps netminder Joe Boyle.
Dean Larkin, stretching at the far post, was unable to convert at a time when a second Bonagee goal could have really made things interesting, while Boyle turned away a crisp Daniel Stolarczyk free.
Duffy, ever-threatening in the Harps attack, got in again, but Wade saved with his feet and, two minutes from the end, Keenan Diver glanced a header just wide.
But Harps, thanks to the hat-trick from O’Reilly – one of several Harps players who had played a game with the Ulster Schools team earlier in the day – who with his night’s work done, was withdrawn at the interval.
Bonagee United: Gareth Wade; Glenn Gallagher, Brian McClean (Dylan O’Brien 75), Darren Hunter, Rory McCrossan (Ciaran Daffan 75); Jamie Lynagh (Daniel Stolarczyk 33), Dean Larkin, Chris Moran, Michael Funston; James Carolan, Matty Harkin.
Finn Harps Reserves: Joe Boyle, Liam Doherty, Paul Ferry, Shane Blaney (Keenan Diver ), Daragh Ellison; Michael Gallagher, (Steven Doherty 36), Ryan Finn, Connor O’Reilly (Zach Gorman half-time), Luke Nelis (Karl McGinley 83); Adam Duffy, Brendan Barr (Keelan McGill 61).
Referee: Marty Quinn.
| Table | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| Cockhill Celtic | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 17 | 9 | |
| Derry City Reserves | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 9 | |
| Letterkenny Rovers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 | * |
| Finn Harps Reserves | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 6 | |
| Fanad United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 3 | * |
| Bonagee United | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 | -13 | 1 | |
| Swilly Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 16 | -13 | 1 |
* Letterkenny Rovers awarded 3-0 win after FInn Harps didn’t field
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