TONY McNamee struck a late winner as Bonagee United eked out a dramatic victory over Finn Harps Under-21s in the Ulster Senior League.
Bonagee United 2 Finn Harps Under-21s 1
By Chris McNulty at Dry Arch Park
A summer recruit from Harps to Bonagee, McNamee repeated trick from a couple of weeks ago when gunning down his former club in the League Cup.
McNamee netted twice as Jason Gibson’s side came from behind to win.
Trailing through Adam McCarron’s goal after the hour, Bonagee looked in bother, but McNamee netted a penalty in the 77th minute before bagging the decisive strike on 89 minutes.
McNamee began to make the incision in the final third and after sweeping the ball to the foraging Jack Parke on the right, the Ramelton man was on hand to tuck into the bottom corner from the return pass.
McCarron, who saw a first half penalty repelled by Shaun Patton, headed in from close range on 66 minutes after Luke Rudden nodded into his path to put Harps in front.
Bonagee, though, drew level with a penalty of their own 11 minutes later when McNamee tucked home after Jack Parke drew a foul in the area.
McNamee wormed his way through soon after, but Paddy McGarvey was out to thwart his advances before he found the winner with a minute to go.
Harps had a golden chance to open the lead in the 27th minute when referee Packie Coll pointed to the spot after deeming Conor Black to have been fouled.
Harps captain McCarron saw Bonagee goalkeeper Patton save his penalty, the home number 1 going down to his right to get a firm hand behind the effort.
Bonagee were without the influence of Gareth Harkin, the former Harps midfielder absent due to injury, with Parke restored to the home side’s first XI.
Bonagee began their League programme eight evening’s previously when Deano Larkin’s early goal bagged a hard-earned 1-0 win over Derry City Reserves.
It was a much changed Harps U21s for this one than that which lost narrowly, 2-1, in the League Cup earlier this month.
Stephen McNutt’s Harps fashioned a decent opening in the 14th minute, Jamie Harris just unable to keep his header on target from Jack Mullan’s searching cross from the right.
Two minutes later, Mullan’s pace proved a thorn in Bonagee’s side again, but his cross lofted away from its intended destination.
Bonagee were in behind soon after, but Chris Dillon was unable to get his shot on target after a tidy ball around the back from Deano Larkin.
After Patton thwarted McCarron, Bonagee went close, but Micheál Doherty flashed wide with a header having been teed up by McNamee.
Harps sub Adam McCaffrey bent one around the far post after more good approach work from the lively Mullan just before half time.
Early in the second half, McNamee forced a superb save from replacement goalkeeper McGarvey – who came on for Shea McBride-Friel at half-time – while Doherty thundered wide from 20 yards as Bonagee began with some intent.
They fell behind but, spurred by McNamee, an off-colour Bonagee found a way.
Bonagee United: Shaun Patton, Jack Parke, Jamie Lynagh (Peter Carr 83), Gareth Breslin, Mark Harkin, Dan O’Donnell (Garbhan Grant 70), Michael Funston, Chris Dillon (Seam Hume 62), Tony McNamee, Deano Larkin (Aidan McLaughlin 62), Micheál Doherty (Jordan Armstrong 62).
Finn Harps Under-21s: Shea McBride-Friel (Paddy McGarvey half-time), Gareth Bradley (Stephen Black 65), Damien Duffy, Dylan Woods, Adam McCarron, Charlie White, Jack Mullan, Ryan Creevy (Eoin McLaughlin half-time), Jamie McDaid, (Luke Rudden half-time) Jamie Harris, Conor Black (Adam McCaffrey 38).
Referee: Packie Coll.
