Derby win at Bonagee puts Letterkenny Rovers into Area Shield final

Letterkenny Rovers, the Brian McCormick Cup holders, saw off cross-town rivals Bonagee United to advance to the Area Shield final.

Adrian Delap, Gareth Doherty and BJ Banda hit the goals as Stephen McConnell's side grabbed a deserved win at Dry Arch Park.

In front of a good derby attendance, it was the Leckview men who showed a little more in what was their first competitive game of the 2024/25 season.

Bonagee, fresh from a 1-0 win at Fanad United seven days earlier, rallied late and Kyle McLaughlin did pull a goal back – but it wasn't enough to peg Rovers back.

Rovers had a free week on the opening day, handed a walkover against Kerrykeel, so this was a first outing for something of a new-look outfit.

New signings Joel Bradley-Walsh and Keith Cowan give Rovers a formidable look at the back – and indeed on their respective forays into the other half.

They were joined by another new recruit in Padraic Gilsenan, the former Home Farm player who spent last season at Bonagee, while the return of Banda adds a real threat. Rovers have still to welcome Mark Anthony McGinley and Nathan Plumb into the fold.

Joel Bradley-Walsh in action for Letterkenny Rovers

Andrew Nicholls, the Bonagee goalkeeper, denied Rovers the lead when he beat away a Banda penalty in the 16^th minute after referee Packie Coll deeemed that Kevin O'Donnell had fouled Delap.

Barely a minute later, Rovers took the lead as, having recycled the opportunity swiftly, Banda teed up Delap who fired beyond Nicholls to the far corner.

Bonagee forced a series of corners without really troubling visiting 'keeper Oisin Farrell. Ricky Guntrip did see a dangerous free diverted out for a corner.

Guntrip scampered forward to get on the end of a good move involving Gareth Harkin and Deano Larkin, but his effort was wide while Cowan's intervention halted the march of Gareth Harkin who had glided through.

Late in the first half, a shot from Shay Maloney – a first-half replacement for the injured Michael Funston – was turned around the post via a deflection.

Bonagee United

Three minutes into the second half, Doherty pounced on an error in the home defence to slot home the second. Doherty seized on a wayward pass out of the rearguard and executed the maximum punishment with a clinical finish.

Nicholls firmly held onto a powerful Doherty shot on the hour before James Henry, making his first appearance in the Bonagee colours, curled wide at the other end having carved out the opening himself.

Twenty minutes from the end, Doherty turned provider and Banda converted number three.

McLaughlin got Bonagee off the mark with three minutes to go and, while Farrell went full stretch to palm a Fintan Hassan free away, the home team couldn't push their neighbours any further.

Bonagee United: Andrew Nicholls, Jack Parke, Kevin O'Donnell, Ricky Guntrip, Gareth Breslin (Fintan Hassan h-t), Gareth Harkin, Michael Funston (Shay Maloney 33), Dan O'Donnell, Deano Larkin (Kyle McLaughlin 68), James Henry, Ultan McMonagle (Aidan McLaughlin 80).

Letterkenny Rovers: Oisin Farrell, Padraic Gilsenan (David O'Donnell 75), Joel Bradley-Walsh, Dean McCarry, Keith Cowan (Rory Gallagher 80), Chris Malseed, Adrian Delap (Caolan McConnell 75), Joel Gorman (Adam Murphy 80), BJ Banda (Lee McMonagle 75), Dylan Woods, Gareth Doherty.

Referee: Packie Coll.