'If you only play for one half, you don’t deserve to win matches' - Jason Gibson

Bonagee United manager Jason Gibson believes his team can count their blessings that they are still top of the table, level on points with Donegal Town, the very team that nearly took all three points in Dry Arch Park on Sunday in what was a physical 1-1 draw. 

Trailing by a goal at the break, it took substitute Fintan Hasson to level the match on the 65th minute when he ghosted through the Donegal Town defense to score at the back post. 

The end result leaves both sides top of the league on 31 points each with Donegal having played 13 games with Bonagee playing one more, while Letterkenny Rovers sit behind them on 28 points with 10 games played. 

“We have to be happy with a point because we didn’t play in the first half,” said Gibson. “We got a reaction when we made a few changes at half-time and from that, the lads came out fighting. 

“We were 1-0 down at half-time, it was upsetting that we didn’t create anything but what was really annoying was that we just didn’t play. We told the boys after that if you only play for one half of football, then you don’t deserve to win matches, so we were lucky to come out of here with something.” 

The away side completely dominated the first half with Declan Duignan causing untold damage up top despite David Graham getting the goal for the Town on the fifth minute. 

“It took us a long time to deal with their set-up and their shape, we can give as much information to the players going onto the field about formations and shapes, whatever, but if you don’t go out and play in a manner that we know we can, then you don’t deserve to win the match, it’s that simple,” said the Bonagee United manager. 

“We pegged it back in the second half, and we had a few half chances, but Donegal Town came strong in the end when we brought it level. They were always looking for the winner, so happy enough to come away with a point.” 

With four matches remaining for Bonagee, Gibson knows that his side is hitting the crunch period of the season where every point is vital in their hopes for promotion to the Premier Division. 

“We need to move on and look ahead. We all still fancy Letterkenny Rovers to win the league and after this match, I would assume the advantage is with Donegal Town to come second and get automatic promotion. 

“If we finish in third, we just have to live with that and try and get promoted through the play-offs, but there’s still a lot to play for yet.  

“We’re not looking at winning the league. I think with the season we had it was just about stabilising the situation and just trying to get out of the league by promotion.  

“Credit to Donegal Town for putting themselves in the mix because at the start of the year everyone was talking about us and Letterkenny Rovers being the top two teams, so all we can do is admire Donegal Town for their efforts this year.”