Video

Details

Date Time League Season
26 August 2022 8:00 pm FAI Cup 2022

Match Report

Preview: Bonagee United v Shelbourne

Shelbourne travel 140 miles north for their FAI Cup second-round clash against non-league Bonagee United tonight, expecting to ease into R3 without any hiccups from Dry Arch Park.  

Braces for Tony McNamee and debutant Conor Black, as well as strikes from Micheál Doherty and Jamie Lynagh helped Jason Gibson's side thump ten-man Pike Rovers 6-0 in R1 last month.  

Having qualified for this competition after winning the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup with a 3-1 win over Aileach in May, they waited with bated breath for the R2 draw to emerge.

They entertain a Shels side who rallied from a goal down and played a full half with ten men but still drew 1-1 with derby rivals Bohemians on Friday night. 
Sean Boyd's six-minute first-half brace helped them put First Division side Bray Wanderers to the sword with a 3-0 first-round away win last month.  

This has been billed as the biggest game in club history for Bonagee, hosting Premier Division opposition with a cup quarter-final berth in the offing. 
While an amateur side, they currently possess League of Ireland experience within their current crop - an invaluable help ahead of tonight's clash.

Midfield trio McNamee, Gareth Harkin, Michael Funston and centre-back Packie Mailey, who all spent time at Finn Harps, are among them. As such, Gibson fancies a competitive clash against Damien Duff's men, saying this midweek:  

"Anything they can pass on, the wee bits of knowledge they have and you'd think they're not going to be phased by the match, they've played in big occasions before and that's good if they can rub off on the younger players.  

We've prepared probably better for this match than any we've done before; you're going up the level so we've taken our preparations up. We'll make them have to work to win the game and that's the intention, there's nobody going out there with a defeatist attitude."  

Gibson's captain, Jamie Lynagh, was full of praise and said his head coach's presence has given a huge lift to the club - evidenced by their cup success in recent seasons. He also said it'll be an unbelievably difficult game, but the buzz will motivate them further as Duff and co come to town.

Can they do the unthinkable, or will the fairytale end here?

Bonagee United

Shelbourne

Scott Van Der Sluis Goalkeeper
2John Ross Wilson 3 Defender
8Josh Giurgi Defender 45'
32Kameron Ledwidge Defender
28Stephen Negru Defender
6JJ Lunney 36 Midfielder
16Aodh Dervin Midfielder
21Gavin Molloy Midfielder
Matty Smith Forward
14Daniel Carr 12 Forward 53', 71'
17Shane Farrell 10 Forward
1Brendan Clarke Goalkeeper
36Lewis Temple 6 Defender
3Conor Kane 2 Defender
5Shane Griffin Defender
7Brian McManus Midfielder
10Jack Moylan 17 Midfielder 60'
Gavin Hodgins 16 Midfielder
12Jad Hakiki 14 Midfielder
Stephen Mohan Midfielder
  • I've been Mosope Ominiyi, thanks for following the night's action with me. Stay tuned to the site for the full match report and reaction around the grounds but until next time, goodnight!

  • 93'

    FT: Bonagee United 0-4 Shelbourne. It wasn't an easy start, but it was a comfortable finish for Damien Duff's side as they punched their ticket into the draw for R3 in this season's FAI Cup. A spirited showing from their hosts, but the gulf in quality became apparent the longer this one went.

  • 90'

    Three minutes of stoppage-time to be played here, as this encounter is naturally petering out. Shelbourne assured in possession, Bonagee spiritedly giving chase in their own half.

  • 81'

    Double change for the hosts: McNamee and Funston, both booked in the first-half, are off with Carr and Hume in their place.

  • 76'

    Close! Doherty misses a promising opportunity for Bonagee after good work by sub Ellison to keep the ball in play, his eventual effort flashes the wrong side of the post though.

  • 75'

    Crossbar! Molloy heads goalwards from close-range but angrily watches his effort cannon back off the upright, as Bonagee scamper the ball clear.

  • 74'

    Double change for the visitors now: Lunney and Carr off, Temple and Hakiki replacing them - more fresh legs for Shels in the final stages of this comfortable lead.

  • 72'

    Close! McNamee tees up sub Larkin, who skews his effort wide after Shelbourne goalkeeper Scott Van Der Sluis' slack pass is quickly cut out.

  • 71'

    GOAL! IT'S FOUR! Carr completes his brace, Giurgi's low cross is poorly dealt with... and he can't believe the gaps at his disposal -- poking home into the far corner.

  • 68'

    Larkin replaces O'Donnell, in another change - this time for Bonagee - as the encounter has become increasingly becoming stop-start now.

  • 61'

    Double sub for the visitors now: Dervin and Wilson coming off, with Hodgins and Conor Kane replacing them.

  • 60'

    GOAL! MOYLAN MAKES IT THREE! A delicate chip over the onrushing keeper, taking advantage of some tired legs to profit from an over-the-top ball. Bonagee are - understandably - wilting now.

  • 55'

    Doherty into the book now for a silly, harsh challenge on Molloy near the halfway line. Frustration creeping into the hosts' thinking, as this game is getting away from them and not very competitive in a creative sense.

  • 54'

    Carr should've scored just prior but importantly makes no mistake a second time around, after good work by Kameron Ledwidge in the build-up - beating his marker, crossing at the byline and watching his teammate outmuscle a Bonagee defender in the box to head home. 2-0 and that's probably game over.

  • 53'

    GOAL! SHELBOURNE DOUBLE THEIR LEAD, LEDWIDGE WITH THE ASSIST!

  • 50'

    CHANCE! Carr finds himself with a free header from close-range as Bonagee struggle to deal with another aerial delivery, but the forward heads straight into Cannon's gloves.

  • 46'

    Second-half is underway now and with it, a defensive change for the hosts: Daragh Ellison replacing Stephen Black, who picked up a knock.

  • 45'

    HT: Bonagee United 0-1 Shelbourne. The hosts would've loved to go into the interval with the scores and a clean sheet still intact, but Duff's men are full value for this slender advantage - they could really be three or four ahead.

  • 49'

    The home fans boo, but the goal had been coming. Moylan crosses deep for Giurgi, who shows great technique to strike neatly as it cannons in off the far post - though the hosts will feel hard done by given the timing, especially given a Bonagee player was injured on the far side.

  • 48'

    GOAL! SHELBOURNE BREAK THE DEADLOCK! Giurgi with a sweet volley in stoppage-time!

  • 45'

    Three minutes of stoppage-time to be added on, at the end of a busy first-half.

  • 42'

    CHANCE! John Ross Wilson fires over the bar, after Moylan twists and turns his way into the box... he's tripped but play continues - penalty appeals ignored - and ironic jeers meet the eventual strike as Bonagee get away with one. That should've been a spot-kick, mind.

  • 36'

    Moylan again with a half-chance, this time flashes wide of the mark after beating his marker to the header at the far post.

  • 33'

    Funston next into the referee's book for illegally using his arm to shield off Negru as they challenged for the ball in mid-air. Duff and his coaching staff are far from happy on the touchline.

  • 30'

    MISS! If Shels hadn't already led given their early chance creation... Jack Moylan really should've made it 1-0 there after a defence-splitting pass set him free on goal. Instead, he fires into the side netting and has his hands on his head, rather typifying what has been a frustrating half for the visitors.

  • 25'

    A series of big saves! Cannon dives to his left, thwarting Moylan after the substitute dances his way past two defenders in the box and watching a deflected strike beaten away at the near post. At the resulting corner, Negru has a leaping header also swatted away before Wilson fires wide from close-range.

  • 20'

    Shelbourne are purposely stretching their hosts with patient passing play - still in pre-season mode - so you have to wonder just how long the scores stay goalless...

  • 17'

    Confirmation of that change now: Farrell tried to play on, but he can continue no longer with that injury. On comes Moylan as hinted at earlier.

  • 16'

    Close! Matty Smith is open in space but heads wide from close-range as Shelbourne really should've opened the scoring from their latest corner.

  • 11'

    Shaky few moments at the back for Bonagee, McNamee misplaces possession in his half, the corner is unconvincingly dealt with, before Negru's deflected header floats over the bar.

  • 4'

    Jack Moylan is warming up in the technical area, as it appears as though Farrell is really struggling after that challenge.

  • 2'

    McNamee slides in late on Farrell, referee doesn't hesitate to book the former after committing a hasty late challenge early on.

  • 1'

    Kick-off! The game is underway.

  • It's a beautiful evening, the pitch looks in good condition and fans are packed to the brim - as close to the turf as possible - just ten minutes from KO now. Before then, click on the article tab to read my match preview!

  • From the Shelbourne team sheet, posted on their official Twitter account earlier, I can already see fan optimism as one player returns to the matchday squad: 18-year-old forward Jad Hakiki.

  • It's one of five FAI Cup ties being played tonight, so feel free to keep updated with scores around the grounds across the country - including Derry vs. Cork City.

  • My name's Mosope Ominiyi and I'll be taking you through the evening's action from Dry Arch Park, as Jason Gibson's minnows look to do the impossible: earn a quarter-final cup berth at the expense of Damien Duff's top-flight outfit.

  • Good evening everyone, and welcome to tonight's live play-by-play commentary as non-league side Bonagee United entertain Shelbourne in R2 of this season's FAI Cup. Kick-off is set for 8pm.

Ground

Dry Arch Park
Dry Arch Park, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland

Mosope Ominiyi is a freelance sports journalist and sub-editor with over a decade's worth of experience, having graduated in 2020 with a BA Hons degree at Staffordshire University. His work has appeared in The Times, MailOnline and Sportskeeda, among other platforms.