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Cockhill caught cold by late strike
Ulster Senior League Cup – Group A 04.04.08

Cockhill...1
(P McLaughlin ’70)

Bonagee...2
(G. Quinn ’8, A. McLaughlin ’85)

by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at St. Mary’s Park, Cockhill

A LATE strike from Aidan McLaughlin sealed victory for Bonagee United at a showery St Mary’s Park on Sunday. The visitors took the lead early on through Graham Quinn and held it for more than an hour before a spectacular free kick from Paddy McLaughlin brought the home side level.
After getting the equaliser, Cockhill looked the more likely to go on and win but they failed to create many clear cut chances and the defence was badly caught out by McLaughlin’s late winner.
Cockhill had the better of the early exchanges, but it was the visitors that took the lead in the eighth minute. Bonagee won a free kick near the corner flag and Carl Hogan delivered a super ball into the danger area. The cross from the right evaded the home defence and Graham Quinn nodded home from close range at the back post.
A goal to the good, Bonagee had the upper hand for most of the first half. Sean Crossan unleashed a fierce low drive from outside the area that Cockhill keeper Shane Galvin did well to save with his shins. Bonagee were combining well in attack and on the half hour Graham Quinn, who was unmarked on the edge of the area, saw his shot saved by Galvin.
Cockhill looked disjointed but created a couple of chances of their own. In the 22nd minute Derek Doherty fed a clever ball through to Paul McKinney and the big striker took a touch before his shot was saved by the advancing Paddy Doherty.
Nine minutes before the break, Jim Gillespie’s header from a corner looked like it would draw the home side level, but Oran Grant was manning the left hand post and headed off the line.
Cockhill stepped up several gears in the second half
as Bonagee fell into the trap of sitting back and defending the single goal lead. A long free from John McElroy on the hour was flicked by Paul McKinney but Aidan O’Donnell miscued entirely allowing the keeper to make an easy save.
They drew level in the 70th minute. Bonagee conceded a free near the sideline some 40 metres from goal. Paddy McLaughlin (Wanish) whipped in the ball and the tremendous pace on it deceived the Bonagee defence and it went all the way to the net.
Bonagee had a couple of chances to regain the lead. Thomas Sheridan beat Eddie McKinney down the left but shot straight at the Cockhill keeper before Marty McGinley struck a 30m free kick over the bar, although Galvin looked to have it covered.
Sheridan again got through on the left in the 77th minute and poked the ball past Galvin, but as it bobbled towards the line James Bradley got back to hook it away to safety.
At the other end, Carl Hogan almost scored an own goal when, under pressure from Aidan O’Donnell, he headed past his own keeper and just wide of the goal to concede a corner.
The winner came five minutes from time. Sean Crossan broke down the right and cut a dangerous ball across the 18 yard line. Graham Quinn heard the shout from behind and stepped over allowing Aidan McLaughlin to stroke the ball into the bottom right corner and just beyond the reach of Shane Galvin.
Cockhill spurned a chance on the stroke of full time when Derek Doherty crossed from the left but Mike Doherty couldn’t get any purchase on his header the keeper collected it with ease.

Cockhill Celtic: Shane Galvin; George Porter (Eddie McKinney 64 mins), Jim Gillespie (Mike Doherty ’80), John McElroy, Davy McDermott; Derek Doherty, Liam O’Donnell, James Bradley, Paddy McLaughlin; Aidan O’Donnell, Paul McKinney.

Bonagee United: Paddy Doherty; Oran Grant, Marty McGinley, Taylor Russell, Carl Hogan; Glen Gallagher (Mark Gleeson ’83), Paddy Sheridan (Gerard Boyce ’34), Sean Crossan, Graham Quinn; Aidan McLaughlin, Thomas Sheridan.

For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent.
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