Oisin McMenamin netted a hat-trick as Fanad United coasted to victory over Bonagee United at soaking Dry Arch Park.
Bonagee United 1 Fanad United 6
McMenamin’s treble eased Fanad to victory over an understrength Bonagee in front of a healthy attendance.
McMenamin grabbed a first-half brace after Tony McNamee opened the scoring after just 68 seconds.
Bonagee had briefly drawn level through Matty Harkin, but McMenamin’s double put Arthur Lynch’s men in command – and with Jordan Toland and Martin McElhinney on target in part two, Fanad were well on their way before McMenamin raced in to slot home his third late in the game.
It is a second heavy loss for Bonagee in five days after they suffered a damaging 6-0 loss to champions Cockhill Celtic on Sunday.
It wasn’t just the scoreline that hurt them at the weekend. Michael Funston, Gareth Wade and Paul Simon Tracey were sent off at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds, meaning they had a watching brief for this one.
In the absence of goalkeeper Wade and Tracey – also an able deputy between the sticks who had been in for Bonagee’s 3-1 win at Fanad in the Intermediate Cup – Bonagee boss Tony O’Carroll had to turn to veteran ‘keeper Paul Doherty, who was in for his first USL appearance in 15 years.
With little more than a minute played, Doherty was reaching to pick the ball from the back of his net as McNamee turned home after Toland exploited a moment of hesitancy on the Bonagee left,
McElhinney fired over the top and Marty McAteer came a fraction too late to connect with a superb whipped cross by McMenamin.
Bonagee were also down the injured Dean Larkin and captain Jamie Lynagh, but the home side drew level when Matty Harkin hammered home from 15 yards.
But Fanad restored their dominance with a quick-fire double.
Doherty gifted possession to McMenamin and, via McAteer and Toland the ball was returned to McMenamin to slot in.
Three minutes later, McNamee wonderfully glided his way through and invited an attempt from Toland. His shot slipped through Doherty’s grasp and McMenamin pounced for his second.
On the hour, Toland nodded home to cap a fine move involving McNamee, McMenamin and Darragh Black, who came in as a replacement for Marty McAteer just before half-time, and McElhinney made it 5-1 with a shot from just inside the box.
Harkin had a chance to reduce the deficit, but was thwarted by Shane Graham and the Fanad ‘keeper clawed at Mark Harkin’s deflected shot.
At the other end Doherty kept out a low effort from Toland as Fanad turned the screw again and McMenamin was close to a hat-trick only to be denied by the outside of the post.
Eight minutes from the end, McMenamin wouldn’t be halted, the Newtown man tucking beneath Graham to complete the rout.
Bonagee United: Paul Doherty; Caillin McLaughlin, Darren Hunter, Brian McClean, Glenn Gallagher; Matty Harkin, Aaron Wasson (Matthew De Cook 57), Daniel Stolarczyk (Ryan Moran 69), Mark Harkin; James Carolan (Ciaran Daffan 57), Chris Moran.
Fanad United: Shaun Graham; Keelin McElwaine, Paul Lynch, Shaun McElwaine, Oisin Langan; Jordan Toland (Kyle Black 73), Caolan Kelly, Martin McElhinney, Marty McAteer (Darragh Black 43); Oisin McMenamin (Eoghan Jordan 82), Tony McNamee (Shaun Little 80).
Referee: Garvin Taggart.
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