Milford United 3 Bonagee United 3 (Milford win 4-3 on penalties)
Milford United will be back in the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division next season after they came back from the brink of defeat to beat Bonagee United on penalties.
Milford went ahead twice in normal time, with Gary Merritt’s first of three being a lovely chip over Bonagee ‘keeper John Carr but Lee McMonagle equalised as he rifled the ball into the top corner from just outside the box.
Merritt again got in behind and out-muscled his marker to give himself a yard of space and he fired it between the legs of Carr, 2-1 at half-time.
McMonagle levelled again for Bonagee however as he slotted home as he picked up the ball on the left of the box via an Eamonn Cannon flick on from a free.
And it would go to extra-time where McMonagle would get his hat-trick as the ball deflected off him and into the top corner just before half-time.
Milford looked beaten and Joey Cullen missed a great chance to level, but Merritt wasn’t to be beaten and he slammed home a free-kick from near 30 yards out and found the bottom corner to take it to penalties.
Jordan Gallagher, McMonagle and Cody Brogan scored their penalties for Bonagee but Paddy McGowan missed the target and Aidan McLaughlin saw his penalty saved by Gavan McGettigan
For Milford, Merritt, Cathal McGettigan and Jason McConigley converted their penalties while Mark Flood had his saved by Carr but Fionn Coll stepped up for the deciding penalty and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to ensure promotion.
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