SUNDAY DONEGAL LEAGUE PREMIER

Letterkenny Rovers 3-1 Fanad United

Leckview Park, 8th December 2024

Letterkenny Rovers secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Fanad United in a hard-fought encounter at Leckview Park. Just two weeks after their Ulster Junior Cup clash, the teams faced off again, with Fanad determined to seek revenge, but Rovers proved too strong in the end.

The game began with both teams trading early chances. Joel Gorman struck a free kick high and wide in the fourth minute, and BJ Banda was a lively presence, creating opportunities down the left. However, it was Fanad who struck first in the 13th minute. A strong combination between Keelin McElwaine and Eoin Logue resulted in Logue slotting past Shane O’Gara to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Fanad continued to pile on the pressure, forcing Rovers to defend deep. Edward O’Reilly’s corner found Carlos O’Reilly at the back post, but his header went just wide. Rovers began to respond, with Nathan Plumb and Joel Bradley Walsh combining well down the left, though they struggled to find the decisive touch.

Rovers’ persistence finally paid off in the 43rd minute. A long throw from Padraic Gilsenan caused chaos in the Fanad box. Keith Cowen’s header back into the danger area led to Nathan Plumb’s bicycle kick being stopped on the line, but Gareth Doherty reacted quickest to bundle the ball home, leveling the score at 1-1 heading into halftime.

The second half saw both teams come out with intent. Fanad nearly regained the lead in the 50th minute when Patrick Carr headed over from a well-placed cross. Moments later, Daibhid Lynch’s dipping free kick forced O’Gara into a fingertip save.

The game turned fiery in the 64th minute as both teams were reduced to 10 men after a dangerous tackle. Adrian Delap and Daibhid Lynch both saw red. Despite the setback, Rovers took control and found their second goal in the 73rd minute. BJ Banda combined brilliantly with Henry Welles and Joel Bradley Walsh, who fired a dangerous ball across the goal. Fanad keeper Mark McConigley could only palm it into the path of Banda, who slotted it home to make it 2-1.

Fanad pressed for an equalizer, with Peter Carr’s header forcing a smart save from O’Gara in the 78th minute, but it was Rovers who sealed the win. In the 88th minute, Banda turned provider, slipping a perfect through ball to Henry Welles on the right. Welles calmly finished with a powerful strike to secure the 3-1 victory.

Goalscorers: Gareth Doherty, BJ Banda, Henry Welles

Referee: Richard Storey

FAI Junior Cup 4th Round – Leckview Park, December 1, 2024

Letterkenny Rovers delivered a commanding performance to secure a 3-0 victory over Peake Villa, advancing to the 5th round of the FAI Junior Cup. A combination of early goals, a resilient defense, and relentless pressure ensured the hosts’ progress at Leckview Park.

The game began with a fast tempo, as both sides tested each other early. Peake Villa’s Keith Cahill looked dangerous, creating two early opportunities that were well dealt with by Rovers goalkeeper Shane O’Gara. However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. Bj Banda linked up with Gareth Doherty, who played a dangerous ball into the box for Lee McMonagle to calmly slot past Peake Villa’s keeper Evan Comerford, making it 1-0.

Rovers continued to control the tempo, and just before halftime, Banda doubled the lead. A pinpoint ball from Chris Malseed sent Banda through on goal, and the striker showcased his composure with a clinical finish to make it 2-0 in the 41st minute. Peake Villa had a late chance in the half, but Cahill’s effort flew high and wide, leaving the visitors with an uphill task in the second half.

Rovers started the second half with the same intensity, creating numerous chances. Banda remained a constant threat, narrowly missing a couple of opportunities early on. Peake Villa’s best spell came around the 50th minute, with Stephen Carroll and Darragh Byrne testing the Rovers defense, but they were unable to capitalize on their brief momentum.

The decisive moment came in the 60th minute when Banda produced a moment of individual brilliance. After a throw-in from Padraic Gilsenan, Banda weaved his way across the pitch, creating space to unleash a low, hard strike into the bottom corner, sealing the result at 3-0.

Rovers maintained their dominance, with McMonagle rattling the crossbar from distance and Joel Bradley Walsh forcing Comerford to save from a free kick. Despite Peake Villa’s efforts to push forward, Rovers’ defense, remained solid and composed, denying the visitors any clear-cut chances.

This was a confident and dominant performance by Letterkenny Rovers, who now advance to the 5th round of the FAI Junior Cup.

Goalscorers: Lee McMonagle (12’), Bj Banda (41’, 60’)

Referee: John Coll

Assistants: Patrick Martin, Gerard Devine

Ulster Junior Cup – Leckview Park

Letterkenny Rovers secured an impressive 3-0 victory over Fanad United in the Ulster Junior Cup, taking control with two goals before halftime and sealing the win with a third late in the second half. The result sees Rovers advance to the next round.

The match began with Rovers showing intent, as BJ Banda headed over the bar from a Joel Bradley Walsh corner in the opening minute. Fanad countered with a dangerous low strike across the goal, but neither side could create clear chances early on.

In the 10th minute, Rovers’ goalkeeper Shane O’Gara was called into action, coming well outside his box to clear a Fanad counterattack led by Oisín McMenamin. Moments later, a long throw from Fanad’s Edward O’Reilly caused problems for the Rovers defense, but the resulting shot flew over the bar.

Rovers began to assert control, with Joel Gorman’s 32nd-minute effort producing the game’s first clear chance, but Fanad keeper Mark McConigley saved comfortably. Just before halftime, Rovers broke the deadlock from a dangerously delivered corner by Joel Gorman with the Fanad keeper McConigley saving but resulted in an unfortunate own goal by a Fanad defender.

The home side doubled their lead a minute later. A superb delivery from Joel Bradley Walsh bounced dangerously in the 18-yard box, and Lee McMonagle rose high to direct it over the keeper and into the net. Fanad went into the break down 2-0 and facing an uphill battle.

Rovers continued to press early in the second half, with McMonagle and Banda both threatening. Fanad responded with their best spell of the match, forcing O’Gara into two excellent saves, including a fingertip effort to deny Carlos O’Reilly’s dipping strike in the 60th minute.

Despite Fanad’s persistence, Rovers remained composed and sealed the victory in the 69th minute. A controlled buildup ended with BJ Banda’s shot from the right wing being saved, but McMonagle was on hand to pounce on the rebound and slot it home for his second goal of the game.

Rovers saw out the remainder of the match with disciplined defending and continued to create chances, with Banda and Padraic Gilsenan both coming close to adding a fourth.

Fulltime: Letterkenny Rovers 3 - 0 Fanad United

Referee: Patrick Martin

Goals: Own goal (43’), Lee McMonagle (44’, 69’)

Letterkenny Rovers advance confidently to the next round of the Ulster Junior Cup and will take great encouragement from this commanding performance as they prepare for another encounter with Fanad in league action in a couple of weeks.

Sunday Premier Division – Friday, November 15th

Letterkenny Rovers edged a thrilling contest under the new lights at Leckview Park, overcoming a determined Rathmullan Celtic side 3-2 in a tightly fought Sunday Premier Division clash.

The match got off to a lively start, with Caolan McConnell almost giving Rovers the lead in the opening minute, his low drive skimming narrowly wide. Rathmullan responded in the 7th minute with Kevin Doran firing just wide after creating space on the left.

Rathmullan struck first in the 12th minute when Ridha Abdullah found the net after Shane O’Gara saved two prior attempts, giving the visitors a perfect start. Rovers reacted swiftly, leveling just two minutes later when Padraic Gilsenan’s pinpoint cross from the right found Luke Parke, who converted with ease.

Rovers applied consistent pressure, with Parke and Nathan Plumb both forcing saves from Rathmullan keeper Killian Hagan, while Achul Eldad came close for the visitors with a strike from distance. The first half ended evenly, though Rovers edged the balance of play.

FAI Junior Cup Round 3

St. Catherines 1 - 2 Letterkenny Rovers

In a tightly contested match at Emerald Park, Letterkenny Rovers claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over St. Catherines in the first of two back-to-back games. Nothing separated the sides at the end of the first half, and all three goals came in a lively second.

The first half saw St. Catherines pressing early, with Rovers struggling to settle. Rovers had a close attempt in the 13th minute when Adrian Delap’s pressing won him the ball, though his 25-yard shot was comfortably saved. St. Catherines nearly broke through as well, with Joshua Maxwell’s shot forcing Rovers keeper Shane O’Gara into a save. As the half progressed, Rovers grew into the game, creating their best chance in the 20th minute when BJ Banda broke through on the left and pulled the ball across the box. Gareth Doherty struck powerfully, but St. Catherines’ keeper Daniel Mullarkey did well dealing with the deflection.

Just 30 seconds into the second half, St. Catherines seized the lead when Paul O’Hare found himself unmarked on the far side of the box and struck the shot well coming off the underside of the crossbar and into the net, putting the home side 1-0 up.

Rovers responded well, and in the 55th minute, they drew level. A Joel Bradley Walsh free kick initially hit the wall, but the ball rebounded, and Walsh made no mistake on the second attempt, smashing it into the net.

Ulster Junior Cup

Letterkenny Rovers 8 - 0 Monaghan Town

Letterkenny Rovers delivered a dominant display, overpowering Monaghan Town 8-0 to progress in the Ulster Junior Cup on a cold, damp day. The home side controlled the match from start to finish, demonstrating sharp attacking play and rock-solid defense.

Rovers opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Keith Cowan headed in a well-placed cross from Joel Gorman at the back post. Just seven minutes later, Gorman set up another chance, playing a precise ball down the line for Caolan McConnell, who crossed for BJ Banda to slot into the bottom-right corner.

Monaghan struggled under pressure but managed their first real chance in the 24th minute. Jamie Krisivlevicus rose to meet a cross from Shay Kelly with a header that went wide. Rovers responded quickly, nearly adding another in the 26th minute when McConnell chipped a ball to Dylan Woods, who chested it down but sent his shot just wide.

Letterkenny continued to press, and in the 42nd minute, Nathan Plumb delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, which Banda met with a powerful header to make it 3-0. Monaghan’s Niall McKenna had a strike from distance as halftime approached but couldn’t find the target.