SUNDAY DONEGAL LEAGUE PREMIER

FAI Junior Cup Second Round

Letterkenny Rovers 5 - 1 Gweedore Celtic

Letterkenny Rovers secured a convincing 5-1 win over Gweedore Celtic in the second round of the FAI Junior Cup under the lights at Leckview Park.

Rovers’ first real chance came after 7 minutes when Aidy Delap cut in from the right wing, finding Gareth Doherty, whose curling effort forced a fine save from Gweedore’s keeper. Just moments later, BJ Banda had the ball in the net, but it was ruled offside.

Gweedore responded quickly, with Colm O’Dochartaigh striking narrowly wide. However, Rovers took control in the 16th minute. Goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley launched a long ball from a Gweedore corner, allowing BJ Banda to outpace the defense, round the keeper, and slot in the opener. Two minutes later, Banda was at it again, hitting the crossbar with a lobbed effort, but Nathan Plumb was on hand to tap in the rebound, doubling Rovers’ lead.

Gweedore continued to create chances, particularly through O’Dochartaigh on the right wing, but they couldn’t convert, with McGinley handling any shots that came his way. Rovers thought they had a third in the 30th minute when Nathan Plumb crossed for Joel Bradley Walsh, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The second half saw Rovers continue their dominance, with Henry Welles coming close from a Joel Bradley throw. Gweedore’s Michael McKelvey made several important saves, but the visitors pulled one back when Colin McNicholas broke through the middle and finished calmly.

Rovers responded quickly, with BJ Banda smashing in a goal from a tight angle after being set up by Gareth Doherty. In the 77th minute, Joel Bradley Walsh delivered a cross from the left for Nathan Plumb, who sent it back into the box for Caolan McConnell to finish neatly.

The final nail in the coffin came in the 85th minute when a Luke Parke corner caused chaos in the Gweedore defense, resulting in an own goal to make it 5-1. Despite a late chance for Gweedore, the home side remained dominant, securing a well-earned victory.

Scorers:

BJ Banda (16’, 68’), Nathan Plumb (18’), Caolan McConnell (77’), OG (85’)

BJ Banda grabbed a hat-trick as Letterkenny Rovers got their first win of the new Premier Division season with a 5-2 victory over Keadue Rovers at Leckview Park.

In a repeat of last year’s Brian McCormick Sports Cup Final, which Letterkenny won in dramatic circumstances, it was the hosts who struck first inside ten minutes. A perfectly weighted pass from Adrian Delap sent Banda in the clear and the former Larne striker drilled his effort past Patrick McGarvey.

Keadue responded well and scored a deserved equaliser on the half hour mark. Mark Forker’s corner was punched clear by Mark Anthony McGinley but it fell to Oisin McKelvey outside the box and he rifled home a brilliant effort to send the sides in level at the break.

SUNDAY LEAGUE PREMIER

Kildrum Tigers - Letterkenny Rovers 6

Rovers will be glad to have this game under their belt having had 2 games cancelled in recent weeks. With a noticeable change in the weather as it was cool and windy day in St. Johnston.

Letterkenny got off to a winning start in their first game of teh season in the Brian McCormick area semi final.

It was a local derby clash against Bonagee United under cool conditions.

Rovers had an early penalty which was saved by Andrew Nicholls and moments later were to find the net when BJ Banda set up Adrian Delap to fire the ball into the net.

Early in the second half Gareth Doherty turned a press into an attack for himself winning the ball and making his way towards goal where he calmly slotted it home.

68 minutes in and Gareth Doherty played a ball across the box finding BJ Banda who connected well bring the score to 0-3.

Bonagee did pull a goal back in the final few minutes through Kyle McLaughlin.

Game ended 1-3 which Rovers advancing to the area final.

Ballyare, Sunday 19th May

In a fiercely contested Brian McCormick Cup semi-final, Letterkenny Rovers edged out Kildrum Tigers 1-0 after extra time to secure a spot in the final against Keadue next weekend.

On a sunny afternoon, the match kicked off at 12pm, with both teams showing early intent. Within the first five minutes, Joel Gorman found Lee McMonagle with a precise ball behind the defense, but McMonagle's shot went left of the post. The game quickly turned physical, as Dean McCarry suffered a knock in a clash in the Rovers' box, setting the tone for a combative encounter.

Kildrum Tigers nearly took the lead in the ninth minute with a glancing header that went wide. Rovers responded immediately, with McCarry narrowly missing the target from a corner. Brett McGinley kept the pressure on for Kildrum, but his effort from the edge of the box also drifted wide.

Kildrums best chance of the first half came at the half-hour mark when Brian Breslin broke through the defense, only for Chris Malseed to clear his shot off the line. Minutes later, Rovers thought they had scored, but the assistant referee flagged for offside. Christy Conaghan's long-range drive for Rovers just before halftime summed up a half of near misses and tense moments.

The second half saw both sides battling hard but unable to break the deadlock. Daryl Browne forced a full-stretch save from Rovers' keeper Mark Anthony McGinley in the 73rd minute. Moments later, Nathan Plumb's clever play set up Ryan Lonergan, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Kildrums Chris O’Donnell.

As the match neared its conclusion, Kildrums Breslin had a golden opportunity to win it but headed wide and then hopes took a hit when Frank McBrearty was sent off for a second yellow card just before the end of regular time, leaving them to face extra time with ten men.

Extra time began with Rovers capitalising on their numerical advantage. Adam Murphy had a one-on-one chance early on but couldn't convert. Nathan Plumb's header and Gareth Doherty's curling shot both tested O'Donnell but to no avail. Kildrum, sitting deep, struggled to contain the relentless Rovers attacks.

In the dying moments of the second half of extra time, Kildrum's Kealan Gillen had a chance on the counter but failed to find the target. Just as penalties loomed, Rovers found the breakthrough. Tim Callaghan weaved his way through players from edge to get to the byline and managed to get a touch while on the ground to get it to Lee McMonagle who instinctly poked the ball home, much to the delight of the Rovers support.

The match ended 1-0, with Letterkenny Rovers advancing to face Keadue in the Cup Final on Sunday, 26th May.

Thursday, 2^nd May

BMC CUP LETTERKENNY AREA SEMI-FINAL

Bonagee United 1 - 2 Letterkenny Rovers

Goalscorers: Lee Mc Monagle(pen), Tim Callaghan