SUNDAY DONEGAL LEAGUE PREMIER

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.

Letterkenny Rovers 5 - 1 Swilly Rovers

Letterkenny Rovers earned a commanding 5-1 victory over Swilly Rovers under blustery conditions at Leckview Park.

The home side applied early pressure, and just 2 minutes in, Joel Bradley Walsh’s free-kick forced a great save from Swilly keeper Barry Gallagher. From the resulting corner, Walsh’s initial header was saved, but BJ Banda was on hand to ensure it found the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead.

Rovers kept pressing, with Dean McCarry coming close, but Swilly threatened on the break, particularly through Thomas Mullen, who nearly equalized in the 11th minute. However, the Letterkenny defense, bolstered by Adrian Delap’s crucial block, held firm.

Letterkenny doubled their lead just before halftime when Banda laid off a pass for Nathan Plumb, who calmly slotted home. Despite playing against strong winds in the first half, Rovers took a 2-0 advantage into the break.

Swilly Rovers started the second half brightly, and in the 54th minute, they pulled one back through Lawrence Toland after a well-worked free-kick. The visitors grew in confidence, but Rovers quickly regained control of the match.

In the 73rd minute, substitute Lee McMonagle assisted Christopher Flanagan for a crucial third goal, and just five minutes later, McMonagle himself got on the scoresheet after pouncing on a rebound from a Bradley-Walsh free-kick.

Rovers sealed the win in the 80th minute when Joel Gorman met Bradley-Walsh’s cross and headed in to make it 5-1.

Referee: Gerard Devine

Scorers:

BJ Banda (3’), Nathan Plumb (44’), Christopher Flanagan (73’), Lee McMonagle (78’), Joel Gorman (80’)

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.