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.