Saturday Division 2
Letterkenny Rovers 6-4 Gweedore Celtic
Leckview Astro - 1st March
Letterkenny Rovers came out on top in a ten-goal contest against Gweedore Celtic, securing a hard-fought 6-4 victory at Leckview Astro.
The visitors struck first inside the opening minute when a long-range effort forced Rovers keeper Josh Wade into an early fingertip save. From the resulting corner, Gweedore’s Cian McBride capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire home the opener.
Rovers found their rhythm and pulled level in the 8th minute when Jack Duff finished well after an excellent through ball from Adam Murphy. However, Gweedore responded immediately, with McBride pouncing on indecision at the edge of the box to restore their lead at 2-1.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued, and Rovers struck back in the 15th minute when Oisin McMenamin met a long throw from Conor O’Donnell, guiding his header into the net to make it 2-2.
Defensive uncertainty cost Rovers again in the 21st minute, as Gweedore’s Charlie Gallagher rounded the keeper and slotted home to give the visitors the advantage once more. But Rovers kept pushing forward, and in the 31st minute, Duff grabbed his second of the match, bundling the ball home at the back post after an O’Donnell cross to bring it back to 3-3.
As halftime approached, Rovers began creating more chances, with McMenamin heading over from a corner and Gallagher testing the Gweedore keeper from close range, but the sides went in level at the break.
Rovers looked the more dangerous side early in the second half, with Darragh Morrison going close in the 50th minute. However, the home side was reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute, as James Barlow Gallagher was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on McBride.
Despite the setback, Rovers took the lead for the first time in the 55th minute, as McMenamin converted from a Duff cross, making it 4-3.
Gweedore refused to back down, and in the 70th minute, a well-worked move saw Fionn Bonnar finish low into the right corner, leveling the game once more at 4-4.
Rovers pushed forward and regained the lead in the 77th minute when a long-range Conor O’Donnell free kick was spilled by the Gweedore keeper, and Oran Winston reacted quickly to tuck away the rebound, putting Rovers 5-4 ahead.
The game was sealed in the 84th minute when Murphy intercepted a Gweedore throw-in, spotted the keeper off his line, and lobbed a composed finish into the net, making it 6-4.
Gweedore had a late chance from an indirect free kick, but their effort went just wide, and Rovers held on to claim all three points.
Referee: Thomas Ferry
Goalscorers: Jack Duff x2, Oisin McMenamin x2, Oran Winston, Adam Murphy
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