Letterkenny Rovers saw their FAI Junior Cup journey come to an end at the fifth-round stage following a 3-1 loss to Mervue United at Leckview Park. Despite a promising start, the visitors responded strongly to secure victory and progress to the last 16.
Rovers got off to a dream start when BJ Banda fired them into the lead after just three minutes, sprinting past defenders before finishing clinically into the bottom corner. However, Mervue quickly settled and equalised in the 10th minute through Aaron Neary, who found the net with a well-placed strike from the edge of the area.
Neary struck again just before half-time, finishing a well-worked move to give the Galway side a 2-1 advantage at the break.
The second half saw Rovers push for an equaliser, with Lee McMonagle and Banda both testing the Mervue goalkeeper. However, Mervue remained dangerous on the counterattack, and their persistence paid off in the 74th minute when Jason Molloy’s free-kick, delivered from wide on the right, found its way into the net to extend the visitors’ lead.
Rovers had a golden opportunity to get back into the game in the 84th minute when Banda won a penalty after being brought down by Mervue keeper Peter Healy. However, Healy made up for his foul by producing a crucial save from the spot-kick before gathering the rebound.
Mervue finished the match with 10 men after Healy was shown a second yellow card in injury time for another foul on Banda outside the box, but it was too late to impact the result.
The defeat marks the end to Rovers’ cup campaign.
Goalscorer: Bj Banda.