SFAI U15 Cup First Round win for Rovers

U14 Letterkenny Rovers defeat Bonagee United 5-3 in the first round of the U15 SFAI CUP

Bonagee Utd. 3 - 5 Letterkenny Rovers

A thrilling encounter in the Dry Arch on Thursday night 26th Sept 2024 as a local derby clash between Bonagee and Letterkenny Rovers would keep the crowd on the edge of the seats.

Rovers couldn't have asked for a better start when they shocked the home side in the 1st minute through some magic by Helden Carvalho on the edge of the 18th yard box weaving past 2 and smashing home.

To make things better on 5 mins Rovers were to find the net again from a great ball towards the back post from Carvalho, and head back across goal by Jamie Gorman for Thalji Al Daher to volley into the goal.

Bonagee responded on 7 minutes working the ball well through the Rovers defense and giving them the boost they needed to settle into the game and although there were chances at either end the half would end 2-1 to Letterkenny Rovers.

Bonagee worked hard going into the second half and found the equalizer 9 minutes in making it 2-2.

10 min Kristian Evangelista who was threateningly close on a number of occasions managed to strike well from about 20yards sneaking inside the post giving Rovers the lead once again.

The work rate from both sides was great and Bonagee managed to once again pull back an equalizer 26 minutes into the second half.

Both sides were really going for it and this was leading to opportunities on the counter.

It wasn't until the final minute of normal time when Rovers would get the lead once again when awarded a penalty that was well despatched by Ronan Tinney into the top left corner.

Rovers continued to push and 2 minutes into injury time sealed it off when Thalji Al Daher claimed his second of the game.

Rovers advance to the next round after a hard but well earned victory on the night.