Banda Strike Secures Ulster Junior Cup for Rovers 🏆🏆

Letterkenny Rovers add to the silverware, lifting the Ulster Junior Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kildrum Tigers at Ballyare on a blustery afternoon.

After two tightly contested draws between the sides earlier in the season, a close encounter was expected and delivered, with little to separate the teams throughout a fiercely physical battle.

Kildrum had the advantage of the wind in the first half and peppered the Rovers box with long balls, forcing Mark Anthony McGinley into a couple of important saves. Luke Toland came closest for Kildrum, firing narrowly wide, while Rovers’ best first-half chance saw BJ Banda break clear only to shoot into the side netting from a tight angle.

The second half opened up, and it was Rovers who found the breakthrough. In the 51st minute a vital layoff from Lee McMonagle for Banda who once again showed his quality, cutting inside from the right before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top left corner, giving Kildrum keeper Michael Lynch no chance.

Rovers almost doubled their lead moments later when Banda rose highest at the back post to meet a Joel Gorman free kick, but his header went just wide.

Kildrum pushed hard for an equaliser, and Jonathan Robb forced a sharp save from McGinley with a volley from close range. However, their task became even harder as they were reduced to 10 men late on, and despite a few nervous moments, Rovers’ defence, marshalled superbly by Dean McCarry and Keith Cowan, held firm.

The final whistle sparked scenes of celebration among the Rovers players and supporters as they now add the Ulster Junior Cup to their Premier Division title.