Letterkenny Rovers 3 - 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic

Letterkenny Rovers booked their place in the Brian McCormick Cup Final with a commanding 3-1 victory over Kilmacrennan Celtic at Diamond Park, Ballyare. A strong first half performance and a late own goal sealed the deal for Rovers, who had to dig deep against a spirited Kilmac side.

Rovers came flying out of the traps, with BJ Banda creating early problems. Inside four minutes, he beat the Kilmac defence and forced a smart save from Mark Gallagher. Moments later, Padraic Gilsenan had a strike saved as the pressure mounted.

The breakthrough came in the 6th minute, with an own goal from Kilmacrennan under heavy pressure giving Rovers the lead.

Nathan Plumb had a glancing header easily collected shortly after, before Kilmac responded with their first threat of the game in the 12th minute—Gilsenan did well to stop a promising run, but the resulting corner saw Stephen Black rattle the crossbar with a header.

In the 34th minute, Rovers doubled their lead through a lightning-quick counter. Adrian Delap collected the ball deep inside his own half and drove forward, threading a perfect ball through for Banda, who calmly rounded the keeper and slotted home.

Rovers could have added a third before the break. Dean McCarry headed over from a corner and Delap, after a one-two with Plumb, blazed over from range.

The second half continued in a similar vein. Plumb and McCarry both went close from Gorman corners, while at the other end, Kilmac looked to find a way back. McGinley was called into action in the 52nd minute, tipping a dangerous corner away. Just minutes later, Rory Gallagher cleared off the line during a goalmouth scramble as Kilmac piled on the pressure.

Rovers hit back with chances of their own. Banda, Gilsenan and Plumb all saw efforts either saved or off target, while McCarry again had a header stopped by the Kilmac keeper.

Kilmac should have pulled one back on 70 minutes. A low save from McGinley spilled into the path of Mark Patterson, but the substitute blazed over from close range.

The killer blow came in the 75th minute when a Joel Gorman cross was headed into his own net by Conor Black, looping over Gallagher for 3-0.

A minute later, Kilmac were awarded a penalty — Matthew McLaughlin stepped up, but Mark Anthony McGinley saved to preserve the three-goal cushion.

Kilmacrennan didn’t give up. Paul Bradley fired a free-kick narrowly over in the 82nd minute, and Patterson went close again late on, shooting into the side netting.

They got a consolation goal in the final minute, heading home from a corner, but it wasn’t enough to stop Rovers from progressing to the final with a 3-1 win.

Letterkenny Rovers 3 - 1 Swilly Rovers

Letterkenny Rovers booked their place in the semi finals of the Brian McCormick Cup with a 3-1 win over Swilly Rovers at Leckview Park, thanks to a composed second-half display and late goals from Padraic Gilsenan and BJ Banda.

It was a tight first half, with Rovers dominating possession but struggling to convert pressure into clear-cut chances. Joel Gorman was a constant threat with his deliveries from set-pieces, the first arriving in the 8th minute but just missing everyone at the back post. Shortly after, a long ball from Gorman picked out Adrian Delap, who couldn’t keep his effort in play.

Rovers nearly took the lead on 13 minutes when a corner from Gorman was headed back across goal by Dean McCarry, and Lee McMonagle got a strike away that Swilly keeper Barry Gallagher dealt with.

Swilly had their moments too. On 19 minutes, Toby Taylor found space outside the box but blazed his effort well over. Their best first-half chance came in the 31st minute after capitalising on a misplaced pass in Rovers’ half, but Mark Anthony McGinley was equal to the low shot from Ian Ward.

At the other end, Rovers kept coming. Adam Murphy and Delap both had efforts go narrowly wide, while McCarry’s header just before the break from another Gorman corner sailed over.

Fanad United 1 - 1 Letterkenny Rovers

Letterkenny Rovers completed their league season unbeaten after a tough 1-1 draw with Fanad United at Leckview Park.

In a great show of sportsmanship, Fanad United provided a guard of honour for the newly crowned champions before kick-off, acknowledging Rovers’ achievement in securing the league title.

Fanad, eager to end the champions’ streak, took the lead in the 23rd minute. A corner was only partially cleared by the Rovers and when the ball was returned into the danger area, Oisín Langan reacted quickest, guide it past Mark Anthony McGinley to give the visitors the lead.

Rovers had chances of their own in the opening half, with Lee McMonagle involved in much of the forward play. His flick-on set up David O’Donnell, who couldn’t convert, and later McMonagle nearly beat the keeper to a long ball from McGinley, but Mark McConigley did just enough to deny him.

The hosts improved in the second half. Gareth Doherty and O’Donnell combined well down the right, and a series of attacks saw BJ Banda, Joel Gorman, and Nathan Plumb all come close.

The equaliser finally came on 70 minutes when McMonagle surged down the left and squared low across goal for Banda to tap in.

Fanad still posed a threat and had a couple of half-chances, but McGinley remained alert. Rovers pushed for a winner in the final moments, with Adam Murphy threading a brilliant ball for Banda, only for McConigley to deny him once again.

The final whistle confirmed an unbeaten league campaign for Rovers — an impressive feat in a highly competitive season.

Goalscorer: BJ Banda

Referee: Mick Langan

A dramatic 90th-minute equaliser from Dean McCarry salvaged a point for Letterkenny Rovers on a cool, damp night at Leckview Park, as the newly-crowned champions kept their unbeaten record intact against a spirited Gweedore Celtic side.

The visitors took the lead through Darragh Mac Aoidh, who calmly finished after breaking in behind the Rovers defence. Despite pressure from the hosts Rovers struggled to find a breakthrough.

Chances were few and far between in a tightly contested first half. Lee McMonagle and Caolan McConnell had efforts saved, while Gweedore’s keeper Michael McKelvey produced a standout display throughout the match.

Rovers pushed harder in the second half. McConnell forced a diving save early on, while McMonagle, Rory Gallagher, and Nathan Plumb all went close, but the Gweedore defence held firm.

First team debutant Odhran Kelly had a late chance to level, and Keith Cowan’s deflected shot was brilliantly tipped away, but it was only in stoppage time that Rovers finally found their reward.

With Rovers throwing everything forward, including goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley, Gareth Doherty’s corner dipped dangerously into the six-yard box. Gweedore’s keeper misjudged his punch, and the ball defelected off McCarry, finding its way into the net to spark relief and celebration from the home bench and supporters.

Both sides had late opportunities to steal victory, but it wasn’t to be and on the final whistle is was all square 1-1.

Goalscorer: Dean McCarry

Referee: Patrick Martin

Donegal Premier League – Friday, April 11, 2025 – Leckview Park

Champions’ Night at Leckview Park was capped off in style as Letterkenny Rovers delivered a composed and commanding performance to defeat Kilmacrennan Celtic 4-0 in front of a lively home crowd. The evening ended with the presentation of the Donegal Premier League trophy, marking a well-deserved celebration for the champions.

Kilmacrennan threatened early, with Shane McNamee firing over after a dangerous cross from the left in the opening minute.

Rovers responded immediately, as Rory Gallagher delivered the cross an Kieran Gorman headed just wide to clear the danger. Moments later, BJ Banda saw a strike come off the post in the 4th minute – an early warning of what was to come.

Banda was causing problems for Kilmac’s backline, battling with Kieran Gorman, but the defender stood firm in the early stages.

Lee McMonagle nearly opened the scoring on 18 minutes, meeting a pinpoint cross from Nathan Plumb, but his header drifted just wide of the left post.

Rovers’ best first-half chance came in the 23rd minute, as a slick team move involving Banda and Gallagher ended with a cut-back to Padraic Gilsenan, who unfortunately fired over.

Kilmacrennan created a couple of nervy moments, particularly through Caolan Curran and Conor Black, who saw efforts either saved or sail just over. Dean McCarry was on hand with a crucial intervention in the 37th minute to deny Mark Patterson after a threatening run.

As halftime approached, McMonagle had two efforts blocked – the latter coming after a clever exchange with Plumb. Then, just before the break, a penalty was awarded for handball, giving Rovers the chance to take control. Joel Gorman stepped up and confidently slotted the penalty into the net.

Second half saw Rovers come out with purpose. Joel Gorman and Banda linked up early for a chance, while Plumb’s delivery from the left found Gorman at the far post, but he couldn’t direct it on target.

52nd minute: Banda cut in from the right but pulled his shot wide. The pressure was building.

In the 61st minute, Rovers doubled their lead. A quick throw from McGinley launched a counter as Plumb surged down the left, threading a perfect pass to Banda, who rounded the keeper and slotted home.

Rovers didn’t let up. Banda saw another effort from distance saved on 66 minutes, and Gareth Doherty went close just after.

In the 73rd minute, McMonagle teed up Banda again, but Kieran Gorman continued to impress defensively, denying a second for the striker.

At the 80th minute, Chris Malseed ventured forward and was awarded a penalty for a trip. Joel Gorman stepped up and coolly converted from the spot to make it 3–0.

90th minute: A final flourish. Banda combined with Adam Murphy in the middle of the field with Murphy turning on the skill and getting the cheer from the young Rovers fans, eventually getting back on possession and setting up Malseed who struck from distance, and Banda got a clever touch to deflect it into the net, sealing the win and capping a fine night for the champions.

Final Score: Letterkenny Rovers 4–0 Kilmacrennan Celtic

GoalScorers: BJ Banda x2, Joel Gorman x2(penalties)

Referee: Gerard Devine

🏆 SUNDAY PREMIER DIVISION CHAMPIONS 🏆