DONEGAL LEAGUE Div 3

Ulster Shield Final

The final saw a tense battle between Letterkenny Rovers and Quigley’s Point Swifts, with QP Swifts looking the more threatening in the early stages. They created the first real chance in the 8th minute, forcing Rovers keeper Josh Wade into action. Shortly after, Conor O’Donnell’s curling free kick nearly broke the deadlock for Rovers, only for it to be cleared off the line.

QP continued to pile on the pressure with dangerous deliveries and shots from distance, including one that clipped the crossbar after a defensive error. Rovers struggled to settle but nearly struck on the counter through Adam Murphy and Nathan Bonner, only to be denied by a fine save from the QP goalkeeper.

The second half was more balanced. QP took the lead in the 52nd minute when Darragh McEntire met a cross with a diving header to put his side in front. Rovers responded with some promising moments—Murphy’s solo run and pass set up Volod for a great chance, but again QP’s keeper stood strong.

As the game approached full-time, James Lenty Gallagher had a golden opportunity after a scramble in the QP box, but his effort went just wide. In the 90th minute, a 50/50 challenge led to a rebound in the Rovers box—Wade attempted to clear, but the ball deflected off QP’s Darragh Barron and into the net, sealing the win.

Final Score:

Quigley’s Point Swifts 2 – 0 Letterkenny Rovers

The Rovers side have one league game remaining next week as they travel to Erne Wanderers.

Gweedore Celtic 1 - Letterkenny Rovers 6

Letterkenny Rovers were crowned Donegal Saturday League Division Two champions on Saturday afternoon following an emphatic 6-1 away win over Gweedore Celtic.

Despite going down to 10 men in the first half, Rovers showed their class with a ruthless second-half display that sealed the title with a game to spare.

The visitors opened the scoring on 10 minutes when Jordan Nugent flicked home at the near post from an Adam Murphy corner. Gweedore responded well and were awarded a penalty midway through the half following a defensive mix-up, which they converted to level the match.

Moments later, Rovers were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Joshua Wade received a second yellow card. Davin Blake was introduced in goal and made a key stop just before the interval to keep the sides level at the break.

Rovers came out fired up in the second half, and Conor O’Donnell restored the lead on 52 minutes after latching onto a clever flick from Nugent before finishing neatly.

The floodgates opened as Billy Banda netted twice — the first coming from a Tymoshchenko delivery and the second following a Gweedore defensive error.

Artem Tymoshchenko got in on the act himself, lifting a composed lob over the keeper to make it 5-1. Banda completed his hat-trick in the dying moments, racing from halfway and calmly slotting home to cap off a memorable day for the club.

The final whistle was met with celebration as Letterkenny Rovers lifted the Saturday League trophy, capping off an outstanding league campaign.

Goalscorers: BJ Banda x3, Conor O'Donnell, Jordan Nugent, Artem Tymoshchenko

Referee: Seamus Ferry

Saturday 2nd Division– Leckview Park – April 5, 2025

On a crisp afternoon with a sharp breeze sweeping across Leckview Park, Letterkenny Rovershosted Dunlewey Celtic

Rovers started brightly with Volodymyr Kovalchuk causing early problems down the right, but his cross was blocked by Sean Gallagher (14). Moments later, Jordan Nugent broke into the box only to be denied again by the impressive Gallagher.

In the 7th minute, James Lenty Gallagher played a lovely ball through to Nugent, who looked certain to score, but he dragged his effort just wide. Rovers continued to push, with chances falling to Oisin McMenamin and Jack Duff, but Dunlewey held firm.

Despite Rovers’ dominance, it was Dunlewey who took the lead against the run of play in the 18th minute. A slick move on the left between Joseph Devenney (11) and Dmytro Serhieiev (10)resulted in Devenney finishing confidently for 0-1.

Rovers responded quickly, hitting the post through James Lenty Gallagher in the 27th minute, and were finally rewarded on 44 minutes when Duff converted a pinpoint cross from Lenty Gallagher to make it 1-1.

But that wasn’t enough as Dunlewey had the perfect response to take the lead again before the break when their corner from Devenney found Serhieiev, who had slipped his marker and headed home. Half-time: 1-2 Dunlewey.

Rovers came out firing and two minutes into second half, Jack Duff crossed from the right, and Kovalchuk was there to finish inside the box to level at 2-2.

In the 55th minute, Adam Murphy cleverly teed up Kovalchuk again, but his shot was blocked after taking a touch too many. A minute later, James Lenty Gallagher forced a save that the keeper just managed to tip onto the crossbar.

The pressure paid off. In the 59th minute, Murphy struck low from wide on the left and his effort snuck through a crowd into the far corner – 3-2 Rovers.

Saturday Division 2 – March 29, 2025 – Letterkenny Community Centre

Letterkenny Rovers delivered a commanding performance, securing a 6-0 victory over a youthful Kilmacrennan Celtic side in Saturday Division 2 action.

The visitors made an explosive start, winning a penalty inside the opening minute, which Jordan Nugent confidently converted to put Rovers in front.

Rovers continued their early dominance, with Volodymyr Kovalchuk having a goal ruled out for offside and Oisin McMenamin narrowly missing the target.

In the 15th minute, Rovers doubled their lead. A free kick from Adam Murphy, struck from 30 yards out, took a deflection off the wall, wrong-footing the Kevin Mallon in the Kilmacrennan net to make it 2-0.

Kilmacrennan had their first sight of goal in the 18th minute, with their Eoghan Quinn firing from distance, but Josh Wade in the Rovers net was untroubled.

Rovers continued to apply pressure, and in the 40th minute, Kovalchuk finally got his goal, finishing from an Adam Murphy free kick to send his side into halftime with a 3-0 lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Rovers dominating possession and creating numerous chances. In the 50th minute, McMenamin struck the post, while Josh Wade was called into action two minutes later, reacting quickly to deny Kilmacrennan’s Owen Browne.

In the 54th minute, Artem Tymoshchenko produced a stunning long-range effort from 40 yards into the left corner of the net to make it 4-0.

The visitors didn’t let up, and in the 76th minute, James Lenty Gallagher did well down the left wing before pulling the ball back for Jordan Nugent, who fired home his second of the game.

Rovers wrapped up the scoring in the 83rd minute. James Lenty Gallagher was involved again, linking up with Nugent, who played in Adam Murphy. The midfielder worked his way along the edge of the 18-yard box before creating space to drill a low shot into the bottom corner for 6-0.

Full-Time: Kilmacrennan Celtic 0-6 Letterkenny Rovers

Goalscorers: Jordan Nugent x2, Adam Murphy x2, Volodymyr Kovalchuk, Artem Tymoshchenko

Ulster Junior Shield – Saturday, March 21, 2025 – Leckview Astro

Letterkenny Rovers booked their place in the Ulster Junior Shield Final with a solid 3-1 victory over Sea Rovers in a competitive clash at Leckview Astro.

Rovers got off to a dream start, scoring in the opening minute. Conor O’Donnell played a clever flick over the defense, and Jordan Nugent was quickest to react, sliding in to guide the ball into the net.

The hosts continued their attacking pressure, with James Barlow Gallagher heading into the keeper’s hands from a long throw after five minutes, while O’Donnell sent a teasing cross to Oran Winston in the ninth minute, but he was unable to connect cleanly.

At the other end, Sea Rovers almost equalized in the 13th minute when a long free kick into the box caused problems. Rovers’ keeper Josh spilled the ball under pressure, but Gallagher made a crucial block to deny a certain goal.

Letterkenny doubled their lead in stunning fashion in the 19th minute. With space 40 yards out, Oran Winston unleashed a powerful strike that flew into the top left corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.

The home side continued to dominate, with Keelan Dunleavy and James Gallagher both going close, while Artem Tymosch was a constant threat on the right wing, setting up O’Donnell, who fired just over from close range in the 40th minute.

Half-Time: Letterkenny Rovers 2-0 Sea Rovers

Sea Rovers started the second half brightly and pulled a goal back in the 48th minute through their Conor McGettigan, capitalizing on a mix-up in the Letterkenny defense.

Despite conceding, Rovers regained control and created several chances, with O’Donnell narrowly missing the target and Gallagher heading just over from a corner. Sea Rovers pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but their long-range efforts failed to trouble the Rovers’ goal.

As Sea Rovers committed numbers forward, Letterkenny struck on the counter in the 90th minute to seal the victory. Adam Murphy played a well-timed pass through to Volodymyr Kevalchuk, who unselfishly squared it to Ben O’Donnell, allowing him to finish from close range and secure Rovers’ place in the Ulster Shield Final.

Full-Time: Letterkenny Rovers 3-1 Sea Rovers

Goalscorers: Jordan Nugent, Oran Winston, Ben O'Donnell

Letterkenny Rovers now advance to the Ulster Junior Shield Final, where they will look to cap off their strong campaign with silverware.

Saturday Division 2 – Leckview Park (Grass) – Friday, March 7

Letterkenny Rovers put on a dominant display under the lights at Leckview Park, securing a 7-0 victory over Castlefin in a one-sided encounter.

After an evenly contested opening 10 minutes, Rovers began to assert control, and they took the lead in the 19th minute when Oran Winston headed home a pinpoint Adam Murphy cross. Winston then turned provider in the 26th minute, setting up Jordan Nugent, who made it 2-0.

The home side extended their lead further in the 38th minute when Kian McGrath was fouled in the box, allowing Conor O’Donnell to step up and convert the penalty. Just before halftime, O’Donnell struck again to make it 4-0.