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.
Rovers introduced Padraig Murphy for his senior debut in the 70th minute, and it didn’t take long for him to make an impact. After a couple of near misses, including a close-range attempt after a brilliant Nugent cross, he got his moment. In the 77th minute, Nugent slipped a smart ball into the box, and Murphy timed his run perfectly, chipping over the onrushing keeper for a debut goal – 4-2.
Two minutes later, Rovers were awarded a penalty, confidently tucked away by Nugent to extend the lead to 5-2.
The scoring was wrapped up in the 90th minute when McMenamin sent in a cross from the left that deflected off a Dunlewey defender and into the net for an own goal, rounding off a stronger second-half display.
Full-Time: Letterkenny Rovers 6-2 Dunlewey Celtic
GoalScorers: Jack Duff, Volodymyr Kovalchuk, Adam Murphy, Padraig Murphy, Jordan Nugent(pen), OG
Referee: Marty McGarrigle
Goals!
See below 2 of the goals from the game, by Padraig Murphy and Jack Duff