Gweedore Celtic 0 - 2 Letterkenny Rovers
Goalscorers: Bj Banda, Nathan Plumb
Letterkenny Rovers clinch the Temple Domestic Appliances Division1 League title after a hard fought victory over Donegal Town at Leckview Park 14th April 2024. Read More >>
Goalscorers: Bj Banda, Nathan Plumb
Letterkenny Rovers eased to victory with a commanding performance, highlighted by a BJ Banda hat-trick and goals from Nathan Bonner and Chris Malseed. The three quick goals in succession in the first half put Rovers firmly in control, taking a 4-0 lead into halftime. Despite Swilly Rovers determined effort in the second half, the result was never in doubt.
Goalscorers: BJ Banda x3, Nathan Bonner, Chris Malseed
Referee: Mick Lagan
Bonagee United 0-1 Letterkenny Rovers
2nd February Dry Arch – Local Derby – Top of the Table Clash
Letterkenny Rovers edged a hard-fought local derby against Bonagee United, securing a vital 1-0 win in a tense battle between the two top sides in the league. A late goal from Conor O’Donnell proved to be the difference in a match that saw few clear-cut chances.
Rovers started brightly, with BJ Banda looking dangerous early on, breaking into the box in the 8th minute, only for Bonagee goalkeeper Andrew Nicholls to collect just in time. Bonagee responded in the 12th minute when Jamie Harris pounced on a loose defensive header and attempted to round Mark Anthony McGinley, but the angle proved too tight to convert.
The first half saw Bonagee threatening from set pieces, particularly from long throws and corners, but Rovers’ defense held firm. Henry Welles attempted an ambitious 40-yard strike in the 27th minute, but it curled wide, while BJ Banda continued to be a threat, driving into the box in the 32nd minute, only for his effort to be cleared for a corner.
At halftime, the game remained goalless, with both sides struggling to create clear opportunities.
Rovers came out stronger in the second half, with Banda testing Nicholls with a low strike in the 46th minute and heading goalward a minute later, only for the Bonagee keeper to collect. Despite their dominance in possession, Rovers couldn’t find the finishing touch, with Joel Gorman and Gareth Doherty both seeing efforts comfortably saved.
Bonagee’s first real threat of the second half came in the 78th minute when Harris found space and fired at goal, but McGinley saved easily. The home side came even closer in the 82nd minute, forcing McGinley into a low save through a crowded box.
However, in the 86th minute, Rovers found their breakthrough. A lofted ball over the top caught the Bonagee defense off guard, and Conor O’Donnell timed his run perfectly, taking the ball down and calmly slotting past Nicholls to give Rovers the lead.
Bonagee pushed for an equalizer in the dying minutes, winning a dangerous free kick in the 92nd minute. Daniel O’Donnell struck it low and hard, but McGinley got down well to save. Rovers nearly doubled their lead in stoppage time when Adam Murphy played in Banda, but Nicholls produced a vital save with his foot to deny him.
A gritty and determined display from Letterkenny Rovers saw them take all three points in this crucial top-of-the-table encounter.
Final Score: Bonagee United 0-1 Letterkenny Rovers
GoalScorer: Conor O’Donnell (86’)
Referee: Michael Connolly
Ulster Junior Cup Quarter-Final
Letterkenny Rovers 3-0 St. Catherine’s
Leckview Park
Letterkenny Rovers secured their place in the semi-finals of the Ulster Junior Cup with a solid 3-0 victory over St. Catherine’s on a crisp afternoon at Leckview Park. Despite St. Catherine’s creating several promising chances, Rovers’ clinical finishing in the second half and resolute defense proved decisive.
The game began with Rovers’ Luke Parke narrowly missing the target in the opening minute. St. Catherine’s responded moments later, with Conor Doherty’s cross finding Joshua Maxwell at the back post, but Maxwell couldn’t direct his effort on target.
Rovers began to apply pressure, with BJ Banda’s solo run in the 9th minute forcing a save from St. Catherine’s keeper Padraig Byrne. Just seven minutes later, Rovers broke the deadlock when Chris Malseed threaded a perfect pass to Adrian Delap. Delap powered through the defense and calmly slotted the ball through Byrne’s legs to make it 1-0.
St. Catherine’s sought an immediate response, but Rovers’ defense held firm. Rovers came close to doubling their lead before halftime, with Joel Gorman’s deflected free kick striking the crossbar and Lee McMonagle hitting the upright. Despite creating multiple chances, Rovers went into the break with a narrow 1-0 lead.
The second half saw St. Catherine’s come out strong, with Joshua Maxwell testing Rovers keeper Mark Anthony McGinley early on. However, Rovers extended their lead in the 51st minute when a throw-in from Caolan McConnell found McMonagle, who turned sharply and fired into the net to make it 2-0.
St. Catherine’s continued to press and created opportunities through Alex McBrearty and Ryan Cunningham, but their efforts either went wide or over the bar. Rovers’ defense came
Under quick fire attempts but Padraic Gilsenan and Dean McCarry, stood tall, blocking the efforts as the visitors piled on the pressure.
In the 85th minute, Rovers sealed the win when Delap went in for a 50-50 with the St. Catherine’s keeper, and the loose ball fell to McMonagle. He made no mistake, striking low past Byrne to make it 3-0.
St. Catherine’s came close to pulling one back late on, with Joshua Maxwell delivering a dangerous ball across goal, but Josh Cunningham couldn’t convert at the back post. Rovers had the final say when Delap’s powerful strike forced an impressive save from Byrne to deny a fourth goal.
Despite a spirited second-half performance from St. Catherine’s, it was Rovers’ ability to capitalise. on their chances that proved the difference.
Goalscorers: Adrian Delap, Lee McMonagle x2
Referee: Patrick Martin
Letterkenny Rovers saw their FAI Junior Cup journey come to an end at the fifth-round stage following a 3-1 loss to Mervue United at Leckview Park. Despite a promising start, the visitors responded strongly to secure victory and progress to the last 16.
Rovers got off to a dream start when BJ Banda fired them into the lead after just three minutes, sprinting past defenders before finishing clinically into the bottom corner. However, Mervue quickly settled and equalised in the 10th minute through Aaron Neary, who found the net with a well-placed strike from the edge of the area.
Neary struck again just before half-time, finishing a well-worked move to give the Galway side a 2-1 advantage at the break.
The second half saw Rovers push for an equaliser, with Lee McMonagle and Banda both testing the Mervue goalkeeper. However, Mervue remained dangerous on the counterattack, and their persistence paid off in the 74th minute when Jason Molloy’s free-kick, delivered from wide on the right, found its way into the net to extend the visitors’ lead.
Rovers had a golden opportunity to get back into the game in the 84th minute when Banda won a penalty after being brought down by Mervue keeper Peter Healy. However, Healy made up for his foul by producing a crucial save from the spot-kick before gathering the rebound.
Mervue finished the match with 10 men after Healy was shown a second yellow card in injury time for another foul on Banda outside the box, but it was too late to impact the result.
The defeat marks the end to Rovers’ cup campaign.
Goalscorer: Bj Banda.
SUNDAY PREMIER DIVISION
Letterkenny Rovers and Kildrum Tigers battled out a scoreless draw for the second time this season as neither side could find a breakthrough goal on a bitterly cold afternoon at Leckview Park.
In a largely forgettable first half, chances were few and far between with Rovers goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley denying Johnny Robb from close range while at the other end BJ Banda was off target with a back post header.
The second half was a more lively affair with Brian Breslin narrowly missing the target for the visitors and McGinley had to be alert to save a low free-kick from Tiernan Brown.
On 66 minutes, the home side came closest to scoring when Banda rattled an effort against the underside of the crossbar before the ball was cleared to safety.
A darting run from Robb with ten minutes remaining nearly grabbed the points for the Tigers but his flashed wide.
Both sides finished the game with ten as Kildrum’s William Lynch was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 85th minute before Ryan Lonergan also picked up a second yellow card deep in stoppage time.
Rovers will be hoping for an improved performance in two week’s time against Mervue United in the FAI Junior Cup when they will have Adrian Delap and Lee McMonagle back from suspension.
Referee – Gerald Devine