Sunday 18th September 2022
Gweedore Celtic 2 Rovers 3( Darragh Morrison, Jack Dwyer, Patrik Gahir)
An entertaining game between Gweedore and Letterkenny was decided by a goal in injury time courtesy of Patrik Gahir who capped off a fine performance for Rovers with the winning goal.
Gweedore were much the better team in the opening twenty minutes and took the lead on ten minutes through Cian Mc Bride who scored after being put through by Pauric Winters.
Letterkenny upped their game before half-time and put the Celtic defence under sustained pressure. Twice they created openings but the home net minder, Joe Mc Gee, brought off two fine saves to deny them an equaliser.
They did manage to pull a goal back in the thirty fifth minute when a David O' Donnell shot was not dealt with by the home rearguard and Darragh Morrisson pounced to fire home from six yards. Five minutes later Jack Dwyer extended their lead when he shot home from twenty yards to leave Rovers two one ahead at the interval.
The second half was barely a minute old when Cian Mc Bride broke through the Rovers defence to score his second goal for Na Ceiltigh. The game swung from end to end with both defences refusing to yield an inch to their opponents.
Chris Malseed and Gareth Temple for the away team were outstanding in denying Gweedore chances while Mc Gee in goals and Colin Mc Nichols for the home team were superb in limiting chances for Letterkenny.
With time running out and Letterkenny gaining superiority in the middle of the field the young home team were hanging on for a vital point.
They could have snatched a winner when substitute Colin Ferry sprinted past the defence and with only the keeper to beat he blazed his shot over the bar.
Deep in injury time the points were secured when Gareth Temple played Patrik Gahir in and with the home defence appealing for offside he slid the ball calmly into the corner of the net.
Na Ceiltigh were well served by Cian Mc Bride, Colin Mc Nichols and Joe Mc Gee whilst Rovers had a man -of-match performance from Patrik Gahir.
Referee: Seimi Ferry