Letterkenny Rovers put in a commanding performance to overcome Glenea United with a 5-0 victory at Leckview this afternoon.
Rovers started lively with early chances for BJ Banda and Lee McMonagle before the breakthrough arrived on 9 minutes. Padraic Gilsenan linked with Simon McGlynn, and the winger showed good composure to slot past Joe Coll for 1-0.
Glenea threatened sporadically, with Tiernan McGinty and Calvin Murray both testing the Rovers defence, but Blake Forkan was well positioned when called upon. At the other end, Rovers were more decisive, and they doubled their lead on 41 minutes when Adrian Delap’s cross from the left was met by McMonagle, who finished instinctively into the far corner.
The visitors almost pulled one back early after the restart, but Forkan was alert with a smart save. Moments later, Rovers asserted their authority, and after a wave of pressure, Shane McNamee’s long clearance released BJ Banda. The forward showed blistering pace, brushing off two defenders before calmly finishing to make it 3-0 on 62 minutes.
Ten minutes later, McNamee was again at the heart of the attack, threading the ball to McGlynn, who was brought down by Coll in the box. McGlynn dispatched the resulting penalty, extending the advantage to 4-0.
Rovers weren’t done, and Banda, ever dangerous, added his second and Rovers’ fifth in the 80th minute with a low strike across goal after good work from Zach Gorman.
Glenea kept pushing, with a late effort from Patrick Doohan forcing Forkan into another save, but by then the contest was long settled. Rovers, meanwhile, went close to a sixth when Dean McCarry rose highest to meet a Delap cross, only for Coll to hold firm.
Final score: Letterkenny Rovers 5-0 Glenea United
A minutes silence was observed by all in attendance for our late President Victor Fisher in advance of the kickoff.