Letterkenny Rovers booked their place in the Brian McCormick Cup final with a 4–1 win over Donegal Town, pulling away in the final 20 minutes after a tight, competitive cup tie.
Rovers started brightly before Donegal Town settled and enjoyed a spell of corners, taking the lead on 8 minutes when Mark Jordan’s firm header found the net. Letterkenny responded superbly and were level on 14 minutes after a flowing move down the right, the cross from Adrian Delap picked out Lee McMonagle who guided a header past Fintan James. Chances followed at both ends in an open first half, with Rovers probably shading the clearer openings, but it remained 1–1 at the interval.
Early in the second half Rovers carried more threat, with Simon McGlynn forcing a low save from James after Adrian Delap drove through the heart of midfield, and then McMonagle slipped Shane McNamee through one-on-one only for the Donegal keeper to block. Donegal Town stayed in the contest and almost went back in front from another Jordan corner, Graham’s header drawing a superb reaction stop at the near post from Mark McGinley.
On 72 minutes Rovers finally turned pressure into a lead. Clever footwork from McNamee helped him wriggle out of trouble before he found Zach Gorman, who stepped onto the ball and drove a low 30–yard strike that James failed to keep out. Donegal Town pushed hard for an equaliser after that setback, committing men forward and asking questions of the home defence with a series of attacks and set pieces.
The extra space on the break suited Rovers and they punished Donegal ruthlessly in the closing stages. On 83 minutes a quick move down the right produced a teasing cross from Joel Gorman which BJ Banda met first time to make it 3–1. Five minutes later, Gareth Doherty set the ball up in front of Banda whose pace took him clear and he finished calmly to seal a 4–1 scoreline.
Rovers now advance to the Brian McCormick Cup final, where they will face either Kilmacrennan Celtic or Kildrum Tigers in Ballyare next weekend at 1 pm.
A minute of silence was observed by both teams in memory of Padraic Gilsenan's grandmother, who passed away over the weekend.
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