U12 Athletic - Division Champions
Letterkenny Athletic 2–1 Illistrin Celtic
Letterkenny Athletic completed their league campaign with a 100% winning record after a hard-fought victory at Aura.
Athletic made the worst possible start, conceding inside the opening minute when Illistrin forced the ball into the net after a scramble.
Despite the setback, Athletic quickly composed themselves and took control of the match, with Illistrin forced into deep defensive shape. The equaliser came through Shay McLaughlin, finishing after clever play from Kacper Niewiadomski. Moments later, it was Niewiadomski himself who struck brilliantly to put Athletic ahead.
Athletic thought they had stretched their lead when McLaughlin found the net again, only to see it ruled out for offside. McLaughlin, Niewiadomski, and Oisín Cannon all went close, with Cannon’s superb strike skimming the post. Athletic even missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time as the contest grew increasingly physical.
In the second half, Illistrin continued to challenge strongly, but the home side remained in control and created the better chances. McLaughlin was a constant threat, while James McLaughlin and Jake Devlin both went agonisingly close to adding a third goal.
At the final whistle, huge celebrations broke out as Letterkenny Athletic secured their first-ever League title. Standout performances came from Cannon, Brandon Ndlovu, and Niewiadomski, but man of the match honours deservedly went to Shay McLaughlin, who led from the front in a strong team display under testing conditions.
U12 Rovers
Letterkenny Rovers 4 – 1 Lagan
It was a fine evening at the Aura as Rovers earned three points, setting up a winner-takes-all clash on Saturday.
Lagan struck first after 10 minutes, but Rovers quickly responded. Zach McKinley’s low cross led to an equaliser via deflection. Moments later, Zach’s effort was saved, but Charlie Lynch pounced to put Rovers ahead.
Charlie doubled his tally before halftime with a composed finish, making it 3–1.
Rovers started the second half strongly. Zach’s cross forced a save, with Mason Oliver heading in the rebound for 4–1..
Rovers managed the game well, with Lucas Casburn and Alfie Gallagher solid at the back, and Scott McLaughlin making key saves to deny Lagan.
All eyes now turn to White Strand on Saturday, where Rovers’ U12s face Mulroy in a title-deciding match.
U12 Rovers
Mulroy 1 – 1 Letterkenny Rovers
On a very wet and windy morning in Whitestrand, Mulroy and Letterkenny Rovers played out a tense title decider heavily affected by the conditions.
Rovers started brightly, with Zach McKinley opening the scoring from 25 yards, his strike proving too powerful for the keeper to handle. Rovers continued to play some excellent football in the first half and were unlucky not to double their lead when Femi Gallagher’s curling effort struck the underside of the bar.
The second half saw the worsening weather play its part, with Rovers facing a strong wind and struggling to keep possession. Mulroy grabbed an equaliser when their striker fired home after Scott McLaughlin had made a fine save from the initial effort. The goal set up a scrappy final 20 minutes, with neither side able to find a winner.
At the final whistle, the 1–1 draw meant Mulroy lifted the league title, pipping Rovers by just a single point.
We would like to congratulate Jonny and his team on their fantastic achievement. Our Rovers lads can also be very proud of an excellent league campaign. As the youngest squad in the Premier Division, they’ve shown great quality and character, and will be ready to go again in next season’s U12 Premier campaign.
U12 United
Letterkenny United 1-0 Illistrin Rovers
Letterkenny welcomed the league winners to the Aura today. The game was played in less than favourable conditions with heavy rain pelting down. United started off well and could’ve taken the lead after 8 mins when Victor Ogunade fired in a low cross towards Evan Price who was ready to pull the trigger when an unbelievable tackle from an Illistrin defender just took it off his toe. United did take the lead after David Olaniyan fired in a looping shot over Illistrin’s keeper from an Evan Price assist.
The 2nd half started brightly for both sides and Illistrin were close to pulling one back only for some excellent goalkeeping from Noah Harris. The defence and midfield held strong and United came out winners. Best for United were Evan Price, Isaac Joel and Noah Harris with Isaac and Noah sharing the player of the match award this week. Well done lads, both myself and Barlow are proud of your team performance
U12 Crusaders
U12 Letterkenny Crusaders Secure Place in League Final playoff.
The Crusaders were back in action this weekend and delivered another brilliant performance, securing a strong win over Bonagee Arcade despite the wet and windy conditions.
From the very first whistle, Crusaders looked confident and in control. Folarin Abolaji opened the scoring early, setting the tone for the match.
Bonagee worked hard to stay in the game, but Crusaders kept pushing forward. By the 25th minute, Anthony McGarrigle made it 2–0, and just before halftime, Noah Carr added a third.
Bonagee had a few chances to break through, but Crusaders’ defence stayed solid—especially thanks to Noah Wilkie, who was outstanding in goals, clearing dangerous balls and keeping the back line secure.
In the second half, Crusaders continued to dominate. Caleb Bomah, Anthony McGarrigle and Noah Carr all found the net, sealing the win and confirming the team’s place in the league playoffs against Ballyraine.
Player of the Match: Anthony McGarrigle – for a fantastic performance on the left wing, full of energy, skill, and determination.
The Final is set to be a big one, with Crusaders facing the only team to beat them since the league split. It’s going to be exciting—let’s go Rovers Let's go!
U12 Girls
Letterkenny Rovers 0 - 0 Kildrum Tigers
Letterkenny Rovers U12 Girls hosted Kildrum Tigers on Saturday evening in a tightly contested match. Kildrum came out the stronger side early on, dominating possession in the first half and creating several opportunities. Despite their efforts, the first half ended goalless at 0-0.
Rovers regrouped during the break and returned to the field with a renewed sense of purpose. Although Kildrum continued to generate chances, the Rovers’ defense remained resolute. As the game progressed, Letterkenny also found their attacking rhythm, creating a few chances of their own and almost taking the lead against the run of play.
Despite Kildrum's constant pressure, the match ended in a 0-0 draw. Kildrum’s well-organized and disciplined play was impressive, and they showcased some good football throughout. For the neutral observer, it was an enjoyable contest. Special mention goes to Anna Dear, who was exceptional in defense, showing resilience and composure throughout the game.
Blitzes
Even the soggy skies couldn’t stop our superstars from showing off their sparkle at the Aura!
Fifteen bright little faces turned up, ready to play with big smiles and even bigger energy! They split into two teams—Rovers and Crusaders—and faced off against Gwedore and Dunfanaghy in three thrilling matches!
There were great passes, a few speedy runs, some communication and lots and lots of tackling our own team or not ... but ..... there was more Honey Bees than footballers flying around today! (But don't remind the coaches )
Thank you to Colm, Edel and teams for making the Trip to the Aura.
With only one more county blitz left this season, the coaches are super proud of how far everyone has come. Let’s finish with a bang and show the whole county what these girls are made of!
Go Rovers! Go Crusaders! Let’s shine all the way to the final whistle!
U6s
What a fantastic day at Leckview Park as our Letterkenny Rovers boys and girls rounded off the summer season in style, hosting Illistrin, Glen Rovers, and Kilmacrennan Celtic!
Despite the tough conditions, there were plenty of goals, tackles, slide challenges, and smiles – exactly what football is all about!
A special thank you to Tony McNamee of the Letterkenny North West Area for kindly supplying medals for every child today, a brilliant way to reward their effort, development, and commitment over the summer.
Thanks to all the teams, coaches, parents, and volunteers who made today possible – your support ensures days like this are a success.
Well done to all our young players – the future is bright!
