DID YOU EVER feel like you missed your own party?
That might’ve been one of the thoughts running through the mind of David Shovlin last month as he charged for the showers just moments after Terence Moyne’s final whistle had shrilled at Leckview Park to signal full-time.
“We’re all going to the Aviva. We’re all going to the Aviva,” could be heard beating out of the home dressing room.
Main photo: David Shovlin, far left, congratulates Paul McVeigh on this goal against Midleton from Cork in Round 3 of the FAI Intermeidate Cup earlier this season. Photo: Stephen Doherty
Letterkenny Rovers had just qualified for the final of the FAI Intermediate Cup for the first time in their history, having defeated Ringmahon Rangers from Cork 2-0.
Match referee Terence Moyne and Letterkenny Rovers captain Darren McElwaine help David Shovlin replace his jersey following the celebrations of his goal against Ringmahon Rangers from Cork in the FAI Cup Intermediate Cup semi-final last month at Levkview Park. Photo: Stephen Doherty
Shovlin’s clincher had come in the 91st minute to rubber-stamp the victory that Paul McVeigh’s opener had provided the foundation for.
But Shovlin had booked Malta for holidays and had a flight to catch.
“When the boys were celebrating in the changing room I was in the shower trying to get ready,” he says. “The game was at 12 noon and the flight was at 7pm so had it gone to extra-time I might’ve been pushing it to get down to Dublin in time.”
As Shovlin departed Leckview with his father Marius, he was still trying to piece together what had happened.
[adrotate group=”41″]In the first game in Cork, Shovlin, who was born in Letterkenny but is completing an MA from home in Raphoe, had watched on as Roy Kenny struck a dagger through the Letterkenny hearts in the 94th minute in a 1-1 draw.
Just when it seemed as if a 14th minute goal by Steve Okakpu-Emeka was set to fire Rovers to an Aviva Stadium final, Ringmahon Rangers hit back to give themselves another go with a goal that deflected past Rory Kelly in the Rovers goal.
Rovers were disappointed at seeing their chance of a place at the Aviva Stadium dissolve so late in the day but when the dust settled they turned the experience into a positive.
[adrotate group=”64″]“We thought we would hold it out and the boys defended unbelievably,” Shovlin says. “Then in the last minute of injury time we conceded. It was very disappointing and we felt that for maybe a day or two afterwards. We might’ve felt hard done by.
“But when we regrouped and spoke about it as a team, we realised that we would’ve taken that before the game. We still had a home replay against a team from Cork with the support out. We were happy enough with that then.”
[adrotate group=”47″]With something of a fervor building up in the Cathedral town, the now 26-year-old Shovlin was a touch uneasy. A shoulder injury meant he wasn’t going to start – that much he knew in the pit of his stomach. And his name was not among the starters, when Eamon McConigley read out the starting XI for a replay.
“I knew deep down I wouldn’t be starting,” he says.
There Shovlin stood for 72 minutes. No quarter was being given on the pitch, with the enormity of what was at stake meaning neither side were willing to yield. Off went Okakpu-Emeka. On came Shovlin.
[adrotate group=”62″]When McConigley approached him at the start of the season, it was to provide a defensive option. But against Ringmahon with the need for an out ball, Shovlin was told to lead the line alongside captain Darren McElwaine.
Within three minutes, the substitute was on the ball; looking up he saw Terence Shiels at the back post. The ball was weighted perfectly, so good it gave Shiels an option or two as it came his way. He opted for a firm chest, which took the ball right into the path of McVeigh to slot home the opening goal from close range. Leckview erupted.
[adrotate group=”37″]When the celebrations died down, it was a case of holding onto what they had for Rovers. If a second goal was to present itself but with that not being the forthright priority, solidity was imperative. Ringmahon hurled men forward and Kelly in the Rovers goal and those in the white shirts in front of him did the necessary.
But a ball broke forward from the most congested area of the pitch and suddenly it was two on one. McElwaine looked up and saw Shovlin with the freedom of half of Letterkenny and laid a simple squared ball. Shovlin took a touch and dinked it over the advancing James Kirby. Now it was over.
“It worked out unbelievably,” Shovlin adds. “I still try and picture what happened. I remember just taking the top off and running around like a mad man – but it was fantastic. There were great scenes as it sealed the win.”
David Shovlin’s clinching goal for Letterkenny Rovers against Ringmahon Rangers. Video by Stephen Doherty …
https://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=zd3eQKfFML8
Shovlin had touched down in Malta as his Rovers teammates were touring the town in celebration. What they had just achieved soon began to seep in.
“I heard it was a fantastic night,” he says. “When I got to the apartment in Malta, I got the wifi hooked up and the messages we endless. Some were coming from people I hadn’t seen in some months.”
Now, Rovers are just two days’ away. Shovlin’s hunch was right all along and the Aviva Stadium awaits on Saturday evening against a seasoned Crumlin United.
[adrotate group=”38″]“Now that we’re so close to the Aviva, it’s constantly on my mind throughout the day,” Shovlin added. “I’m trying to be in the best shape I can be. Maybe it has taken over a wee bit – that’s what my girlfriend has been saying anyway!
“I said to a few of the boys and to friends that I really thought that we could push in this cup. Once we beat Midleton, we were going to push hard and then we beat Killester here.
