IT WILL TAKE some topping last season’s run to Aviva Stadium, but Darren McElwaine and Letterkenny Rovers get their new term up and running this evening.
Rovers are away to Cockhill Celtic in the Ulster Senior League Cup and McElwaine was delighted to see manager Eamon McConigley add to his panel over the summer.
Picture caption: Letterkenny Rovers captain Darren McElwaine. Picture by Geraldine Diver.
Conor Tourish, Chris Flanagan, Ryan Gildea and Darragh Black have all joined the Leckview Park residents, who will bid again for honours on all fronts again this year.
Although they reached the FAI Intermediate Cup final last year, the 5-0 loss to Crumlin United hit hard.
[adrotate group=”70″]“We played 33 games last year and the next team to us might have only played 20,” McElwaine, the team captain, told Donegal Sport Hub.
“We didn’t have the squad to cope. It took us seven weeks to get to the final. We were out on our feet, but if you want to have a successful team you need a successful squad.
“It was one of the proudest days of my life, leading Letterkenny out in the Intermediate Cup final.
[adrotate group=”38″]“Teams will want to drive on. Teams have got stronger and I’m delighted to see that. You want to play in a competitive League. Us getting to the final has lifted the profile and has got other teams thinking they can do it – and they can.”
The Ulster Senior League has only six participants these days and McElwaine has urged the local football administrators to knock heads for a plan of action.
[adrotate group=”46″]He said: “It’s tough. A lot of people are working very hard. There is an opportunity for a group of people to get together and help football in Donegal. Should it be the Donegal League and Ulster Senior League working together, there is an opportunity for them to leave their mark.
“It’s difficult for clubs sometimes to keep it going because there is no threat of relegation. I think it will happen down the line.”
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/letterkenny-rovers-captain-darren-mcelwaine-ahead-of-the-new-usl-season
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