THERE ARE FEW men whose pride is greater this week than Letterkenny Rovers Chairman Dessie Kelly.
When he first crossed the gate of Leckview Park in 1962, the ground was a much different setting to that in which he now stands, having been everything here from player, manager, administrator and groundsman.
He’ll watch with immense satisfaction on Saturday evening as his beloved Rovers joust with Crumlin United in the FAI Intermediate Cup final at Aviva Stadium.
“We have waited all our lives for this,” Kelly told Donegal Sport Hub this week.
[adrotate group=”37″]“I’ve looked forward Junior Cups, Intermediate Cups and Senior Cups, but I never thought I’d see us reach a major final after waiting so long.
“It’s a dream come true after all these years of toiling.”
As a manager, Kelly guided Rovers to back-to-back Donegal League titles in the 1979/80 and 1980/81 seasons, before stepping down from the role as ‘I couldn’t even think about the possibility of losing’.
Kelly walks the streets of Letterkenny a couple of nights each week selling the club lotto with the vice chairman Victor Fisher his usual companion.
[adrotate group=”64″]One thing he never wants is attention of credit, content simply to do his bit for his club.
“I’ve done everything for the club,” he said.
“It’s a voluntary position for anyone in any football club. I’d have the club at heart and would like to see it progressing. I’ll keep working until I can do more, from selling lottos, to cutting the grass, to leaving a boy home, or doing wee things here and there.
[adrotate group=”41″]“That stuff comes easy and you look forward to doing something for your football club.”
Kelly said Rovers are now aiming to develop an astroturf facility adjacent to the main pitch at Leckview, at a cost in the region of €375,000.
[adrotate group=”62″]Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/dessie-kelly-ahead-of-intermediate-cup-final
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