LETTERKENNY ROVERS held off Derry City Reserves to take a big win in the Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League at Leckview Park.
Letterkenny Rovers 2 Derry City Reserves 1
In a noon kick-off, goals from Steve Okakpu-Emeka and Darren McElwaine handed Rovers the win, although they had to stave off strong City pressure after Cathal Farren netted in the 72nd minute.
Rovers defended well in those late moments when Derry might’ve drawn level.
Stephen Duffy had a golden chance 15 minutes from time when he latched onto Connor Gormley’s cross after good approach work by Josh Daniels. Duffy got a head to it, but flashed wide.
[adrotate group=”38″]Rovers took the lead in the 12th minute. After a break out from defence by Ryan Gildea, he fed Paul McVeigh. His cross fell back into the path of Gildea, whose shot was blocked.
Okakpu-Emeka was quickest to pounce and he brilliantly blasted past Shaun Patton for the opener.
Derry threatened earlier with Daniels having a shot blocked and the Candystripes came close to an equaliser when Keith Ward fed Farren, who was thwarted by a fine save from Rory Kelly.
Okakpu-Emeka hesitated and the chance was blocked after Darren McElwaine fended off the challenge of Jack Blake while the McVeigh brothers combined, Paul crossing for Brian, who flicked a header narrowly wide.
But for Conor Tourish’s timely intervention, Derry would surely have drawn level on the half-hour.
Spanish defender Cristian Castells found Farren. An excellent first touch teed up the opportunity, but Tourish stepped in to clear the danger.
Derry City Reserves
Paul McVeigh found himself in behind after Kelly’s kick-out was misjudged by Dean Brown, but the Rovers striker couldn’t get power in his shot and Patton gathered.
After Farren headed over from a Daniels cross, Rovers doubled the lead in the 63rd minute.
[adrotate group=”46″]The McVeighs worked the opening for McElwaine and the big striker showed all his craft and experienced to hold off the defence before drilling a low shot beyond Patton.
It was game on when Farren pounced, but Rovers – who saw Patton brilliantly save twice from Paul McVeigh late on – had done enough.
Letterkenny Rovers: Rory Kelly, David Shovlin, Chris Flanagan, Ryan Gildea, Conor Tourish, Kevin McGrath, Paul McVeigh, Christy Connaghan, Darren McElwaine, Brian McVeigh, Steve Okakpu-Emeka (Mark Forker).
Derry City Reserves: Shaun Patton, Adrian Delap (Stephen Duffy), Harry Monaghan, Cristian Castells, Jack Blake, Scott Whitehead, Dean Brown (Connor Gormley), Josh Daniels, Cathal Farren, Keith Ward (Ronan Wilson), Rory Holden.
Referee: Vincent McLoughlin.
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