Letterkenny Rovers are off to a winning start in the Donegal Youth League after a fully deserved win over Lagan Harps on a crisp Wednesday evening at Leckview Park.
Letterkenny Rovers 3 Lagan Harps 0
A quick second half blitz put the game out of the reach of a determined Lagan side who may rue not taking a couple of chances early doors but Lagan will be indebted to goalkeeper Oisin Bonner who made a number of super stops to deny Rovers adding some extra gloss to the scoreline,
It was Lagan – spurred on by the lively Noel Donnelly – though who had the better of the early chances with Ciaran Quinn heading just over from a Dean Murray free kick on 13 minutes before Darragh Rodgers shot brought out a fine save from home netminder Aaron Hepburn in the Rovers goal on 18 minutes.
That save was to prove crucial as Rovers took the lead shortly after when a Thomas Keys through ball found the lively James Kernan and he in turn found Jack Dwyer and his shot somehow found its way past Bonner to put Rovers ahead.
Conor O’Donnell then came close but was denied by the legs of Bonner before the visiting netminder was again in the action as he denied a side-footed volleyed effort from Kernan on 33 while he also denied a well struck effort from Nathan Plumb just before the half time break.
Rovers were dearly requiring a second goal and they did not have long after halftime to realise that as Dwyer powered home a bullet header from a well delivered Joel Gorman corner to double the advantage on 48 minutes.
That advantage was added to on 53 minutes when again it was Gorman who played an exquisite through ball to Kernan and he controlled it well on his chest before clinically finishing low to the bottom corner.
Rovers had chances to add to their lead through Gorman (twice), Dwyer and Jonathan Coady while Lagan tried hard to get back into the game and had a number fo good chances themselves through Darragh Rodgers (twice) and Paul McFadden.
Lagan back in action on Saturday when hosting Milford Utd while Rovers next game is at Milford next Wednesday.
Letterkenny Rovers: Aaron Hepburn, Conor O’Donnell, Caolan McConnell, Oran Winston, Thomas Keys, Jonathan Coady, Conor Friel, Jack Dwyer, Joel Gorman, Nathan Plumb, James Kernan. Subs used: Leon Doherty, James Gallagher, Kyron Coyle, Jonathan Pearson.
Lagan Harps: Oisin Bonner, Seamus Cullen, Joshua Hay, Eoin O’Connor, Oran Downey, Philip Gallagher, Ciaran Quinn, Matthew McDaid, Darragh Rodgers, Dean Murray, Noel Donnelly. Subs used; Keelan McMonagle. Paul McFadden and Emmett Toruish.
Referee: Marty McGarrigle
