Goals by Nathan Plumb in the 26th minute and Dylan Doogan in the 88th minute and several outstanding saves by young goalkeeper Jonathan Pearson saw Letterkenny Rovers edge out Swilly Rovers in this FAI Youth Cup derby clash at Swilly Park.
Swilly Rovers 0 Letterkenny Rovers 2
Charlie Collins reports from Swilly Park.
Friday’s heavy rain led to a somewhat sticky and heavy playing surface that didn’t help either team’s desire to play good passing football.
Nonetheless, both deserve credit for their efforts to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible
The visitors had the better of the openings exchanges and created a couple of half-chances but failed to convert. They finally took the lead in the 26th minute when Nathan Plumb connected with James Kernan’s corner and powered home an excellent header from ten yards.
Swilly responded immediately and two minutes later following a good build-up Jason McDaid flashed a shot just wide. A minute later at the other end, Plumb missed Conor O Donnell’s low cross which then broke to Dylan O Brien who shot wide.
Letterkenny lost midfielder Kieran Tobin in the 37th minute, he was having a big influence on the game and in the first minute of injury-time had young keeper Jonathan Pearson to thank for going in still ahead at half-time.
Swilly swept forward and Eoin Logue burst into the box and drilled a piledriver which was brilliantly blocked by Pearson and then when Matthew McLaughlin followed up after Caolan McConnell had headed out from close to goal the young keeper blocked again to keep his team in front.
Letterkenny were forced into another change at the break with centre-back Thomas Keys unable to continue with Rhys Mullen replacing him.
They found themselves under pressure in the early stages, Jordan Nugent went close, Jason McDaid was just wide after a super run ended with a shot that was just wide and then keeper Pearson produced another fantastic save to deny Nugent, somehow blocking and holding a blockbuster at point-blank range.
Letterkenny had a chance themselves during that period when James Kernan and Caolan McConnell combined to present Dylan Doogan with a headed effort which keeper Conan Brennan blocked.
Plumb and Doogan both had half chances for Letterkenny but Swilly had another great chance when Jack McAuley’s super through ball released Rory Pyper but he blasted the ball over the bar.
That proved to be Swilly’s last real chance and after Letterkenny’s substitute Gavin Johnston and James Gallagher had combined, the latter’s shot deflected out for a corner the visitors wrapped up this hard-earned win when Dylan O’Brien showed determination in the tackle.
James Kernan produced an excellent pass, Dylan Doogan reacted quickest after goalkeeper Brennan had failed to hold Gavin Johnston’s shot and scored from close range to send Letterkenny Rovers into the draw for the next round.
Swilly Rovers: Conan Brennan; Mark Cannon, Matthew McLaughlin, Tony Gallagher, Jack McAuley; Oisin Coyle, Eoin Logue, Jordan Nugent, Warren Patterson; Rory Pyper, Jason McDaid.
Letterkenny Rovers: Jonathan Pearson; Oran Winston, Kealan Dunleavy, Thomas Keys ( Rhys Mullen h/t ), Caolan McConnell; Conor O’Donnell ( James Gallagher 51mins ), Dylan O’Brien, Kieran Tobin ( Jake Kelly 37mins ) Dylan Doogan. Nathan Plumb (Gavin Johnston 81mins), James Kernan.
Referee: Marty McGarrigle.
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