Letterkenny Rovers book place in Intermediate Cup semi-finals

FOR THE FIRST TIME since 2004, and for only the second time in the club’s history, Letterkenny Rovers are into the semi-finals of the FAI Intermediate Cup.

Letterkenny Rovers 2 Killester United 1

Christy Connaghan and Darren McElwaine hit the goals as Eamonn McConigley’s men ground out a victory over Leinster Senior League side Killester United at Leckview Park.

Picture caption: Letterkenny Rovers pictured before their win over Killester United. Picture by Stephen Doherty.

Rovers were hanging on a bit when, after Owen Mooney brought Killester back into it in the 83^rd minute, the Dubliners laid siege, but the Cathedral town men stayed in front until the final shrill of Terence Moyne’s whistle.

Rovers just about shaded a well-contested game for a famous win that catapults them into the last four.

Rovers took the lead in the 23^rd minute. Ryan Lonergan – excellent throughout at right-back – saw his free kick flicked on by the head of McElwaine as far as Connaghan. A fine first touch with his right foot was followed by a magnificent shot with his left that gave Killester goalkeeper Evan Whelan no chance.

Dillon O’Driscoll had warmed Rory Kelly’s palms earlu on while David Shovlin’s drive from 18 yards was charged down.

Rovers, with Connaghan and Mark Forker in sublime form, took the game to Killester and they came within a whisker of doubling the lead when Paul McVeigh – who passed a late fitness test – found Terence Shiels with a delicious cross-field ball.

Sheils smashed into the side netting and clipped wide on the stroke of half-time after being played in by Shovlin.

Shiels turned provided in the early moments of the second half. His cross was touched into the path of Shovlin by McElwaine, with Shovlin firing over the top.

Rovers hearts were in the mouths when keeper Kelly managed to regain possession at the second attempt after initially hesitating in gathering a Fran Matthews free kick.

Kelly saved brilliantly from O’Driscoll after McElwaine prodded wide from an acute angle.

Rovers doubled the advantage in the 76^th minute. McVeigh was causing full-back Darren Kavanagh all sorts of trouble and after dancing inside, McVeigh was hacked down. McElwaine didn’t need an invite as the experienced striker stepped up to fire home from the penalty spot.

Three minutes earlier, McVeigh was denied by Evan Whelan when a chance presented itself and, on reflection, McVeigh will probably concede that squaring to Kevin McGrath might’ve been his best option.

Seven minutes from the end, Mooney fired in, via a deflection, in a crowded box, but Rovers held on with Talbot denied by Jonathan Minnock and the same player seeing Kelly get his fingertips to a follow up shot.

Letterkenny Rovers: Rory Kelly, Ryan Lonergan, Conal McGonagle, Jonathan Minnock, Paul Yank Boyle, Terence Shiels (Kevin McGrath ’71), Paul McVeigh, Christy Connaghan, Darren McElwaine (Steve Okakpu-Emeka ‘80), Mark Forker, David Shovlin.

Killester United: Evan Whelan, Darren Kavanagh, Philip Hand (Owen Mooney ’69), Michael Kelly, Adam McCormick, Stephen Browning (Mark Ryan ’75), Stephen Chambers, Peter O’Reilly, David Lacey (Alan Talbot ’71), Fran Matthews, Dillon O’Driscoll.

Referee: Terence Moyne.