LETTERKENNY Rovers’ journey in the FAI Youth Cup came to an end after three second half goals from Cork opponents, Douglas Hall.
Letterkenny Rovers 1 Douglas Hall 3
By Stuart Connolly at Letterkenny Community Centre
Rovers lead at half time courtesy of a goal from Keiran Tobin.
James Daly scored a double with the visitors other goal sandwiched between the two, it was put away by David O’Sullivan.
A lengthy trip was endured by Douglas Hall, travelling from the bottom of the country to very near the top and Rovers made that same journey in reverse a few weeks back only for Storm Dennis to wreak havoc on all fixtures.
2005 was the last time Douglas Hall made the trip to the Cathedral Town, their seniors facing Bonagee United in the Intermediate Cup.
Their Youths, on this occasion, went toe-to-toe with Rovers as the sides were even in the opening stages.
Brian O’Neill had the first opportunity for the visitors but headed wide following a set-piece.
Shortly after the quarter hour, Caolan McConnell came to his sides rescue, clearing an effort off the line by Eoin Healy.
Rovers were having little joy going forward early on as anything sent up to Tobi Akinyamika was nearly instantly snuffed out by their big centre back pairing.
That changed approaching the half hour though as Letterkenny took the lead. McConnell whipped the ball in from the left, Akinyamika used his strength and chest control to lay it off for Keiran Tobin who rifled it past Antonio Ancheta.
Moments later, Tobin came close to scoring at the wrong end, his clear though fizzed over the bar.
The remainder of the half was level playing as Rovers held a tender lead at the break.
During the intermission, the weather took a turn which saw Rovers battling the wind for the second half.
Douglas Hall started the better side after the restart and five minutes in, they had levelled the scoring. There was a slight touch of fortune in the build-up, as a clearance struck Tobin and it bounced clear for James Daly who tucked it past Whoriskey from an acute angle.
The visitors made their pressure tell and McConnell was again called upon to save an effort on the line.
On the hour mark, Douglas Hall took the lead in spectacular fashion. There was nothing on and David O’Sullivan booted the ball clear from inside the centre circle, it was looping and caught Whoriskey off guard before nestling in the back of the net.
With a little under ten minutes to go, Rovers came close to an equaliser, Leon Doherty the player in question but his curling effort narrowly missed the top corner.
Five minutes later and Douglas Hall had sealed the win with a third goal. Brian O’Neill set Anton Frank on his way down the right side and after taking one touch, he drove the ball low across goal for Daly to bag a brace.
Daly was denied a late hat-trick in stoppage time with Whoriskey pulling off a smart save from close range.
Douglas Hall will now travel to Crumlin United in the quarter final.
Letterkenny Rovers: Matthew Whoriskey; Fouad Basher, Caolan McConnell, Shane Monaghan, Kealan Dunleavy; Keiran Tobin, Leon Doherty, Joel Gorman, Tobi Akinyamika; Gavin McGee, Kelan Collier. Subs: Finian O’Donnell for McConnell (69), Brandon Ndlovu for McGee( 82), Nathan Bonner for Collier (88)
Douglas Hall: Antonio Macheta; Ewan Kelly, David Garvin, David O’Sullivan, Justin Equaibor; Dean McCarthy, Anton Frank, James Daly, Roger Timon; Eoin Healy, Brian O’Neill.
Referee: Liam McLaughlin
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