Sean McCarron has hit the ground running and is already targeting silverware with Letterkenny Rovers.
The Derryman already has five goals to his name this season, with a hat-trick in Rovers’ Donegal News Ulster Senior League Cup win over Bonagee United and a brace against Finn Harps Reserves.
McCarron was named as the September winner of the Watson Menswear Ulster Senior League Player of the Month Award thanks to his deadly exploits in the early stages of his Rovers sojourn.
Sean McCarron is presented with the Watson Menswear Ulster Senior League Player of the Month Award for September by Leonard Watson.
“I always want to start off on the front foot,” McCarron says.
“Getting a hat-trick in my first game settled the nerves a bit.
“I’ve enjoyed it. With work commitments, I haven’t been able to train as much as I’d like to, but I’m getting back into the swing of things now again.
“It was a great month. We’re undefeated so far and got a couple of good ones.
“Every striker loves scoring goals and I’m no different. That’s what I’m there to do.”
Rovers missed out on League honours last season by the skins of their teeth and Eamon McConigley has strengthened his arsenal significantly with the addition to his ranks of McCarron, who played previously in the USL with both Derry City Reserves and Kildrum Tigers.
McConigley was thrilled to capture a player of McCarron’s promise, noting: “Sean is a class player. He seemed to be enjoying himself out there and he scored fantastic goals. He wants to play and he wants to be with us, which is the main thing. I’m delighted that we have him.”
McCarron knows the League, its teams and its players well from his previous stints in its ranks.
He says: “I’ve played for a couple of teams in the USL. I like the League, it’s good and physical. I knew what I was coming into and it’s perfect to get me back at it again.”
McCarron played two seasons with Finn Harps in the League of Ireland and also featured for Institute and also spent some time at Cliftonville.
Having pitches up at Leckview Park this summer, McCarron wants to repay McConigley and Rovers – and the League title is in his sights.
“The League has to be the aim,” he says.
“Cockhill have won the last five but the (Rovers) boys were so close last season and everyone is hungry to go one better.
“We have a good squad, a big squad with plenty of options here. If someone is coming off and on, people will improve it. It’s healthy to have a squad like that.”
Rovers were Intermediate Cup finalists in 2015 and with this week’s second round draw giving them a home tie against Bonagee, they are dreaming of a run to the national stage again.
McCarron says: “We’d love to get a run in the Intermediate. The first thing every teams wants is a home draw so we’ve got that. Bonagee will be right up for that one too, especially after the last game we had with them.”
McCarron admits that he would like to return to senior football at some point and he did train with Finn Harps during the summer.
But, for now, Rovers and the Ulster Senior League have his mercurial talents and bagful of goals.
He says: “With work commitments, I work on Saturdays, it wasn’t an option really. I’ve been busy and my main aim personally is to get back into senior football. But, my number one now is Letterkenny Rovers and getting back to score some goals here again.”
He’s certainly started off on a good footing.
RESULTS
4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League
Sunday, October 1
Derry City Reserves 7 Finn Harps Reserves 0
Letterkenny Rovers 3 Fanad United 2
Swilly Rovers 0 Cockhill Celtic 7
FIXTURES
Sunday, October 8, 2pm
Cockhill Celtic v Bonagee United
Finn Harps Reserves v Swilly Rovers
Fixture postponement
The Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League game between Fanad United and Derry City Reserves, originally scheduled for this Sunday, October 8, has been postponed and has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 22, at Triagh-A-Loch.
Reports
Club PROs are reminded to submit match results, goalscorers and match reports to the League PRO, Chris McNulty, before 6pm on Sunday evenings. Failure to do so will result in a fine being issued. Clubs are further reminded of the importance of correctly filling in the team-sheet in order that names and numbers correspond.
Top Goalscorers (League only)
Matty Doherty (Derry City Reserves) 3
Shaun McBride (Derry City Reserves) 3
Laurence Toland (Cockhill Celtic) 3
Lee Toland (Letterkenny Rovers) 2
Mark Coyle (Cockhill Celtic) 1
Adrian Delap (Derry City Reserves) 1
Garbhan Friel (Cockhill Celtic) 1
Oisin McMenamin (Fanad United) 1
Tony McNamee (Fanad United) 1
Mark Moran (Cockhill Celtic) 1
Pajo Rafferty (Letterkenny Rovers) 1
Ryan Varma (Cockhill Celtic) 1
| Table | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| Cockhill Celtic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Derry City Reserves | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Letterkenny Rovers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Bonagee United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fanad United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| Finn Harps Reserves | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | -7 | 0 |
| Swilly Rovers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | -7 | 0 |
