Swilly Rovers 3 (Ryan McDaid, Ronan Curtis, Terence Shiels)
Letterkenny Rovers 2 (John Doherty 2)
Victory for the Ramelton Rovers in an absorbing five goal thriller at Swilly Park. The home side started the brighter and went close through efforts from Kyle Black and Laurence Toland. They were too get they’re reward for early dominance on twenty minutes after a precise cross from Darren Dunworth was met on the volley by former Letterkenny man Terence Shiels and left Shane O’Gara in the Letterkenny nets with no chance. But just a minute later Letterkenny drew level after a long range free kick from Dale Gorman was deflected into John Doherty’s path and he made no mistake from five yards out. Both teams exchanged half chances for the duration of the first half with Jonathan Minnock going close with a free kick and Keith Hegarty’s looping header ending up on top of the net.
Swilly again started the half on the front foot and looked the more likely team to go in front, Kyle Black went close on a couple of occasions with O’Gara pulling off an excellent stop and Minnock denying him on the goal line on another occasion. Keith Hegarty also came to Swilly’s rescue on two occasions with goal line clearences. The game was to have a frenetic last fifteen minutes with Swilly going ahead after good work in the left channel from Michael Mc Hugh and his cross found Ryan Mc Daid unmarked at the back post to tap home from five yards. Letterkenny to their credit responded well and were rewarded on eighty minutes after corner which was cleared initially was returned by Minnock and John Doherty powered a header past the helpless Wade. This was a setback for the home team who would have felt they’d done enough to claim all three points and so piled the pressure on the Letterkenny goal, and on eighty five minutes the referee pointed to the spot after Kieran Gorman was adjudged to have fouled Michael Mc Hugh in the box and up stepped young starlet Ronan Curtis who after having his initial effort well saved dispatched the rebound to net to the delight of the large home following. The drama wasn’t quite over yet after Wade received his marching orders for two yellow cards, the first of which for time wasting and the latter for apparent dissent much to his dismay and that of home crowd who felt it quite harsh. Four minutes of injury time were added and the Swilly rearguard had too with stand a barrage of long balls into box as Letterkenny searched for an equaliser but they did so and held out for a victory which keeps this league cup group very much alive and down for decision on the third round of games. John Doherty’s brace and all round performance gets him the nod for Letterkenny’s best and his opposite in the Swilly midfield Keith Hegarty had and outstanding game although not too much fault could be found with any of the men in red. Encouraging result for the home team and news just filtering through of a Van Persie hat-trick meant this PRO had a Monday night only Carlsberg could make.
Paul McGovern
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