ROAD TO AVIVA: David Shovlin says he is ready for the biggest game of his career, when his Letterkenny Rovers side face Crumlin United on Saturday night at the Aviva Stadium.
It was Shovlin who scored the crucial second goal against Ringmahon Rangers that sparked frenzied celebrations at Leckview Park almost a month ago.
His superbly taken goal deep in injury-time ensured Eamon Mc Conigley’s side booked their place in their first ever FAI Intermediate Cup Final.
Shovlin was introduced as a second-half substitute in that game, he missed out on a starting berth, after he suffered a nasty shoulder injury a few weeks prior, but he proved to be Letterkenny’s match-winner on the day and his introduction changed the game.
Shovlin hopes he has done enough to force his way back into Mc Conigley’s starting XI, and says he can’t wait for Saturday.
Shovlin told Donegal Daily, “It’s still a bit surreal to think we’re going to play at the Aviva in an All-Ireland final, but what an occasion it’s going to be for us as players, and for the club in general.
“So much hard work goes in behind the scenes, and I’m delighted for some of the stalwarts like Victor Fisher, Dessie Kelly, James Barclay, Kieran McGrath, Patsy Collins, Eric White and Mickey Duffy who have been involved with the club for years.
“It’s going to be a special, special day for them, and obviously for us as players, we’re playing at the highest level we possibly can and that’s where you want to get to as players.
“I just can’t wait for Saturday now, I’d say I’ve everybody tortured on Snap-chat with my daily countdowns.”
Shovlin is one of the most talented players in the Rovers squad, and is a very versatile player, at the start of the FAI Intermediate Cup, Shovlin operated at left-back, and then at centre-half.
However, most feel his best position is playing in the pocket behind the striker, and that was evidenced by two super displays against Killester United and then his cameo off the bench against Ringmahon Rangers.
Shovlin has played League of Ireland football with Salthill Devon, when he was at University in Galway, and has also helped the Ulster Senior League Inter-Provincial team to back-to-back All-Ireland titles.
He’s an experienced player, and many feel he could be the key man on Saturday night.
Rovers have a good mixture of experience and youth, and Shovlin says the group is fully focused ahead of Saturday’s huge match.
Shovlin said, “There’s obviously been a great buzz around the town since we won the semi-final, there’s been a great hype and it’s been a very exciting time.
“There’s a lot going on, it’s fantastic Evolve have got involved, and all the support we’ve received is greatly appreciated by all.
“But Eamon is a very experienced manager and he got us focused on the Tuesday after the semi-final win, and reiterated to us that we’ve won nothing yet.
“He knows we’ve got to focus on our jobs and not get side-tracked by any off-field distractions.
“But in fairness we’ve got a really good group of players, who are experienced and the training has been top notch in the build-up to this game.
Crumlin United are the kingpins of Intermediate Football, they’ve won the FAI Intermediate Cup in 2009, 2010 and in 2015.
They’re going for back-to-back titles and are red hot favourites for the final, but Shovlin is quietly confident.
“Crumlin are a top-class side, we know that, everybody knows that, but we’ve also got a quality team.
“You don’t get to a final of a competition like this, if you don’t have quality all through your squad.
“We’re the first Donegal team in twenty years to reach the final, so it’s not easy.
“We’ve been written off in every round of this competition, we had to go to Cockhill, we beat Dunboyne over a replay, then we defeated Midleton, Killester and then Ringmahon over a replay.
“Everyone of those games were tough, tough games but we showed that we can battle when need be, and we showed we can play as well.
“We’re ready for Saturday, and we’re going to leave everything we have out there, if we can do that then I’m confident we can get a result.”
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