UCD SCORED five goals in the second half to recover from an early scare and end Letterkenny Rovers’ involvement in the FAI Senior Cup.
UCD 5 Letterkenny Rovers 2
BJ Banda netted twice for Rovers, but Premier Division UCD came on strong after half-time to win.
Liam Kerrigan’s brace and strikes by Yoyo Mahdy, Richie O’Farrell and Jason McClelland powered the Students into Monday evening’s draw.
Banda gave Letterkenny the lead as he turned past Tom Murphy when UCD failed to deal with a long throw-in.
Former Finn Harps striker Banda riffled wide earlier in the game, but his goal had the visitors ahead at half-time.
Evan Farrell and O’Farrell both had chances for the home side before the break, but the leveller did arrive through Mahdy, who scored after combining with Sam Byrne.
UCD – who had Donegal mann Jack Keaney in their midfield – hit the front when McClelland connected to a Kerrigan cross and finished past Rory Kelly.
O’Farrell punished a Rovers error to extend the lead, but Banda responded and his second of the day teed up a grandstand finish.
There, though, UCD added another two, both from former Sligo Rovers player Kerrigan.
UCD: Tom Murphy; Liam Scales, Aaron McGrath (Yoyo Mahdy, H/T), Evan Farrell, Isaac Akinsete; Richie O’Farrell (Dara Keane, 86), Jason McClelland (James Daly, 85), Liam Kerrigan, Jack Keaney, Paul Doyle; Sam Byrne.
Letterkenny Rovers: Rory Kelly, Kevin McGrath (Zach Gorman, 75), Ryan McConnell, Ryan Lonergan (Ciaran Kelly, 85), Emmet Friars; Declan Sharkey, Chris Malseed, Jonny Bonner, Lee Toland; BJ Banda, Gary Merritt (Pajo Rafferty, 85)
Referee: Paula Brady.
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