DONEGAL YOUTH LEAGUE –ROVERS SEAL TOP SPOT
Bonagee United 1 Letterkenny Rovers 3
Letterkenny Rovers secured top spot in the Northern Section of the Donegal Youth League with this comfortable 3-1 victory away to neighbours Bonagee United yesterday.
Three first half goals were enough to give Rovers the three points to advance to the league decider against Southern Section winners Cappry Rovers in February for the much coveted Dick Duffy Memorial Cup.
Rovers have been the form team in their section notching up seven wins and one draw from their eight games and following Fanad United’s 2-1 victory over Rosses Academy earlier in the day, Anthony Gorman’s young guns required a point from this derby to see the job complete.
The crucial victory came seven days earlier courtesy of a 1-0 win over closest rivals Fanad United.
On this occasion, two penalties from Kieran McPhearson and Dale Gorman followed by another McPhearson strike ensured there was no final day slip-up.
Rovers went on the offensive in the opening exchanges and were rewarded with a goal on seven minutes after Bonagee goalkeeper David Tyrell upended McPhearson inside the penalty area and referee David Wogan had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
The striker duly hammered home from 12 yards to put his side in the driving seat.
It was 2-0 on the quarter hour mark again from the penalty spot. Gorman was the pivotal figure this time as he was fouled following his burst into the penalty box and he made no mistake from the spot.
Rovers added a third before half-time with McPhearson pouncing on a poor clearance from eight yards out to rifle into the top corner of the net.
The second half was a largely stale encounter and the home side grabbed a consolation goal on 83 minutes when Jason Doherty slotted home from close range.
Next week will see the opening round of fixtures in the Colin Breslin Cup. Holders Fanad make the trip to Erne Wanderers, Letterkenny Rovers will be fancied at home to Illistrin, Bonagee go to Drumbar and Cappry Rovers host Rosses Academy.
Referee – David Wogan
Results
Donegal Youth League
Fanad United 2 Rosses Academy 1
Bonagee United 1 Letterkenny Rovers 3
Fixtures
Colin Breslin Cup Quarter-Finals
Drumbar v Bonagee United (Seamus McGory)
Erne Wanderers v Fanad United (Liam Farren)
Letterkenny Rovers v Illistrin (Kevin Logue)
Cappry Rovers v Rosses Academy (David Wogan)
Ulster Cup Prelim Round
Erne Wanderers v Drumbar
Ulster Cup Quarter-Finals
Rosses Academy v Bonagee United
Fanad United v Buncrana Hearts
Letterkenny Rovers v Cappry Rovers
All games kick-off 2pm. Extra-time and penalties if required.
Games reversible if home pitch unplayable.
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