Among the Munster Senior League’s number at the Diamond Park last night was former Ulster Senior League player David Shovlin.
The Raphoe man is now playing with top MSL side Avondale United and was introduced as a second-half sub last night in Ballyare as the visitors took a 2-1 win on the opening night of the 2018 FAI Intermediate Inter-League Tournament.
“It was unusual,” said Shovlin, who departed Letterkenny Rovers in the summer.
“I played in this tournament five or six times with Ulster so it was unusual lining up against them. Coming into a game of that speed was very difficult and they had us pegged back there at the end.
“There are eight Letterkenny Rovers lads in the squad and Anthony is the manager. The USL is quite small so you know everyone playing in it.
“I was disappointed not to start, but I was happy enough to get a few minutes.”
Shovlin started a new job in Cork in January, but stayed with Rovers until the end of the 2017/18 season.
After winning the Knockalla Caravans Cup and having been pipped by Cockhill to the League and League Cup, Shovlin said a fond farewell to Leckview Park.
He said: “It was a difficult choice. I didn’t want to leave Rovers. We went well last year.
“But I was coming home and it was tough mentally and physically. I just couldn’t commit to doing that again and had to make the move.
“I moved down for work to Cork. I stayed with Letterkenny to the end of the season. I just couldn’t commit to coming up every weekend. I was lucky with Avondale. It’s going well so far.”
Avondale have won seven Intermediate Cups, six of them since 2006. Shovlin shares a dressing room with some six-time winners.
Shovlin, who has won the Inter-League Tournament twice with the USL, added: “You see the clubhouse…there are Intermediate Cups up on the wall. What I would give for one.”
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