Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
    • GAA

      Donegal ladies learn opponents in Group B…

      6 hours ago

      Sport

      Successful weekend for Donegal Community Games in…

      7 hours ago

      GAA

      Grab yourself a Murphy memory while you…

      23 hours ago

      Football

      Dunfanaghy Youths FC finally get their new…

      1 day ago

      Athletics

      ‘Special K’ for Finn Valley brothers on…

      1 day ago

      Athletics

      Letterkenny Athletics Club Notes

      4 days ago

      Athletics

      Another busy week for Finn Valley AC

      4 days ago

      Athletics

      Letterkenny AC news: Wallace takes Wild Atlantic…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      New boxing club opens in west Donegal

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Jason Quigley to headline iconic Madison Square…

      2 months ago

      Boxing

      Quigley remains focused despite late opponent change

      2 months ago

      Boxing

      Boxing: Three more finals in North West…

      2 months ago

      Football

      Dunfanaghy Youths FC finally get their new…

      1 day ago

      Football

      Bonagee book a semi-final place in FAI…

      1 day ago

      Football

      Carn complete treble with dramatic Division Two…

      1 day ago

      Football

      Donegal League Presentations: All the winners and…

      2 days ago

      GAA

      Donegal ladies learn opponents in Group B…

      6 hours ago

      GAA

      Grab yourself a Murphy memory while you…

      23 hours ago

      GAA

      Inspired introductions help Donegal Ladies claim Ulster…

      1 day ago

      GAA

      Special memento presented in memory of Letterkenny…

      3 days ago

      Golf

      Golf: Shaun lands top prize at Otway…

      6 days ago

      Golf

      Seán MacCumhaills Golf Classic returns on June…

      2 weeks ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club hosting Golf Classic on…

      2 weeks ago

      Golf

      Donegal ETB Golf: McGlynn and McCafferty win…

      1 month ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Hockey scoop Intermediate League title after…

      3 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe complete double with Intermediate Ulster…

      1 month ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe victorious in Linden Cup Final…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hard-fought win sees Raphoe close in on…

      2 months ago

      GAA

      GAA Roundup: Good day for senior hurlers…

      4 weeks ago

      GAA

      Super win for Donegal hurlers in Nicky…

      1 month ago

      Hurling

      Brave Donegal U17 hurlers go down to…

      1 month ago

      GAA

      Donegal impress, but Meath win out in…

      2 months ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny RFC beat Cavan to reach Gordon…

      2 months ago

      Rugby

      Sadhbh McGrath (18) to make senior Ireland…

      2 months ago

      Rugby

      Anne Scott receives IRFU Spirit of Rugby…

      2 months ago

      Rugby

      Free pizza! Six Nations fundraiser to float…

      3 months ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
Monday 19°CTuesday 22°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

  • News
  • Sport
    • GAA

      Donegal ladies learn opponents in Group B…

      6 hours ago

      Sport

      Successful weekend for Donegal Community Games in…

      7 hours ago

      GAA

      Grab yourself a Murphy memory while you…

      23 hours ago

      Football

      Dunfanaghy Youths FC finally get their new…

      1 day ago

      Athletics

      ‘Special K’ for Finn Valley brothers on…

      1 day ago

      Athletics

      Letterkenny Athletics Club Notes

      4 days ago

      Athletics

      Another busy week for Finn Valley AC

      4 days ago

      Athletics

      Letterkenny AC news: Wallace takes Wild Atlantic…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      New boxing club opens in west Donegal

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Jason Quigley to headline iconic Madison Square…

      2 months ago

      Boxing

      Quigley remains focused despite late opponent change

      2 months ago

      Boxing

      Boxing: Three more finals in North West…

      2 months ago

      Football

      Dunfanaghy Youths FC finally get their new…

      1 day ago

      Football

      Bonagee book a semi-final place in FAI…

      1 day ago

      Football

      Carn complete treble with dramatic Division Two…

      1 day ago

      Football

      Donegal League Presentations: All the winners and…

      2 days ago

      GAA

      Donegal ladies learn opponents in Group B…

      6 hours ago

      GAA

      Grab yourself a Murphy memory while you…

      23 hours ago

      GAA

      Inspired introductions help Donegal Ladies claim Ulster…

      1 day ago

      GAA

      Special memento presented in memory of Letterkenny…

      3 days ago

      Golf

      Golf: Shaun lands top prize at Otway…

      6 days ago

      Golf

      Seán MacCumhaills Golf Classic returns on June…

      2 weeks ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club hosting Golf Classic on…

      2 weeks ago

      Golf

      Donegal ETB Golf: McGlynn and McCafferty win…

      1 month ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Hockey scoop Intermediate League title after…

      3 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe complete double with Intermediate Ulster…

      1 month ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe victorious in Linden Cup Final…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hard-fought win sees Raphoe close in on…

      2 months ago

      GAA

      GAA Roundup: Good day for senior hurlers…

      4 weeks ago

      GAA

      Super win for Donegal hurlers in Nicky…

      1 month ago

      Hurling

      Brave Donegal U17 hurlers go down to…

      1 month ago

      GAA

      Donegal impress, but Meath win out in…

      2 months ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny RFC beat Cavan to reach Gordon…

      2 months ago

      Rugby

      Sadhbh McGrath (18) to make senior Ireland…

      2 months ago

      Rugby

      Anne Scott receives IRFU Spirit of Rugby…

      2 months ago

      Rugby

      Free pizza! Six Nations fundraiser to float…

      3 months ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
Football

USL – Rovers rue a missed chance against Cockhill in stalemate

written by Chris McNulty December 1, 2019
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

WHILE THERE was nothing to separate these two again, Letterkenny Rovers will feel as if this was a case of two dropped points against USL champions Cockhill Celtic.

Letterkenny Rovers 0 Cockhill Celtic 0

By Chris McNulty at Leckview Park

Eamon McConigley’s side had the better of the play and the chances, but could find no way past Gavin Cullen as Cockhill kept another clean sheet – their third in four League outings.

On an afternoon when Rovers were on top, the Cathedral Town men just couldn’t break the deadlock, but it was they who grumbled at the conclusion having had a ‘goal’ chalked off on 70 minutes.

Kevin McGrath had the ball in the Cockhill net 20 minutes from the end, but it proved the game’s decisive moment as it was ruled out. 

McGrath surged in to finish from Lee Toland’s searching cross to the far post, but an offside flag from assistant referee Vincent McLoughlin stopped right celebrations in their tracks. 

McGrath had appeared, from a vantage point in the stand, to ghost in around the back but the protests were limited at the time from Rovers. 

BJ Banda netted a hat-trick last week as Rovers defeated Fanad United 4-1 here and the former Finn Harps striker began in lively fashion.

Banda was a threat throughout and he almost broke the stalemate five minutes before the break. It was Banda who sent Gary Merritt away down the right-hand side. 

Merritt floated in a teasing cross and Banda soared through an air that belied the last page of the calendar only to see a diving header clear the crossbar by inches. 

Banda, though, will feel as if he should’ve, at the very least, hit the target from that position.

Moments later, Banda wriggled away, but Cullen was out to save at the feet of the Letterkenny frontman.

Cockhill Celtic

After the reprieve of the offside ruling for the goal that wasn’t, Cockhill soon fired a warning with Adam McLaughlin getting in only to be denied by home ‘keeper Rory Kelly.

The visitors showed their strength with a triple substitution that brought about the arrivals of Laurence Toland, Adam Duffy and Mark Moran into the action with 15 minutes to go.

Peter Doherty headed into Kelly’s arms as Cockhill began to threaten and Toland warmed the home net-minder’s gloves from a free kick as the evening darkened, but there was to be no breakthrough moment.

Meetings between these two have been typically tense over recent years and this one was no different. 

After being sent away by Jonny Bonner’s pass on eight minutes, Banda jinked away from Lee McColgan before drilling a powerful shot into the side-netting.

A minute later, after Oisin McColgan’s wayward back pass evaded Cullen, Bonner’s corner was met by Dan O’Donnell, whose header fell upon the top of the Cockhill crossbar.

Rovers ought to have hit the front on 15 minuets, but Kevin McGrath shot wide from 12 yards as he raced onto a loose ball when Peter Doherty’s challenge halted Banda’s march.

O’Donnell headed inches wide on 24 minutes as he connected with another teasing Bonner corner. O’Donnell’s header dropped just shy the target, but the hosts were playing with the greater purpose. 

Cullen saved from Bonner’s low drive soon after and Doherty’s challenge prevented Banda from tucking in the rebound. A fraction either way and referee Garbhan Taggart would’ve been pointing to the spot 12 yards from Cullen’s goal-line with Rovers appealing that Banda had been unfairly impeded.

Rovers welcomed Connor Gormley back from suspension and the Ramelton man went straight into the starting line-up. Gormley was in for the unavailable Declan Sharkey, the ex-Derry City youth taking up a sentry alongside Bonner in the hosts’ engine room.

Cockhill arrived here on the back of a 1-1 Intermediate Cup draw with Midleton last Sunday, which had been a day of considerable frustration for Cockhill, who must now head for Cork next weekend for a replay.

Player-manager Cullen, Keegan Hegarty, Daniel Doherty and Adam McLaughlin come into a Cockhill side showing four changes from last weekend’s Cup tie.

The visitors fired a warning shot across the Rovers brows when Hegarty’s cross-cum-shot whizzed wide in the 22nd minute, but that was as good as it got for the Inishowen side in part one.

Lee Toland whipped a free kick wide in the early moments of part two while another set-piece, this one from Merritt, deflected dangerously across goal, but ultimately wide.

Letterkenny Rovers: Rory Kelly; Rhys McDermott, Emmet Friars, Dan O’Donnell, Lee Toland; Kevin McGrath, Jonny Bonner, Connor Gormley, Matty Harkin; Gary Merritt, BJ Banda. Subs: Ryan Lonergan for Harkin (78), Chris Malseed for Merritt (82), Davitt Walsh and Jack Dwyer for Banda and McGrath (88).

Cockhill Celtic: Gavin Cullen; Keegan Hegarty, Peter Doherty, Oisin McColgan, Lee McColgan; Daniel Doherty, Ronan Doherty, Jimmy Bradley, Stephen Duffy; Adam McLaughlin, Cathal Farren. Subs: Laurence Toland, Mark Moran and Adam Duffy for McLaughlin, Farren and D.Doherty (76).

Referee: Garbhan Taggart.

USL – Rovers rue a missed chance against Cockhill in stalemate was last modified: December 1st, 2019 by Chris McNulty
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
BJ BandaCockhill CelticConnor GormleyGavin CullenJonny BonnerKevin mcGrathletterkennyLetterkenny RoversRory KellyUlster Senior League
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Dunfanaghy Youths FC finally get their new...

1 day ago

Bonagee book a semi-final place in FAI...

1 day ago

Carn complete treble with dramatic Division Two...

1 day ago

Donegal League Presentations: All the winners and...

2 days ago

Depleted Harps come up trumps in Limerick

3 days ago

Bonagee Ladies aiming for FAI Cup semi-final

3 days ago

Outrage at vandalism attack on Kilmacrennan FC’s...

5 days ago

Cockhill Celtic claim Ulster Senior Cup

1 week ago

Harps outclassed by impressive Waterford

1 week ago

Finn Harps sign Patrick Ferry and Stephen...

2 weeks ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

MOST POPULAR

Donegal County Council
Advertisement

Sport Hub

  • Stay up to date with Donegal Sport Hub on Facebook

    1 year ago
  • Donegal links rank in Top 100 Golf Courses in the World

    1 year ago
  • Bundoran 10 Event set for March 2022

    1 year ago
See More

Donegal Woman

    See More

    Columnists

    Motoring - Brian McDaid

    DD Motoring: An old road, but a new journey 

    1 day ago

    Career Advice - Rory White

    Leaving Cert Countdown: Tips for exam success

    3 days ago

    Group Holidays - Travel Department

    Save up to €100pp with Travel Department’s superb summer offer!

    1 week ago

    Pet Corner with Gary's Pet World - Michelle Kelly

    DD Pet Corner: The best ways to manage arthritis in pets

    3 weeks ago

    Healthy Living - Sorcha McElchar

    Burns overcomes challenge of Donegal man Erskine to become GAA President

    3 months ago

    See All Columnists
    Advertisement
    Donegal Daily Jobs

    Donegal Woman

      See More

      Read More

      • News
      • Sport
      • Courts
      • Jobs
      • Sales & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Features
      • Business
      • Politics
      • Council News

      Information

      • Contact Us
      • About
      • Advertise WIth Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Disclaimer
      • Terms & Conditions

      Our Sites

      Donegal Woman
      Donegal Woman
      Donegal Daily

      © 2023 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
      Website by owenod


      Back To Top.