LETTERKENNY Rovers continued their impressive start to the Donegal Youth League campaign while Bonagee United and Drumkeen United won what was their opening games of the term.
Letterkenny Rovers 7 Lagan Harps 0
Letterkenny Rovers made it two wins from two in their defence of the Donegal Youth League title when defeating Lagan Harps 7-0 at Leckview Park on Wednesday evening.
Lagan had also won their opening day encounter against Milford United and this looked set to be a battle royale.
It was a well-matched encounter for the opening half hour with Lagan content to hit on the counter attack with Rovers pushing hard to gain the advantage.
Rovers had a number of early chances with Brandon Ndlovu and Caolan McConnell coming closest while Lagan goalkeeper David Arthur was excellent between the sticks and made a number of fine stops with the most notable one being to deny a well hit effort from Joel Gorman with a wonderful world class save.
Lagan did have a couple of half chances through Matty McDaid and Dean Murray but it was Rovers – driven on by the impressive Gorman and new signing Matthew McLaughlin in midfield – who eventually broke down the dogged Lagan rearguard on 34 minutes when Brandon Ndlovu scored from close range after a fine cross from the impressive Evan McBride.
The home side doubled their lead just minutes later when Ndlovu turned provider for Finnian O’Donnell and he netted from close range giving Arthur no chance.
Any hopes of a Lagan comeback in the second period were gone after an hour after a well placed shot into the bottom corner and a cute dink from O’Donnell saw him complete his hat-trick.
Ndlovu got in on the act when also netting twice to complete his treble with Mark McGlynn also scoring for the second successive week to make it a comfortable win in the end for Anthony Gorman’s charges who played some excellent football at times for long periods to light up what was a miserably damp August evening.
Rovers make the short journey next week to meet Bonagee while Lagan travel to Drumkeen.
Letterkenny Rovers: Matthew Whoriskey, Leon Doherty, Caolan McConnell, Fouad Bashar, Kyron Coyle, Evan McBride, Matthew McLaughlin, Joel Gorman, Finnian O’Donnell, Nathan Bonner, Brandon Ndlovu. Subs used: Sean McGinley, Mark McGlynn, Ciaran Kelly, Sam Harvey, Luke Parke
Lagan Harps squad: David Arthur, Ciaran Quinn, Josh Hay, Jack Canning, Darragh Rodgers, Tiernan McCauley, Dean Murray, Matthew McDaid, Jamie O’Leary, Darragh Keaveney, Mark Bonner, Emmet Tourish, Paul McFadden, Nathan Maxwell.
Referee: Marty McGarrigle
Bonagee United 6 Swilly Rovers 4
Click here to read a report of this game
Milford United 2 Drumkeen United 4
Drumkeen scored three goals in a whirlwind six minute spell before adding a fourth before halftime with the goals from Sean McVeigh, Jack Patton, Oisin Caulfield and Oran Ayton.
Milford recovered from another slow start for the second week in succession and got goals back through Cathal Deeney and Shane Black in what was a dominant second half from the Moyle View Park men.
However, it was Drumkeen who get off to a winning start in their first league game of the season and a good win on the road which no doubt will impress manager Patrick Toye.
