Draw with Fanad confirms Letterkenny Rovers' invincible Premier Division season

Letterkenny Rovers completed an invincible season in the Donegal League Premier Division following a 1-1 draw with Fanad United.

In a match reversed to the Leckview Park astroturf, it was Oisin Langan who gave Fanad the lead in the first half, before BJ Banda struck the leveller with 20 minutes to play.

In an evenly contested first half, Lee McMonagle was denied by Mark McConigley in the Fanad goal before Langan opened the scoring for Fanad, steering home after a shot from Patrick McGinley when Paddy Carr headed towards goal on 25 minutes.

Fanad’s 7-0 win over Rathmullan Celtic meant the back-to-back champions of the past two seasons would end up in third place, regardless, with their draw in Letterkenny leaving their final total at 34 points, 12 off the new cha]mpions. 

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Having given the champions a guard of honour onto the pitch, the wrapping up of domestic matters means they can now turn their focus to the FAI Cup, where they are due to take on Leicester Celtic from Rathfarnham on Sunday, May 18, in the first round.

With the half-time score 1-1, David O’Donnell blazed over for Letterkenny early in the second period, and Nathan Pumb saw one cleared off the line before Adrian Delap came off the bench to cause problems.

Plumb and Lee McMonagle worked a move for Banda to equalise from a squared pass on 70 minutes. Rovers pressed for a winner with Dean McCarry and McMonagle going close, and McConigley stopped twice from Joel Gorman.

The result means Stephen McConnell’s side finished the campaign with 14 wins and four draws, having previously shared the spoils with Kildrum Tigers twice and Gweedore Celtic, to leave a total of 46 points, eight in front of second-placed Bonagee United. They are the first side to go unbeaten in the Donegal League top flight since Kildrum Tigers in 2017/18.

Rovers added the Ulster Junior Cup to the Premier Division title last Sunday with a 1-0 win over Kildrum and now turn their attention to recapturing the Brian McCormick Sports Cup, which they won last season courtesy of a 4-3 victory over Keadue Rovers.

Swilly Rovers provide the opposition in the Letterkenny Area final this Sunday, with Kilmacrennan Celtic awaiting the winners in the semi-final, while Castlefin Celtic and Donegal Town FC will contest the other last-four tie.

Fanad United: Mark McConigley; Keelin McElwaine, Daibhid Lynch, Oisin Langan (Dylan McGlone 73), Liam McGrenaghan; Patrick McGinley, Patrick Carr, Eoin Logue, Darren McElwaine; Peter Carr (Charlie McAteer 73), Adam Carr.
Letterkenny Rovers: Mark Anthony McGinley; Ryan Lonergan (Nathan Bonner 77), Dean McCarry, Keith Cowan, Caolan McConnell (Adam Murphy 18); David O’Donnell (Adrian Delap 55), Gareth Doherty, Joe Gorman, Nathan Plumb (David Shovlin 77); Lee McMonagle, BJ Banda.
Referee: Mick Lagan.