A goal in each half gave Letterkenny Rovers victory in this SFAI Ulster 16 Final at Leckview Park against Carrick Rovers from Monaghan.
Letterkenny Rovers 2 Carrick Rovers 0
By Charlie Collins at Leckview Park
This was a keenly contested game between two evenly matched teams and a goal at any time for the visitors could have made things very interesting.
The home team started well and created several chances in the opening quarter but the final pass let them down and Carrick survived.
The visitors responded well and began to get a foothold after that somewhat shaky start. But it was still the home team that looked the more dangerous going forward and Carrick keeper Thomas Garlan had to save well from Tobi Akinyimika and then Nathan Plumb was just too high with a free-kick from 25 yards.
In the 35th minute Letterkenny sub Brendon Kings who had replaced the injured Cian McMonagle was first to react to David Boyle’s cross but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Darragh Mee.
However three minutes later the home Rovers made the breakthrough their play deserved when keeper Garlan was caught out by James Gallagher’s free-kick from near the touchline and ended up in the net.
The second-half followed a similar pattern with Letterkenny Rovers pressing but Carrick staying right in the game at only 1-0 down. Nathan Plumb header over from a corner and then snatched at a shot after Kings had done well along the bye-line before laying the ball back into his path.
In the 60th minute it was 2-0, Tobi Akinyimika did well to won possession from a throw-in and when the ball found it’s way to him again on the edge of the box the big striker drilled in low to the bottom corner past keeper Garlan and the home team had a two goal lead,
To their credit the Monaghan lads kept trying right to the end but Letterkenny’s defence with centre-backs Liam Hannigan and Sean McVeigh excellent and keeper Killian Gribben very secure in his handling , kept them at bay.
The impressive Fionan Carolan almost got his team a late consolation goal but his curling effort was just win and Letterkenny Rovers victory was secure at 2-0 and they were presented with the Seamus Coleman Cup.
Letterkenny Rovers: Killian Gribben, Josh Patton (Sean McGinley 70), James Gallagher, Sean McVeigh, Liam Hannigan, Jake Kelly, Adam Yissau (James Gallagher ‘Barlow’ 75), Cian McMonagle (Brandon Kings 21), Tobi Akinyimika (Sean Pascual 70), Nathan Plumb, David Boyle ( Nathan Bonner 66 ) .
Carrick Rovers: Thomas Garlan, Darragh Mee, Cuan Reilly (Dylan Byrne half-time), Oisín Byrne, Daniel McCahey, Patrick Farrelly (Cian Burns 73), Luke McSharry , Oisín McNally (Dylan McMahon 66), Dylan McConnell (Kian Duffy 51), Fionan Carolan , Cian Conlon .
Referee: Marty McGarrigle
