WHEN PAUL ‘YANK’ BOYLE scored the decisive penalty against Dunboyne FC on a dusking Sunday January evening last month, it sealed Letterkenny Rovers’ passage to the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup.
When the pages of the history books were pealed back, the shoot-out win not only sealed a victory in the replayed round of 32 tie against the stubborn Meath outfit, it was also Rovers’ first win in the national part of the competition since 2004.
Photo caption: The Letterkenny Rovers team that took on Rockmount FC in Cork in the 2004 FAI Intermediate Cup semi-final. Photo: Stephen Doherty
Twelve years ago, Rovers had never won at that national stage until a couple of victories got the team going. Danny McConnell was charge at Leckview Park then and a 2-1 victory over Tullamore sealed a place in the last eight against Cherry Orchard.
Heavy overnight rain the night before the quarter-final meant the contest was moved to Diamond Park in Ballyare but that didn’t deter Rovers.
It was an unyielding contest, one that was settled when Barry Porter headed the only goal from close range on 67 minutes following a cross from Shane Sweeney.
Three minute later, the sizable home support thought they’d doubled their advantage in bizarre circumstances.
Goalkeeper Danny Gallagher, who it’d be fair to say didn’t have an eye for goal, launched a routine kick-out from the edge of his area, which trickled past his opposite number and into the net.
Referee Terence Moyne awarded the goal but George Caldwell, the assistant referee, flagged for a push on Cherry Orchard defender Kevin Curley. So Mark Clohessy, the visiting goalkeeper, saw his blushes spared.
John Wilkes, the Cheery Orchard manager, had guided his team to wins in Donegal against Fanad United twice beforehand. But following a barrage of first half Cherry Orchard corners, Rovers were still on terms at 0-0 at half-time.
Ten minutes before the break, Rovers had an almost vertical fall of hail coming into their faces. But like the Cherry Orchard assault, the hosts had weathered the storm and put in a better showing after the break.
After Porter’s breakthrough, the margins remained close and Graham Cullen, the Rovers substitute, almost added a second two minutes from time.
“Once we got the goal we never really looked back and the lads did excellent,” McConnell said afterwards. “The conditions played a big part and in the end the result was all important.”
Whilst manager of Swilly Rovers, McConnell had lost the 1999 FAI Intermediate Cup semi-final against Rockmount from Cork and as manager of Rovers five years later he was offered the chance of revenge. The other last four pairing was Wayside Celtic against Bluebell United.
The Letterkenny Rovers travelling party in Cork for the FAI Intermediate Cup semi-final in 2004. Photo: Stephen Doherty
Rockmount had won that Intermediate Cup in 1999, having also lost the 2003 final. At Fanad United’s Triagh-A-Loch – another home from home due to adverse rain – Rovers were perhaps fortunate enough to share a scoreless draw but they were still in the competition as talk of a chartered flight to Cork for the replay was discussed.
“I’ve never been out of a country and you don’t need a plane to get to Dublin or Belfast,” McConnell said, not overly enthused with the thoughts of flying to Cork.
The road was enough with the motion of flying never even making it as far as the boardroom.
In the replay, Rovers played much better than they had closer to home. McConnell had lost the experience of Stevie Collins and Martin McGinley, both of whom had hobbled out in Fanad, and opted for youth with Johnny Loughrey and Graham Cullen coming in.
The home side were minus a certain Pat Keane, whose brother Roy was Manchester United captain at the time.
Paddy McDaid rammed a shot off the Rockmount crossbar and Porter saw an effort cleared off the line. But it wasn’t to be. Twenty minutes from time, the only goal came following a cross from Ronan Beckinson which Sweeney unfortunately headed off the underside of his own crossbar and in.
Rockmount held on and went onto win the final – taking the trophy back to Cork for the second time – when they overcame Bluebell in the final.
On the long drive home back in April 2004, the Letterkenny Rovers squad would certainly have spoken of their desire to make further inroads in the national stages of the competition.
Letterkenny Rovers players congratulate Paul McVeigh on his opening goal against Midleton FC from Cork in the FAI Intermediate Cup round of 16 tie at the Aura Centre in Letterkenny last month. Photo: Stephen Doherty
It’s taken them until now, but following last month’s 2-1 victory at Letterkenny’s Aura Centre over Midleton from Cork with Paul McVeigh and Darren ‘Macca’ McElwaine scoring, tomorrow there’s another quarter-final – just the club’s second ever – when Killester come to Leckview.
Rory Kelly, the Letterkenny Rovers goalkeeper, agrees: ““Macca tells us that every day: ‘We might never get this chance again’.”
There’s no survivors from the 2004 squad still involved but experience can come from other sources.
Current manager Eamon McConigley was part of Fanad United’s momentous FAI Intermediate Cup teams of 1988 and 1995.
“The FAI Intermediate Cup is the next best cup in Ireland behind the FAI Cup,” McConigley said. “I’ve enough experience having won this competition twice and lost in the final twice. It’s up to me to get that experience out to the lads on the field.”
Letterkenny Rovers – team v Cherry Orchard in 2004 FAI Intermediate Cup quarter-final: Danny Gallagher; Conor Sweeney, Maurice Laverty, Michael Lynch, Shane Sweeney; Barry Porter, Stephen Collins, John Gregg, Paul McGovern (Graham Cullen 73); Paddy McDaid, Gary Heaney.
Letterkenny Rovers – team v Rockmount FC in 2004 FAI Intermediate Cup semi-final: Danny Gallagher; Conor Sweeney, Maurice Laverty, Michael Lynch, Shane Sweeney; Barry Porter, Stephen Collins (Martin McGinley 13, Johnny Loughrey 88), John Gregg, Paul McGovern; Paddy McDaid, Gary Heaney.
Letterkenny Rovers – team v Rockmount FC in 2004 FAI Intermediate Cup semi-final replay: Danny Gallagher; Graham Cullen (Conor Sweeney 90), Maurice Laverty, Michael Lynch, Shane Sweeney; Johnny Loughrey (Tony Blake 70), Paul McGovern, John Gregg, Barry Porter; Gary Heaney, Paddy McDaid.
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