GOALS FROM CHRISTY CONNAGHAN and Terence Shiels clinched a home win for Letterkenny Rovers in the FAI Senior Cup this afternoon.
Letterkenny Rovers 2-1 Portmarnock
Eamon McConigley’s side brought their form from the FAI Intermediate Cup – where they will play Crumlin in the final on May 14 at the Aviva Stadium – to see off Portmarnock at Leckview Park this afternoon in a first round replay following a 1-1 draw in Dublin two weeks ago.
It was the visitors who created the first opening today in only the second minute when a cross from Alan O’Shaughnessy came to Chris Burgess, who brought a save from Rory Kelly in the Rovers goal.
Then, from the corner, Noel McGinnity’s shot was block by Paul Boyle.
Nine minutes in, Rovers hit the front when Connaghan finished expertly with a deft lob after a fantastic ball forward by David Shovlin.
It was almost two soon after when a free-kick from Paul McVeigh flew just over.
The sides were level by the 15th minute when Shiels gave away the ball and Graham Rusk was fouled by goalkeeper Kelly, who was booked. Ross Moran converted the penalty.
Kelly made an excellent save then to dent Rusk following a flowing Portmarnock move.
The away team shaded the end of the first half and the closest they went to scoring again was when a piledriver from O’Shaughnessy was just off target.
With it 1-1 at half-time, Kelly was again called into action in the 54th minute to save from O’Shaughnessy, while at the other end Connaghan show wide.
Darren McElwaine, the Rovers skipper, shot just over on 70 minutes and then Paul McVeigh saw Marcus Fitzmaurice in the Portmarnock goal save after another Shovlin through-ball.
But four minutes from time the winner came when Shiels shot low through a four-man wall from a free-kick from just outside the area.
The draw for round two is on Tuesday at 5pm with the SSE Airtricity League clubs in the hat.
Letterkenny Rovers: Rory Kelly; David Shovlin, Shane Bradley, Paul Boyle, Terence Shiels; Kevin McGrath, Christy Connaghan, Mark Forker, Paul McVeigh; Stevie Okakpu (Tristian Ferris 64), Darren McElwaine.
Portmarnock: Marcus Fitzmaurice; Aaron Egan, Callum Riches (Sean Moore 33), Gareth Whelan, Niall Kenny; Ross Moran, Noel McGinnity, Graham Rusk, Alan O’Shaughnessy; Christopher Burgess, Philip Rusk.
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