LETTERKENNY Rovers came from two down to move into second spot in the bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League.
Letterkenny Rovers 5 Derry City Reserves 2
By Chris McNulty at Letterkenny Community Centre
Goals in the first ten minutes from Michael Harris and Patrick Ferry had Derry two up and sensing an upset.
However, Davitt Walsh, Emmett Friars, BJ Banda, Chris Malseed and Jonny Bonner all netted as Rovers took the win.
The young Derry side perhaps shocked even themselves with the swiftness of their start.
When Ferry fired home, just two minutes after Harris broke the deadlock, the Candystripes were in dreamland.
The key goal, and the one that broke Derry’s resistance, was the equaliser from Friars right on the blow of Vincent McLoughlin’s half-time whistle.
Rovers were rocked with the early concessions, but they got one back when, from a tight angle on the right-hand side, Walsh somehow managed to fire to Conor O’Neill’s net.
Rory Kelly, the Rovers ‘keeper, atoned for a mishap that enabled Harris to score when he saved well from Adam Curran, who should have don better when played in by Dominic Dunne.
O’Neill denied Banda, while Connor Gormley headed wide as the home side began to turn the screw, while Matty Harkin drilled off target.
Harkin and Banda returned to the Rovers XI from the side that began Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Bonagee United and the Cathedral Town side levelled when Friars headed home a deliciously delivered corner from Bonner.
There was time only for Derry to restart the game and the half-time whistle blew.
Rovers were in front seven minutes into the second half when Banda finished off a good move.
Just 12 minutes later, it was 4-2 as Malseed cracked a superb strike from 20 yards beyond the helpless O’Neill. The ball broke invitingly for the midfielder and his shot flew home.
With 17 minutes yo go, Bonner drilled low to the net to complete the win and see Rovers go behind leaders Cockhill at the summit.
Letterkenny Rovers: Rory Kelly, Rhys McDermott, Jonny Bonner, Emmett Friars, Dan O’Donnell, Matty Harkin, Kevin McGrath, Connor Gormley, BJ Banda, Chris Malseed, Davitt Walsh. Subs used: Lee Toland, Gary Merritt, Declan Sharkey, Ciaran Kelly, Jonathan Coady. Derry City Reserves: Conor O’Neill, Caoimhin Porter, Evan McLaughlin, Adam Taggart, Kyle McCann, Jason Donegan, Adam Curran, Orrin McLaughlin, Patrick Ferry, Dominic Dunne, Michael Harris. Subs used: Oisin Hargan, Odhran Kennedy, Mark McFadden, Brendan Barr, Eoin Mclaughlin. Referee: Vincent McLoughlinÂ
