Ryan Lonergan found the postage stamp deep into stoppage time at Leckview Park, as his side jumped to the top of the Premier Division.
It was a well-matched first-half and the two teams went into the break on level terms.
Padraic Gilsenan’s strike just past the hour was cancelled out via a late penalty from Matthew McLaughlin, and with the referee’s whistle just around the corner, Lonergan’s strike secured all three points.
The rain was incessant at Leckview Park, but that didn’t halt either side from a fast start. Letterkenny Rovers had the first opportunity within 60 seconds, and it was Lee McMonagle who had an effort stopped by Christopher O’Donnell.
At the other end in the very next motion, Paul Bradley was put through on goal, with his low strike just off target from the edge of the box.
It was a competitive and open game with chances at regular intervals, and Matthew McLaughlin was the next to have a go, as his curling shot was well watched by Mark Anthony McGinley with quarter of an hour gone.
Five minutes later, the woodwork was struck by Rovers. Simon McGlynn floated the ball in from the left, and a deft header from BJ Banda looped onto the top of the bar and out of play.
Banda had another pop at goal close to the half hour, but this strike was always rising and fizzed over the target.
Both sides got into some promising positions in the final third as the half neared its conclusion, however, neither goalkeeper was called into any action of note.
At the start of the second half, the game continued down the same path as the two sides went stride for stride prior to the hour. McGlynn fired over early on, while Stephen Black couldn’t head home from a corner moments later. McGlynn had an effort parried away not long after, and Paul Bradley set-up Conor Temple, with his slight touch on the ball just a whisker away.
A few minutes beyond the hour, Letterkenny Rovers broke the deadlock. McGlynn’s initial ball into the box from the right was only half cleared as far as Dean McCarry, and his strike struck Padraic Gilsenan, who was able to turn and prod the ball beyond a host of Kilmac players.
Rovers had two decent chances to extend their advantage as the game entered its final ten minutes, with a McMonagle header off target, while McCarry had a goalbound shot well blocked by Stephen Black.
With a little under five minutes to go, Kilmacrennan Celtic were awarded a spot kick after Keith Cowan tripped Mark Patterson in the box. Matthew McLaughlin stepped up and his penalty was tucked away, just out of reach for McGinley.
Into added time, and with just seconds left on the clock, Rovers clinched the win in some style.
A long throw-in from the left was hooked clear, but only as far as Ryan Lonergan on the edge of the box, and he curled his effort right into the top corner, where the post and crossbar meet.
Kilmacrennan Celtic: Christopher O’Donnell; Declan McGarvey, John Sandilands, James Doherty, Stephen Black; Ryan Shields, Conor Black, Matthew McLaughlin, Mark Patterson; Aiden Sweeney, Paul Bradley. Subs: Conor Temple for Sandilands(ht), Caolon Curran for Sweeney(79 mins)
Letterkenny Rovers: Mark Anthony McGinley; Padraic Gilsenan, Rory Gallagher, Dean McCarry, Gareth Doherty; David Shovlin, BJ Banda, Ryan Lonergan, Lee McMonagle; Adrian Delap, Simon McGlynn. Subs: Keith Cowan for Gallagher(49 mins), Luke Parke for Doherty(61 mins), Zach Gorman for Banda(72 mins), Caolon Kelly for Shovlin(90 mins)
Referee: Marty McGarrigle
Game at a Glance
Player of the Match – Ryan Lonergan(Letterkenny Rovers) – A solid display in the midfield throughout the match, he barely put a foot wrong and topped off his performance with a beauty of a goal that couldn’t have been placed any better. Padraic Gilsenan deserves a mention for his display.
Turning Point – Throughout the 90 minutes, the two teams could not be separated. A draw looked the most likely outcome and it was seconds away from being a point each. The goal in the final moments was a dramatic winner for Letterkenny Rovers, and it gave their counterparts no time to respond.
The Whistler – In testing conditions, Marty McGarrigle handled the whole game well. Only a couple of bookings were issued, and the penalty awarded to Kilmacrennan Celtic was pretty clear-cut.
Talking Point – Letterkenny Rovers set themselves some pretty high standards after their exploits last campaign. This season, while they do already have a defeat alongside their name, they’ve still started the season in enviable form. That was their fourth straight win, while they are also unbeaten in the last seven in all competitions.
What’s Next – This was the last league game for the two sides this year. The Oscar Traynor is next weekend, with the Premier Division calendar set to resume in January.
