BY DÁIRE BONNAR
IT’S a top of the table clash in the Premier Division this weekend and the stakes are high as Letterkenny Rovers welcome Bonagee United to Leckview Park.
Both sides came up from Division One together last season and, to very few people’s surprise, are now battling it out at the summit of the top tier.
Still unbeaten in the league and in with a chance of winning the Brian McCormick Cup and Ulster Cup, one blip on the Letterkenny Rovers form card this season came just last month as they were knocked out of the FAI Junior Cup by Galway side Mervue United, who they defeated at the same stage twelve months previous.
“The disappointment is probably still there after that game but we were beaten by the better team on the day,” Letterkenny Rovers defender Padraic Gilsenan told the Donegal News.
“But there has been a lot of football played already this season and when you look at the fixtures, there’s still so much to play for and it’s about keeping ourselves at the right end of it.”
Meath native Gilsenan played with Home Farm for seven years previously while living in Dublin but after moving up to Donegal, signed up with Bonagee last year as they finished second, behind his new club.
He made the switch to Letterkenny Rovers over the summer and the Leckview side have been in flying form this season.
“I’m really enjoying it, we’re getting towards the latter ends of the season and it’s good to see what may be on the horizon and could be there for us at the end of the year all going well.
“There’s a really good squad there with a balance of experience and youth so it has mixed very well, I’m 34 myself so I’m no spring chicken but there are players there that I’m still learning off to help bring me on further.”
When the pair met in the reverse fixture at Dry Arch Park, all that separated the sides was Conor O’Donnell’s strike in the final five minutes.
It was a big moment in the battle for the title with a three point swing, putting Letterkenny Rovers within two points of their rivals and with two games in hand.
Gilsenan has played in both jerseys in this fixture, but this local derby has extra incentive with three vital points up for grabs, although Stephen McConnell’s side aren’t putting any extra emphasis on this fixture in comparison to any other game remaining.
“We would never look too far ahead and the points on the board are what’s more important, if you look at either team they probably will be happy with their position at this stage in the year whether it’s points on the board or games in hand.
“It’s a big game but when you get to the business end of the season then they all end up being big but these are the games you want to play.
“For us, it’s the same three points that are on offer every week so it’s important we stay grounded and just concentrate on getting the win.
“We’ve played twice this year in the cup and league and there are plenty of men on both sides that have experience in it.”
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