Swilly Rovers head back to the big time as champions  

Swilly Rovers are going up as Temple Domestic Division One champions following this afternoon’s hard fought win over Letterkenny Rovers, in Swilly Park. 

Swilly Rovers 1
Letterkenny Rovers 0 

Swilly Rovers are going up as Temple Domestic Division One champions following this afternoon’s hard fought win over Letterkenny Rovers, in Swilly Park. 

Ian Ward scored the winning goal inside the opening minute of the second half of what was a tense afternoon on the banks of the Swilly. 

The right back raced on to a delightful cross from Shane McNamee to first drill past Blake Forkan, in the Rovers goals. 

For the goal McNamee who turned in a five star performance raiding on the left wing drove the ball across the goalmouth for Ward to strike at the far post. 

But in  a game of missed chances and a number of top drawer saves from both Forkan and Barry Gallagher, the Swilly keeper there was little between the sides.

After an initial early Swilly flurry and Corey McCahill drawing a good save from Forkan, the Letterkenny Rovers really settled into the game.

And Swilly who were already promoted ahead of this afternoon’s encounter received an early warning when Barry Gallagher was forced to pull off a wonderful save from Jordan Nugent.Nugent’s strike five minutes into the game seemed destined for the net just under the crossbar. 

But Gallagher rose acrobatically to turn the ball one handed over his own crossbar. It was a truly top class save. 

The save seemed to give the Letterkenny men oxygen and they forced four corners in a row as they laid siege on the Swilly posts. 

It was a nervous time for Swilly fans as the pace of Nugent posed a problem for the local rearguard. 

Both Nugent and Gareth Temple went close to break the deadlock before Ward had Swilly’s first shot in anger to trouble Forkan, in 20 minutes. 

The only other chance of note that fell to the locals was a Damian Friel header skimmed the Letterkenny crossbar. 

The game was ultimately decided inside of a minute of the restart when McNamee and Ward combined to conjure up the game’s only goal.

Swilly were now playing on the front foot and really going for it, David Craig went close five minutes later when he drove wide of Forkan’s left hand post. 

But with the temperature rising and a definite edge to the local derby clash Swilly failed to kick and the next few chances fell to the men from Leckview Park. 

Chris Malseed and second half substitute Conor O’Donnell twice came close for Letterkenny while McNamee and Conor Gormley went close to adding to the champions.

In the end Swilly Rovers held on to maintain their unbeaten run and to claim the title with two game’s to go.

With 15 wins and one draw from 16 outings  they have been the form team in the league and are worthy champions.

The win also means they will play in the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division next season for the first time in close on four decades.

Swilly Rovers: Barry Gallagher; Ian Ward. David Craig, Damian Friel, Ciaran Kelly; Dylan Hegarty, Conor Gormley, Martin McDaid (Ryan McDaid,75), Kyle Black, Shane McNamee, Corey McCahill. 

Letterkenny Rovers: Blake Forkan; Conor McGonagle, Gareth Temple (Danny Hall 61), Leon Doherty, James Gallagher (Conor O’Donnell 82), Ronan Curran,Nathan Bonner, David O’Donnell, Jordan Nugent Dylan Doogan 89)t Chris Malseed, Patrick Cahir. 

Referee; Packy Coll.