Spot-on Letterkenny Rovers beat North End United on penalties in FAI Junior Cup

Letterkenny Rovers came through against North End United on penalties in the fourth round of the FAI Junior Cup.

North End United 0-0 Letterkenny Rovers
(After extra-time, Letterkenny win 5-3 on penalties)

Following the long trek to Wexford, Stephen McConnell’s team earned their place in the last 32 of the competition with goalkeeper Blake Forkan and Luke Parke the shootout heroes against the team that won the Junior Cup in 2018.

In the 10th minute, North End's Reece Murphy's header went over the bar for the home team. Letterkenny displayed a promising build-up down the left wing in the 16th minute, but Gareth Doherty's delivery just eluded Aidy Delap, who forced a save from the North End keeper Jason McGuire in the 38th minute.

Both teams continued to create chances, with Ciaran Paige's shot for North End impressively saved by Blake Forkan in the 53rd minute.

Neither side could break the deadlock, so to penalties it went with Forkan making the save to seal his side’s passage. Joel Gorman, Conor Tourish, Zach Gorman, Gareth Doherty and Parke all scored from the spot, with Forkan saving from left-back the hosts’ third penalty from Reece Murphy.

North End United: Jason McGuire; Darragh Byrne Maloney (FT), Gary Delaney, Donal Porter, Reece Murphy; Alan Rhodes (Peter Marsden 99), Lee Wadding-Byrne (Cian Cathy 62), Niall Connolly; Ciaran Paige, Kyle Dempsey (Adam Beary 78), Paul Murphy.
Letterkenny Rovers: Blake Forkan; Nathan Bonner (FT), Conor Tourish, Dean McCarry, Caolan McConnell (Rory Gallagher 76); Joel Gorman, Christy Connaghan (Luke Parke HT, ET), Gareth Doherty; Zach Gorman; Aidy Delap, Nathan Plumb.