Letterkenny Rovers ‘icon’ Dessie Kelly simply irreplaceable - Stephen McConnell 

Stephen McConnell admits that Friday's Donegal League presentations night was a difficult one for Letterkenny Rovers as they still attempt to come to terms with the passing of the ‘iconic’ Dessie Kelly. 

Kelly had been involved at Rovers since first joining the Leckview Park club in 1962, filling roles from player, manager and administrator to groundsman. But his contribution to Donegal football is general is also substantial. 

He was instrumental in the purchase of and subsequent development of The Diamond Park in Ballyare - the Donegal League’s headquarters.

He was a a member of the FAI’s senior and junior councils and served on several sub-committees at national level.

And his death comes just over four months after the passing of his good friend and former football administration colleague Terry Leyden.

McConnell was named Donegal League Sunday manager of the Year at the Silver Tassie at the weekend following a brilliant season for the club. Zach Gorman picked up the First Division Player of the Year.

Rovers are up to the Premier Division after winning the First Division title while the Area Shield and the Brian McCormick Cup were also secured. 

Rovers reserves also claimed the Saturday Division 3 title with Eugene Deery named Player of the Year and Jordan Nugent Top Goalscorer. 

“We couldn't have asked for a better season,” said McConnell. “Losing Dessie Kelly this week, the icon that he was,  it just means it’s a little more subdued this evening, tinged with real sadness. 

“He was such a stalwart, not just in Donegal League football circles but also Ulster and around the country. He was the chairman of our club - he set the club up 62 years ago. 

“Like, Dessie was involved with the Donegal League, the Ulster Senior League, Ulster FA, Woman’s League, Schoolboys League, Letterkenny District League; I mean people with that type of contribution and legacy are few and far between. 

“We’ll never replace that. It would take ten men to match the work Dessie did. But that same legacy will live on. He was there a few weeks back when we won the Brian McCormick Cup.

“He presented it and little did we think, at the time, less than three weeks later he’d be gone. But it was lovely that he was there for that and it’s a lovely memory to have”. 

On the night itself, and the trophy-laden table he and his players sat at, McConnell says it was a memorable campaign but work that has to now be built upon as they look forward to Premier Division football next season. 

“ We couldn’t have asked for better this season from the players. Between the first team and second team, we collected three trophies. 

“There are some great teams involved, really strong teams. And we’ll look to build on that next season now. 

“We’d 34 competitive games, domestically in Donegal, we played every single game possible this term. That’s an achievement in itself. 

The coaching staff, back room team and the players, they’ve been phenomenal. The buy in from the start was amazing. 

“It’s just nice that those efforts were rewarded this evening. We were up and down a few times and one of the lads joked, his Fitbit certainly got its steps in tonight!”