Banda hat-trick as Letterkenny Rovers post telling victory over Keadue Rovers

A BJ Banda hat-trick set Letterkenny Rovers on their way to a first victory of the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division season against Keadue Rovers.

It was Banda who put the home side in front at Leckview, only for Oisin McKelvey to level and leave it 1-1 at half-time. The third quarter was effectively where the contest was won, with another Banda goal and two from Nathan Plumb putting Letterkenny into a 4-1 lead by the 62nd minute. Banda would go onto complete his treble, with Paul Boyle scoring an injury-time penalty for the visitors.

Letterkenny had opened their campaign with a scoreless draw at Kildrum Tigers, with Keadue having left Dry Arch Park with a fine 2-0 win against Bonagee United for starters in the FAI Junior Cup and beat Swilly Rovers 7-1 in the league.

Banda opened the scoring on 10 minutes when he raced onto a pass from Adrian Delap and managed to tuck the ball past Patrick McGarvey.

Just on the half-hour, Keadue were denied an equaliser thanks to a brilliant save from Mark Anthony McGinley, who stopped point-blank from Brian Proctor after Aiden Brennan had fizzed the ball across the six-yard box.

However, Keadue were level just moments later, when, from Mark Forker’s corner, McGinley got a clearing punch only to be beaten by McKelvey’s darting shot through the crowd and into the net.

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Three minutes into part two, Letterkenny regained their advantage with Banda again the scorer, this time when he stooped to head home with Delap again the provider. On 51, it was 3-1 and Plumb was on hand to score - at the second attempt after his first hit the post - after Keith Cowan had headed a searching free-kick by Joel Bradley Walsh back into the mixer.

Stephen McConnell’s team continued their forward momentum and added a fourth when another Bradley Walsh delivery ended up with another goal, with Plumb again the scorer.

With plenty of crisp tackles and a competitive affair, plenty weren’t afraid to offer referee Barry Maxwell plenty of advice. A fifth Rovers came when Banda got his head on a right-wing cross from Joel Gorman.

A four-goal difference between the teams was a little harsh, with Letterkenny’s finishing the main factor. Keadue managed a consolation goal just as injury time was starting, with Boyle slotting past McGinley after a foul by Bradley Walsh on Jordan Saville, who had shown great skill to make his way into the penalty area.

Letterkenny Rovers: Mark Anthony McGinley; David O’Donnell (Nathan Bonner 84), Dean McCarry, Keith Cowan (Caolan McConnell 71), Joel Bradley Walsh; Joel Gorman, Chris Malseed (Gareth Doherty 69), Dylan Woods; Adrian Delap, BJ Banda (Rory Gallagher 69), Nathan Plumb (Adam Murphy 84).
Keadue Rovers: Patrick McGarvey; Pauric Neely (Danny McGlynn 71), Maurice McGee, Martin Ferry, Brendan McCafferty; Oisin McKelvey, Mark Forker Brian Proctor (Adam McCaffrey 77), Aiden Brennan, Paul Boyle, Calum Boyle (Jordan Saville 71).
Referee: Barry Maxwell