'It's important to keep the momentum going into this busy month' - Stephen McConnell

Letterkenny Rovers manager Stephen McConnell admitted that he was pleased with his side's 0-0 draw against Kildrum Tigers at Leckview Park on Sunday, but believes that his side cannot rest on their laurels with a big month ahead for his side in various competitions.

Both finished a man light with William Lynch sent off for the visitors having picked up a second yellow late on, with Ryan Lonergan getting the same fate in stoppage time, again for a second caution.

That was also followed by McConnell receiving a red card after the game, while Kildrum's Keelan Gillen was earlier issued a straight red card when, after being substituted off, he left the dugout and handled the ball on the field before it went out of play following a Letterkenny Rovers clearance.

In total, there were 16 yellow cards and four red cards issued throughout the day, however, McConnel tended to focus more on the performance on the field in what he claimed was a tough 90 minutes.

"It was a tough battle that's for sure," he told Donegal Live. "In games like that, you know there might not be as many chances as you'd like and the game is usually decided by an individual error where someone can capitalise or take advantage of a set piece, but that wasn't really the case on the day.

"It was exactly what we expected against Kildrum which was a tough game. I think it was a day for the defenders who all battled hard and worked well. That's another clean sheet against Kildrum so fair play to the defenders."

Bonagee United now go top of the Premier Division on 19 points following their 2-0 win over Gweedore Celtic, while Letterkenny Rovers sit in second on 17 points with Kildrum Tigers but have a game in hand.

And focusing on where they currently stand, the Letterkenny boss adds that he is happy with his team's position but knows it will be a tough month ahead with a number of cup games, citing that it's important to keep their momentum high despite not having another league game until February.

"The only points we dropped this season were the two games against Kildrum, so we're happy with that," he said. "We have a couple of games in hand, which is good, alongside a few cup runs, so there's no doubt it'll be an exciting finish coming into the second half of the season. What's important for us now is to keep the momentum.

"We have boys on this team who will be going to play for the Oscar Traynor team now this weekend. Then we have Mervue in the FAI Junior Cup, and then St Catherine's in the Ulster Cup, so, the next few weeks are massive for us, and then our next league game will be a top-of-the-table clash against Bonagee, so the next few weeks will be massive. 

"There won't be much time to rest with the games coming thick and fast at us but we'll just have to get on with it."