'I've never gone into a derby with so much riding on one match' - Chris Malseed

There’s a weight to certain games that you can feel long before a ball is kicked.  

A derby always carries something extra, but when it’s first against second, when the league table hums with possibility, the stakes sharpen in ways you can’t ignore.  

Letterkenny Rovers man Chris Malseed has played in plenty of big games over the years, but even he admits that this weekend’s clash between Letterkenny Rovers and Bonagee United carries a different edge.  

“Not only is this weekend’s game a local derby, but it’s a local derby where it’s first against second in the league in the Premier Division,” he says.

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“I don’t think in all my time with Letterkenny Rovers have we gone into a derby with so much riding on one match.”  

It’s been a season of resurgence for Rovers. A return to the Donegal Premier Division has brought fresh energy, a competitive edge that had dulled over years of slogging it out in the Ulster Senior League.   

Now, with two games in hand and just a point separating them from their neighbours at the summit, they are in a position few would expect the reigning Donegal First Division champions to be, but with no defeats so far this season, it may just give them that psychological edge.  

“If you told us that we’d be in this position at the start of the year with two games in hand with Bonagee and them only a point ahead of us, we would have taken it,” Malseed admits.   

“Albeit, we would rather have the points on the board than the game in hand.”  

Bonagee, for their part, have been steady, unflinching.   

They sit at the top, knowing a win would put real daylight between themselves and their closest rivals. But Rovers have belief, even with injuries biting.  

“They’re in a nice position, but for us, we’re happy with where we’re at,” he said. “We’re competing, we have a big squad, although we are down a few bodies at the minute due to injuries.   

“I wouldn’t say that we’re fully fit just yet, but by the end of the season we will have at least three more players back, which will be key as we enter the business end.”  

Malseed has been around long enough to know what it takes to win a league.   

He was an Ulster Senior League champion as far back as 2004/05 under Danny McConnell, a year on from making his debut in the FAI Intermediate Cup against Tullamore.   

Spells at Finn Harps and Stirling Albion whilst studying in Edinburgh, before winning a Donegal League Premier Division with Drumoghill FC in 2015/16, as well as coming second twice.  

“Even back then, the league was so competitive and enjoyable. Every game was a battle,” he recalls. “Unless you’re Cockhill Celtic in the Ulster Senior League, league titles are not easily won in this game.   

“Like Letterkenny Rovers only have, probably, four senior titles to their name in the last 20 years, which is not a lot for the size of our club.”  

That’s what makes this moment feel significant. Rovers have history, but not enough for a club of their stature. This season is a chance to change that, to write their names into something bigger. But nothing will be handed to them.  

“I don’t think the result this weekend will be the deciding factor, but it’ll go a long way,” Malseed says.   

“We still have to play teams like Kilmacrennan, Fanad United, and Keadue Rovers. This will be our biggest game of the season this weekend, until next weekend’s game, and so on. Every week will be a new challenge and every game will be a cup final for us.”  

And that’s the truth of it. League titles aren’t won on a single night, but they can be lost. Letterkenny Rovers head into the weekend knowing they have a chance to take a step closer to something tangible. Bonagee United will have their own ideas.  

A derby. First versus second. A title race at full tilt.