Letterkenny Rovers pip Castlefin Celtic to seal a grand slam of domestic crowns

Nathan Plumb's header with just six minutes to play in extra-time against Castlefin Celtic was enough to seal the Brian McCormick Sports Cup and an unprecedented domestic clean sweep for Letterkenny Rovers.

Plumb's goal from Padraic Gilsenan's cross dug out the victory for Stephen McConnell's side and will leave Castlefin heartbroken, after they contributed so much to the match and the occasion at Diamond Park. They would've left with their heads held high with their immediate aim to reclaim their place in the top-flight of the Donegal League. 

BJ Banda slotted Letterkenny into the lead on 28 minutes, only for Castlefin to delight their sizable support with the Copacabana-style beats with a headed equaliser from Jude Patton on 28. From then on, it was close and nerve-jangled, with many in attendance bracing themselves for a shoot-out. 

READ NEXT: Ciara Grant helps Hibernian edge Rangers to seal first SWPL title in 18 seasons

In a tense affair in glorious sunshine, there was nothing between them, and on 67 minutes, Kevin McColgan in the Castlefin goal made a brilliant penalty save from Joel Gorman.

Michael Dunnion on the touchlines and Ronan Tourish, up front in the heat, were looking after things with Castlefin manager Kieran Brennan having booked a holiday to Spain and keeping an eye on things on a live stream. Dunnion and Tourish will be looking after affairs in Hillhead as a joint ticket next season.

Leckview Park residents Rovers had defeated Kildrum Tigers 1-0 to win the Ulster Junior Cup, where Banda also scored the vital goal, adding to the Donegal League Premier Division title they had won, undefeated, in April. Therefore, the 3-1 FAI Junior Cup against Mervue United was Rovers' only loss all season, getting through matters closer to home unblemished.  

By contrast, Castlefin, appearing in the final of the competition for the first time since taking the trophy home in 2014, ended up fifth in the First Division six years on from their own Premier Division triumph.

Castlefin had started competently, living out with five at the back and forcing Letterkenny to have to think their way through things. Emmet White took a quick free-kick, which Mark Anthony McGinley had to be alert to save, while at the other end, a clearance from McColgan spun up off Lee McMonagle, only for Castlefin goalkeeper to reclaim in the air.

The opening goal was fashioned by Adrian Delap, who got free down the left and centred for Banda, who had time to take a controlling first touch and steer his second home from eight yards.

That opening goal looked as though it would mean the final would take the course many would have predicted beforehand, only for Castlefin to have different ideas, with much to be drawn from their 3-2 win over Donegal Town FC in the semi-final, having been two down at one stage.

Their equaliser was brilliantly taken by Patton, who flicked a glancing header which looped just over the outstretched hand of  McGinley, when Emmet White delivered the whipped ball in from a free-kick.

Just three minutes before the break, Banda got away and tried to take the ball around goalkeeper McColgan, only to miscontrol, and the chance went away.

After losing 2-0 to Kilmacrennan Celtic in 2023, Letterkenny came out on top of a classic final 12 months ago, with McMonagle grabbing a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Keadue Rovers and were aiming to become the competition’s first back-to-back winners since Gweedore Celtic’s three-in-a-row from 2010 to 2012.

Castlefin saw an early second-half shot from Patton go over, and then a Tourish potshot was deflected wide. McMonagle, for Letterkenny, saw a shot blocked as Banda played the ball in from the left.

Right on the three-quarter-mark, Banda was fouled by McColgan and referee Vincent McLoughlin pointed to the spot. Gorman’s penalty was well-struck, going high to his right and McColgan went full-stretch the turn the ball away for a top-drawer save.

McColgan was then well-positioned as he gathered a McMonagle header, with Letterkenny turning the screw. Dean McCarry was thankful to Keith Cowan, who atoned for McCarry's short clearance with a vital block as Daithí Gordon shot.

With chances at both ends and the clock galloping down, Delap showed a slight of foot to make space for himself on the edge of the Castlefin area, with his shot fizzing just wide and McCarry’s strike was into McColgan’s breadbasket.

McGinley made a massively important save from Patton, who kept his volley down as Castlefin screamed for a penalty as McCarry made a tackle from Rabeh Hamdi’s follow-up, with barely three to play. It was 1-1 at full-time.

The odd half-chance was the sum total for either party in extra-time, with Blake Forkan introduced in goal for Letterkenny with seven minutes left in the second period as McGinley had been struggling with a calf strain. Forkan was making a comeback, having broken his leg in last year's final against Keadue. Maybe he was going to be in with a chance of penning a fairytale, had it gone to penalties, but Plumb's header was enough for Letterkenny's final chapter in a season they'll never forget.  

Letterkenny Rovers: Mark Anthony McGinley (Blake Forkan 103); Padraic Gilsenan (David O'Donnell 108), Dean McCarry, Keith Cowan, Rory Gallagher (Caolán McConnell 75); Dylan Woods (Ryan Lonergan 89), Joel Gorman, Gareth Doherty (Nathan Plumb 73); Adrian Delap (Nathan Bonner 109); BJ Banda, Lee McMonagle.
Castlefin Celtic: Kevin McColgan; Daithí Gordon (James Tinney 105), Jordan McKinney, Ryan O’Hagan, Daniel Foy, Stephen Roulston; Emmet White, Jude Patton, Martin Owens (Barry Tourish, half-time); Ronan Tourish (Corrie Lee Bogan 64), Paul Farrell (Rabeh Hamdi 79).
Referee: Vincent McLoughlin.