Match Report

St Francis v Letterkenny Rovers
By Stephen Finn

ST FRANCIS FC secured their first point in the newly formed FAI National League thanks to a 1-1 draw with Letterkenny Rovers in a keenly contested encounter at John Hyland Park this afternoon. A thumping free-kick from creative midfielder Conor Behan four minutes into the second half levelled matters after the visitors led 1-0 at the break.

Zach Gorman had opened the scoring for the Co Donegal side in the 21st minute when he burst through the home defence to slot past keeper Mark Devereux. St Francis had plenty of possession in the first half with Gray pulling the strings in midfield and wingers Janabi Amour and Rory Garvey looking a threat. Visiting keeper Patrick McGarvey and his central defenders Dean McGarry and Keith Cowan had kept the home side at bay for much of the game.

McGarvey made a couple of point blank saves denying Jack Savage and Jamie Gray early in the second half as the home side pushed for an equaliser but he could do nothing to keep out the blasted effort from Behan. Behan later had another effort strike an upright but the visiting defence held firm and took the road home content with a share of the spoils.

St Francis will travel to local rivals TU Dublin in their next Group 2 fixture next Saturday while TU Dublin will also be Letterkenny's next opponents on September 25.

ST FRANCIS: Mark Devereux; Evan Farrell, Seamus Curley, Conor Behan (dylan Stack 69), Rory Garvey, Jamie Gray, Abdurrahman Bouderbala, Luke Scanlon, Janabi Amour (Baba Anmashaun 75), Jack Savage (Thomas Morgan 75), Daniel Hickey (Lasha Baramidze 86).

LETTERKENNY ROVERS: Patrick McGarvey; Padraic Gilsenan, Dean McCarry, Keith Cowan, Joel Gorman (Ultan O'Grady 90), Adrian Delap, Ronan McHugh (Nathan Plumb 78), Zach Gorman (Adam McCaffrey 77), Ryan Lonergan (Brendan McCafferty 77), Ryan Shields, Luke Parke.