County Derry man rescues draw for Manchester United legends against Letterkenny Rovers
Chris Bradley from Magherafelt rattled home two goals in a 6-6 draw
A County Derry man sank the hopes of Letterkenny Rovers select securing a famous victory over Manchester United legends.
Chris Bradley from Magherafelt rattled home two goals in a 6-6 draw between the sides in the friendly match at Leckview Park in memory of the late Dessie Kelly, former Letterkenny Rovers chairman.
Bradley scored the fourth and sixth goals for the United side, with his equalising goal rifling into the net.
Letterkenny had taken the lead with Pajo Rafferty tucking home a pass from Terence Shiels before a penalty from Keith Gillespie for United levelled things up.
Pauric Gilsenan then put Rovers 2-1 up from a Rafferty pass but it would be level at 2-2 by half-time. A free-kick was directed home by former Republic of Ireland captain and third most prolific Irish national striker Frank Stapleton.
Darren McElwaine put Rovers back in front only for former Burnley player Eagles to level it at 3-3.
Two goals from Gareth Gorman, made it 5-3 before Chris Bradley and Eagle quickly erased the lead.
Mark Connaughton looked to have won it for Rovers late on, only for Bradley to find time to equalise and tie the game.
The Magherafelt man was a guest for the team, invited to feature with Bradley, who was on holiday down in Kerrykeel, Donegal.
Man United’s visiting legends squad was made up of former players Jaap Stam, Paul Parker, Brian McClair, Keith Gillespie, Karol Poborsky, Frank Stapleton, Clayton Blackmore, Lee Martin, Chris Eagles, and Eric Djemba Djemba, joined by Tony Blake, Stephen McConnell, Odhran Grant, Jason Daly, Chris Bradley, Joe McLaughlin, and Paul Kiernan.
The United Legends were in Donegal for a number of events that were part of a fundraising drive for Letterkenny Rovers FC to benefit the development of the club facilities and, in turn, their players and community.
On Saturday, the group performed a meet and greet with the 1999 treble-winning trophies—the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League—with supporters at the Station House Hotel.
Meanwhile, the day before, Friday, Martin, Gillespie, Blackmore, Stapleton, McClair, and Eagles enjoyed a golf day at Rosapenna Golf Club.
The Letterkenny Rovers squad that drew heroically with the Manchester United legends was made up of Liam Grant, Pauric Gilsenan, Colin White, Anthony Gorman, John Gregg, Ronan Curran, Pajo Rafferty, Mark Connaughton, Seamus Chovelin, Paddy McDaid, Johnny Baird, Chris McCallion, Eric Roberts, Michael Lynch, Gary Heaney, Darren McElwaine, Terence Shiels, Gareth Gorman, and Ciaran Greene. Stephen Gregg was the match referee, assisted by James Malseed and Seany Houston.