In a complete reversal of fortune from the week before Ballyshannon RFC put in a sterling display of rugby to dispatch with Virginia with a commanding victory of 43-0 in what was certainly their finest display of the season.
A great all round team performance from one to fifteen they served up a scintillating game of rugby for the home crowd to watch at the Lakeside Centre.
This performance was built on a fantastic effort from the forwards who provided the platform for a back line that was bursting with pace and talent and with a good source of possession they did not have to be asked twice to show their skills and pace.
This Saturday team captain Raymond Gallagher found himself in the unusual position of second row along with another converted winger Richard Gallagher and both players excelling in their new found positions with Captain Ray Gallagher scoring two tries and Richard cleaning up in the lineout and putting in a real solid performance around the park.
“Shannon” opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Anthony “Gandhi” Boyle went over in the corner after some great ball handling by the back line. Centre Paul O Brien added a second after making a welcome return to the team, both conversions were missed but Shannon still had a 10-0 lead going into half time despite some good pressure from the visitors during the middle stages of the first half.
The second half saw Ballyshannon take full control both dominating scrums and lineout’s, the front row of Brian Killalea,Gerard Mc Intyre and David Hoey all producing performances of the season with some barging runs that the visitors could not handle and it was on the back of this that No. 8 James O Donnell added his sides third try followed shortly afterwards by first centre Mark Rooney who is having a fine season with the club. Winger Boyle added the first of four conversions from Rooney’s
try to put his side into a commanding 22-0, the home side were now relishing their new lease of life and with half backs John Mc Intyre and John Treacy calling the shots their certainly were more tries to come and come they did when team captain Gallagher scored the first of two after receiving the ball from out half Treacy from a ruck 5m out, shortly afterwards Gallagher added a repeat of his first try to put his side firmly in control.
Flanker Conor Mc Hugh rounded of a great day by adding his sides seventh and final try which Boyle duly converted to leave the final score at 43-0
In what was a great team performance it was Treacy and O Brien who shone in the backs and the front row of Killalea,Mc Intyre and Hoey who excelled along with No.8 James O Donnell and young flanker Paul Connolly who tackled like a demon all day!
The team was
Brian Killalea,Gerard Mc Intyre,David Hoey,Richard Gallagher,Ray Gallagher(c),Paul Connolly,Conor Mc Hugh,James O Donnell,John Mc Intyre,John Treacy,Rionn Treanor,Mark Rooney,Paul O Brien,Anthony Boyle and Daire Keown.
This Saturday “Shannon” are again at home to Derry Ymca with a 2.30pm kick off at the Lakeside.
Report By Frankie O’Donnell
