Ballyshannon’s second league game got off to another great start on home ground on Sunday last. The first 5 mins of game was loose play until Ballyshannon got there heads in the game and started dominating. From a big Shannon scrum a ball was won against the head and fed to outhalf Siobhan Coughlin who burst through the defence and after a 50m run touched down under the posts to open the scoring. Siobhan also converted the conversion with ease.
From there on Ballyshannon’s heads were up and a second try was in sight for the Ballyshannon’s full back Anna rafferty under the post. Again Coughlin put the conversion over putting the home team ahead by 14 -0.
Great rucking again from forwards and backs gave home side another great try when centre Pauline mc Nulty picked from a Ruck at the try line and scored another great try. Coughlin again put over another conversion leaving half time score 21-0.
Second half seen Shannon receiving the ball after a great catch from full back Anna rafferty who ran the pitch to score her second try of the game again Coughlin in great form converted the try. As the Shannon front row od Dearbhla Fox, Katrina Dolan and Yvette Morrow proving too much for the visitors, the Belfast opted to go uncontested and that left Shannon’s number 8 Lynda Loughlin free to step back and from a great pass out at half way left her open to receive the ball and with a great hand off ran the whole pitch to try line again under the post for Loughlin to score and the converson was added.
The shannon forwards were carrying deep into the Malone half where scrum half Michelle Bowring fed clean ball to her half back partner Coughlin to score her second tryand with a slight injury to her ankle Rafferty took the conversion putting it over.
With ten mins left the Ballyshannon ladies could relax with a 42-0 margin but the girls thought there was one more in them again lynda Loughlin was on a high and decided to finish the game with another try unfortunately Rafferty had to take conversion kick from way out in corner and missed. The Malone team were not giving up with out a fight and had a great last few mins with nearly a try but Shannon had the upper hand and held the ball up. Final whistle was 47-0 to Balllyshannon and man of the match went to Anna Rafferty which was well deserved. Coughlin was in great form with conversions not missing any. Team coach Ray Gallagher said it was best performance he has seen with the team in his 3 yrs of coaching the girls, great play and great team work gave the girls a well deserved win. Team for the day was Yvette Morrow, Kitty Dolan(captain), Dearbhla Fox, Leanne O Doherty, Corin Cahill, Lynda Loughlin, Michelle Bowring, Siobhan Coughlin, Pauline Mc Nulty, Lorraine Mc Gee, Mairead Carty, Anna rafferty. Subs Carmel Simms Gallagher and Louise Collins.
