Armoy captain Gareth Christie had to make 5 changes from last weeks team that scored 12 trys.
Wing forwards Daniel Ramage and Kyle Greenlaw were missing due to work commitments and No 8 Ian Caldwell was not risked due to his impending nuptuals next week. In the backs winger Mark McConaghie who has showed some real promise this season and new full back Ruaidhri McQuade were also missing due to work commitments.
In the forwards in came Damien McClafferty Barry Taggart and Maurice Walker. In the backs Enda Casey was deployed on the wing and also came the return of Tom Christie at the age of 5?.
These changes meant that Armoy had only 15 players and no subs for what was anticipated and turned out to be our toughest match of the season so far.
From the kick off Armoy received the ball and went on the attack passing the ball through the hands, one of these passes was intercepted by the big Letterkenny inside centre who sprinted from 35 yards out to score easily under the posts. Converted
From their kick off the Armoy pack managed to regain possesion with some good work in the ruck from Gareth Christie.From the ruck the ball was passed out to the backs and a great run from John Cassley set up a ruck on the Letterkenny 22. Again quick ball was fed out to winger Paul Douthart who danced around 2 tacklers to dive over into the corner to score.Unconverted
Still trailing Armoy went looking to take the lead. With some more great play from the forwards who were dominating the scrums Hooker Ally Bartlett took one against the head and Armoy went on the attack again the ball was put out to the backs who passed the ball out to Paul Douthart who again showed great speed and flair to skip around the defenders and under the posts for another try. Converted by Jarvis Traynor.
It was now Letterkennys turn to force the play and through a successful driving maul crept up to the edge of the Armoy 22. The ball was fed out to their backs who passed it well and with the Armoy defence who had stopped momenterally as they thought there was a forward pass the Letterkenny winger was over for a try. Unconverted.
After a few choice words from Gareth Christie Armoy rumbled up the park again in order to reassert their lead. a series of ruck lead to the ball being popped to Damien McClafferty who took the ball at pace and charged like a rhino sending tacklers flying in his wake. He ran fron the Letterkenny 22 with players hanging off him was stopped a meter away from the try line. Quick thinking scrum half Tom Christie passed the ball out to Enda Casey who had come of his wing in support and ran in for the try. Converted by Traynor
Half Time Letterkenny 12 Armoy 19
At the half time interval Armoy centre Sammy McMullan had to apply some strapping as he had a possible broken rib. With no subs available Sammy showed great commitment by playing on although he was in great pain.
Into the second half and Letterkenny came out of the traps like a scalded cat and forced Armoy back into their own 22. Armoy were penalised for hands in the ruck which was kicked over for an easy 3 points.
From the kick off Armoy went on the attack and turned the ball over with some great running from John Cassley a ruck was formed just inside the Letterkenny 22. Loose head prop Neil Porterfield took the ball at pace and went crashing into the Letterkenny defensive line he was stopped a meter short of the try line and placed the ball back. This was picked up bt Tom Christie who showed slight of hand that Tommy Cooper would have been proud off, to through a dummy and make a dart for the line.Although he was tackled he showed great strength and guile to stretch over for a try. Unconverted
Letterkenny to their credit came right back at Armoy. A clever kick from their full back found its way into the Armoy 22. Armoy full back Jarvis Traynor kicked the ball out but failed to find touch. With a number of Armoy players in offside positions Letterkennys big winger had a simple task of running through them into the 22 and skipped around some last ditch Armoy tackling and over for a try.Unconverted.
More choice words from captain Christie followed and they had the desired effect.Armoy showed great determination and rumbled up the pitch. Again another good run from John Cassley led to a ruck inside the Letterkenny 22.Again with a few meters to go Tom Christie picked and went but was stopped a meter out from the base of this ruck prop Neil Porterfield picked up and drove over for a score.Converted by Barry Kelly.
Into the closing stages of the game Armoy were keen to close the game out again more good play from the backs led to a ruck on the Letterkenny 22 from this ruck the ball was popped out to Hooker Ally Bartlett who ran unopposed on the blind side down the wing and under the postes for a try. converted by Kelly.
Final score Letterkenny II 20 Armoy 38
Captain Gareth Christie thanked all off those who travelled and particularly Mo Walker who did great work in the unfamiliar and demanding position of blindside wing forward.Man of the match was Big Damien “Ace man ” McClafferty who deserved to score from his great run in the first half and is showing great potential this season.
