Ballyshannon Rugby Club opened there league campaign in fine fashion when they defeated Cavan 2nd XV with a comprehensive score line of 50 points to ten in Cavan.
An eight try rout was testament to a fantastic all round team performance with some huge individual performamces.
What was very encouraging about this performance was the fact the “Shannon” side were fielding three debutants to league rugby, the Gillespie brothers Darren who had a fine game in the second row and his brother Dominic who scored a try and Bundoran man Dermot Connolly who all had fine games.
Centre Mark Rooney ran in four tries and was vey unlucky not to have a fifth and was just too much for the Cavan defence too handle.
The other tries came from James Gallagher, Darragh Tyrell and Dara Keown and player coach Ray Gallagher slotted over five conversions from eight to bring his sides score to the big 50.
Young props Brian Killalea and Paul Cassidy had huge games in the front row along with their hooker Alan Prendergast whose ball carrying ability was crucial and ensured Cavan were on the back foot all day.
Ballyshannon were forced to make two changes early in the game when they lost scrum half Shane Roper and flanker Joe Gallagher through injury but the very versatile and experienced Daniel Grimes slotted in for Roper and also had a fine game and Belleek man Dara Keown came in for Joe Gallagher and his brother James moved from centre to his usual position in the back row.
This win will instil a lot of confidence in this young team and after a couple of horrendous seasons where the team was decimated for various reasons the future has finally began to look promising again.
To see this young team in action again come to the Lakeside centre this Saturday when they take on Enniskillen with a 2.30pm kick off.
Saturdays team was :
Brian Killalea, Alan Prendergast, Paul Cassidy, Darren Gillespie, Richard Gallagher, Joe Gallagher, James O Donnell(C), Darragh Tyrell, Shane Roper, Ray Gallagher, Dermot Connolly, James Gallagher, Mark Rooney, Dominic Gillespie and Paul Connolly. Subs used Daniel Grimes and Dara Keown.
Man of the match : Paul Cassidy
