Ballyshannon——————-18 Cookstown—————18
Honours even between Ballyshannon and Cookstown in this top of the table clash at a cold Lakeside today. With half of the season gone these two teams will have to do it all over again in Cookstown which should decide the league. The rugby was of the highest quality and totally entertaining for the large crowd that braved the elements
Both teams spent the opening minutes squaring up to each other trying to identify strenghts and weaknesses. Ballyshannon were first to register a score when Anthony Boyle slotted a penalty. At this stage the home side started to gain the upper hand and a good run by Evan Mc Gloin resulted in a try by Damien Cleary. Late in the half Anthony Boyle and the Cookstown out-half swapped penalties to make the score 11-3 at the interval.
The first thirty minutes of the second half belonged to Ballyshannon and they were encamped in the visitors half. With ten minutes gone in the half Mark Rooney took the ball on the blind side of the scrum and beat six defenders to score at the posts. The conversion was good by Anthony Boyle. At this stage Ballyshannon should have seen out the victory yet try as they may they could not breach the visitors line. In every game every team will have a purple patch and Cookstowns came in the last ten minutes. The visitors scored their first try when Ray Gallagher’s kick was blocked down and followed up with another in the corner. With time running out and the score at 18-15 in Ballyshannons favour the Cookstown out-half dropped a goal with his weaker left foot to level the match at the end.
The return match will be an eagerly awaited contest with both teams believing they can take the spoils.
Next game away to Belfast Harlequins 4s on Saturday February 2nd
