All square in the top of the table clash
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Cookstown RFC’s much anticipated clash with current Ulster Minor league champions Ballyshannon ended in stalemate on Saturday. This away fixture played on a 4G surface, turned out to be a thriller which thoroughly entertained the local support.
The first twenty minutes were played with Cookstown on the front foot where they siege to the ‘Shannon try line. A legitimate try was disallowed following a fine burst from make shift flanker Stephen McKenna who was deemed to have been held up over the line by the referee. A further scoring opportunity went a begging when Paul O’Neill missed a penalty.
Ballyshannon opened the scoring with a penalty following a series of infringements by the Cookstown pack. After spending most of the half in their own 22, Shannon hit a purple patch and started to apply pressure of their own. However fine defence from both McKennas, Stephen Rea, Owen Mallon and Martin Boone saw the away side hold out.
Unfortunately the home side did score a fortuitous try just before half time. An attempted clearance was charged down by the Shannon centre who won a foot race to the ball. The try was awarded despite protestations from the CRFC players and touch judge that the ball was knocked on over the try line.
Soon after the respective out halves swapped penalties to leave the score 11-3 to Ballyshannon.
The opening twenty minutes of the second half saw an error strewn performance from CRFC which resulted in a period of pressure. The outlook looked ominous when the Shannon out half took the ball from a scrum and broke six weak CRFC tackles to score beside the posts. Needless to say the try was converted to give Shannon and seemingly unassailable 18-3 lead. Worse came when the team lost No. 8 Ryan McLoughlin to an injury, thus the side went down to 14 players.
Strong words under the posts from Stephen Rea seemed to spark the lads into life with the backs in particular starting to make yards against their opponents. Fine running by the Ciaran McKenna put CRFC on the front foot. The pressure mounted on Shannon as they struggled to clear their lines. An attempted clearance was charged down and Mckenna won the foot race to dot down for a try. The conversion was successful. CRFC’s second try came from strong running by the backs once more with Michael McKeown touching down following a great backline move.
With the score line reading 18-15 to Shannon, Cookstown probed for an equalizer. A number of forward drives brought play in front of the posts deep into the Shannon 22. Up stepped Paul O’Neill who slotted an audacious drop goal on his weaker left foot to tie the scores.
The final whistle went soon after. Cookstown got their just rewards for the self-belief they showed to claw their way back in this exciting game of rugby. Team Captain Liam Currie expressed his delight at the players determination note to lose ‘I had to call in a few favours and we came here with a makeshift pack and lineout. I thought we would struggle in that Department. However each and every man stepped up when challenged. Overall in reflection we were far from outplayed and are already looking forward to the rematch – it will not be one to miss.”
Team: Currie, Rea, Mallon, Stewart, Brown Boone, McKenna, Reah, Weir, O’Neill, Jaafar, McKenna, Nugent, Mckeown, Harte,
The next fixture see CRFC take on Innishowen in the Cup at the Mid Ulster sports Arena.
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