An electrifying seven try performance saw Letterkenny secure another two points against Lurgan at Dave Gallaher Park on Saturday. This performance sets the team up for a number of tough games in the coming month which includes a week with three games and the Gordon west cup final at Ravenhill. Head Coach Gordon Curley made a number of changes from the team that played the PSNI in Derry last week, Jimmy McNicholl and Tony McBride returned to the starting line-up while Johnny Kennedy made his first appearance for the First XV.
Letterkenny started on the front foot with players like Jamie Boyle and Mark Scott taking it to the Lurgan defence. The backs were supplied well by Johnny Kennedy on his debut while Jimmy McNicholl was dominant from his fullback berth. Jamie Boyle was first on the scoreboard following a catch and drive from the Letterkenny pack which Boyle touched down. Brian Peoples scored the conversion. It wasn’t long until Letterkenny got on the score board again, a scrum on the five meter line saw the Letterkenny pack march the Lurgan scrum back over their own line for Mark Scott to touch down. A magnificent team score was to follow, a catch and drive was released to the backs who sliced through the Lurgan defence and saw John Anthony McFadden score in the corner. From the restart however Letterkenny were penalised for a lack of discipline around the breakdown which saw Lurgan score their first points of the game. Letterkenny got on the score sheet just before half-time with Mark Scott scoring again following another drive over scrum from the pack.
The second half began with Lurgan throwing everything at the Letterkenny defence, however the Letterkenny men turned over the ball and made a break down the field, a number of phases later and some fine recycling play saw Letterkenny score their fifth try of the day through the powerful Shaun Dunleavy. Brian Peoples Scored the conversion. Lurgan then scored their only try of the game following a lapse in the Letterkenny defence. Letterkenny did respond immediately through the boot of Brian People who added another three points. Letterkenny scored again following this when Jamie Boyle made a fine break through the centre of the Lurgan defence to touch down for his second of the day. Lurgan did keep up their tempo and got on the scoreboard again with a number of penalties but it was Letterkenny who had the ability to get over the try line and they did this once again through Conor Dunleavy got on the end of a quick line-out from Mark Scott. This left the score at 44-16 to the home team. Letterkenny continue their league campaign next week away to Monaghan.
Team: Rory McGonagle, Jamie Boyle, Raphael Clarke, Shaun Dunleavy, Conor Dunleavy, Brian Teague, Kevin Duran, Mark Scott, Johnny Kennedy, Boyd Robinson, Brian Peoples, Jason Daly, Tony McBride, John Anthony McFadden, Jimmy McNicholl.
