Buoyed up by their recent success as winners of the North West league, Letterkenny’s under thirteen squad headed for Banbridge early on Saturday morning. As a first round Cup match, the occasion promised to shift the rugby up a gear. That certainly proved true as the game started at a high pitch and maintained that momentum for the sixty minutes. Letterkenny got off to a flying start with a try in the first minute. Any fears that the long weather-induced lay off might lead to some rustiness were immediately put to rest. From the kick off Stephen Gibson caught, fed the ball out to Peter Scott who in turn off-loaded to his winger to sprint down the touch line for a try. It was a wide angle for the conversion but the five points were still a dream start. The restart saw the Banbridge pack on the attack to redress the balance, and pushing Letterkenny deep into their own twenty-two. Solid and determined tackling however prevented them reaching the line, and time and again the attackers were stopped by some hugely improved Letterkenny tackling. (see pic)
Five minutes later and Letterkenny taking quick advantage of a turn over scored again. Again Peter Scott in the thick of it, broke away and fed this time to the left wing, sending Oisin Toal over the line. From under the posts Peter converted. The Banbridge boys came back fiercely and a war of attrition raged between the two sets of forwards for the remainder of the half. Time and again the improved tackling saved Letterkenny. Too many to mention here, but Darragh Toal and Daniel Faulkner in particular deserve a mention for try-saving tackles. In the final minute of the half, a well worked forward move spear-headed by Darragh and Joe Dunleavy brought the ball to the Banbridge line, and a pop pass to Daniel Faulkner allowed him to dive over.
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The second half started at the same high tempo, with Letterkenny scoring in the first minute. Darragh Toal playing at wing forward peeled away from the side of a ruck and sprinted for the line. Such was the pace of this game that the spectators were nearly getting breathless watching it – how the players kept it up to the final whistle is a mystery! But keep going they did, with Banbridge determined to score. Aside from two deep surges into the Banbridge twenty-two by Stephen Gibson (see pic) that saw him stopped just short of the line, much of the remainder of the game was spent in the Letterkenny half. Twice the Banbridge boys crossed the line but with no luck. On one occasion to land in touch, and on the other the ball was judged to have been held up – a last second tackle from Oisin O’Boyle denying Banbridge the points for all the hard work. The tackling again proving invaluable, Dan Little and Conor Hanson showing great courage, while special mention must be given to Brendan Haley and Lewi Carson for their fearless defence. Nine minutes from time, Darragh Toal got the game’s final score, counter attacking from mid-field. A really good game of rugby from both sides. As ever, not enough room to mention all, but well played all. Banbridge RFC 0 Letterkenny RFC 27
Under 15’s On Fire against Ballymoney
After finally, due to the bad weather, getting a photo opportunity with u13 team sponsor Brian Harkin of Harkin Fireplaces a hat-trick of tries and two conversions took Tiarnan O’Dea’s tally for the day to 19 points in this one sided cup pool match against Ballymoney. After lengthy pitch inspections, and thanks finally to a little heat from the sun, the pitches at Dave Gallaher Park were deemed playable and the game kicked off. Letterkenny prop Eoin Ferry opened the scoring with an individual effort on four minutes with a 30 metre sprint to the line. O’Dea opened his account 3 minutes later as he dashed down the left wing, handing off and rounding the opposition to score beneath the posts which out-half Ryan Mortimer converted. Mortimer converted the next try, scored on 14 minutes by Olan Noonan who was having a solid performance at No.8. Powerful hooker Shane O’Brien was next on the list of try scorers before O’Dea completed his first half account with another individual try, converted by Mortimer, on the half time whistle to leave Ballymoney trailing by 31 points to nil. Donnachdha MacNaillais proved O’Dea wasn’t the only Gweedore boy who could play rugby, as within two minutes of the restart he evaded numerous tackles to score a fine try, converted by Mortimer. O’Dea scored his final try two minutes later and the kicking duties were handed to Martin Molloy who struck the ball between the posts. One of the few examples of team play, which is always difficult in such a one sided event, occurred when the ‘kenny forwards had set up a driving maul, 22 metres out from the line, flanker Karl Wilson had the ball secured at the back in text book fashion, biding his time, peeled off into a defenceless blind side and ran home to score, O’Dea converted. Andrew West finished off a workman like performance with a neat try which O’Dea converted to leave a 59 point to 0 score-line. Letterkenny Team; J.Chambers, S.O’Brien, A.West, E.Ferry, B.Russell, D.MacNaillais, D.McLean, C.O’Neill, D.Dunleavy, O.Noonan, B.Khavia, R.Mortimer, M.Harkin (Cpt), T.O’Dea, P.J.McBride, S.MacGinty, C.Handy, M.Molloy, A.Harper
Under 17’s – Injury curtails close fought fixture
When Letterkenny forward Tommy McNulty banged his head on the floor, and then had a player fall on his head, there was great concern around the pitch to the level of injury. Fortunately following an ambulance trip to the hospital the concussed player was given the all clear suffering from concussion. Thanks to those who assisted the player, particularly the coaches of both teams, the referee and ambulance crew. Due to this event the game had to be abandoned with time still to play and Letterkenny trailing by just two points at 12 – 14, the coaches agreed to calling the result an ‘honourable draw’ but the final decision will be made by the Ulster Branch as to the result of this cup pool game. The game had been closely fought from the off with the visitors from Ballymoney making good use of their powerful forwards, however it was the home team who opened the scoring as Letterkenny’s lock, Justin Allen scored a fine try, converted by Bryan McGinley. Ballymoney levelled the scoring before half time with a converted try and left the game in the balance. In the second half flying winger, Joe Gallagher, added another try to his season’s tally to nudge the home side in front. Letterkenny were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes due to lock Ben Mortimer being despatched to the Sin Bin and the visitors made the most of the extra man and scored a converted try. The game at this stage could have gone either way, in the end the result will be determined by the powers that be.
Brian Harkin of Harkin Fireplaces presents U15 Captain, and son, Mel Harkin with the team shirts before the match against Ballymoney.
Letterkenny 1st XV beat Lurgan 1st XV 41-6
in Near perfect conditions in Lurgan on Saturday. Letterkenny scored twice in the first ten minutes with Jamie Boyle and Mark Scott both touching down. Lurgan came back immediately to take advantage of poor Letterkenny discipline and scored two penalties as a result. Their revival was short lived however as the Letterkenny men began to dominate in every facet of the game. Letterkenny’s flowing style of play is very difficult for teams to defend against and this proved true as they they scored two more tries before half-time. Liam McGlynn and Andrew Gibson touched down to leave the score 24-6 at the half. Letterkenny started as they left off in the first half. Dominant displays in the pack from both Shaun and Conor Dunleavy saw them ignite the pack around them. Letterkenny scored another two tries in quick succession, Jamie Boyle and Mark Scott both got their second of the day and added to their ever growing tally this season. Tony McBride slotted the conversions. Letterkenny continued to play an expansive game and this was the catalyst for their final try in which Jason Daly glided down the touchline to score in the corner. Tony McBride converted once again and capped off another great win for the Letterkenny Men.
Letterkenny 2nd XV lost out to Lurgan 2nd XV 25-12 in a brave display at Pollock Park. The Letterkenny men went down to 13 following a number of injuries. James McNicholl and Kevin Duran got the Letterkenny Tries.
The Letterkenny Ladies lost out to Harlequins in Ballymoney in the Cup. Laura Kenny got Letterkenny’s only try.
