Gordon West Cup Semi Final
Limavady 60 Letterkenny 7
Holders Limavady advanced to an April 16th meeting with Lurgan following a largely one sided North West Derby victory over Letterkenny. The Donegal Men did enjoy a good spell of possession at the start of the second half, but once the Qualifying 3 champions found their gear, it was just a matter of how many points the victory margin would be.
Eager to stamp their authority on the game from the start, the Roesiders stormed into a 17-0 lead by the 17th minute with Clive Scott, Sam Mackey & scrum half Jamie Miller all touching down. The men from Dave Gallagher Park tried in vein to make inroads into the Limavady red zone, but found found the home side defence in a rather mean and unforgiving mood.
A break from out-half Luke Faulknour laid the founds for try number four which was finished off by Jamie Miller, and then following a lineout steal from Sheagh McLaughlin, winger Stewart Roddy stormed home for try number five. Jack McCool added two conversions for a 29-0 lead at the turnaround.
The first twenty minutes of the second half became a bit disjointed for the hosts, due in fact to a number of switches due to injury. Letterkenny took advantage of this and on 50mins hooker Shaun McGill got the Donegal Men going on the scoreboard with a well deserved try. Ryan Mortimer added the extras and the visitors suddenly had a spring in their step.
But if the 3rd quarter was all about Letterkenny, the last quarter was all about the hosts. Limavady upped the ante with great aplomb and panache to run in a further five tries in devastating spell of running rugby. Full back Peter Wilson & winger Tom McClelland scored a brace with the versatile and hard working Robert Lamberton scoring a fantastic individual try in the final minute. Three conversions were added by Jack McCool to leave the final score Limavady 60 Letterkenny 7.
A clinical display from the cup holders and which books a visit to the Kingspan Stadium for the second consecutive year. But before then there are three league games to be played starting next week with a home fixture against Newry. Kick off for this one is at 2.30pm.
Head coach Paul O’Kane was ecstatic afterwards, not just with the display, but with how players like David Craig, Kent King and Johnny Blair were able to step up seamlessly from the seconds, and also Michael Rice’s versatility after switching from the second row to tight head.
Team. P. Wilson, R. Lamberton, J.M. Miller, J. McCool, S. Roddy, L. Faulkner, J. Miller. C. Scott, J. Blair, M. Rice, J. Purcell, K. King, S. Mackey, P. Browne, D.Irvine. Replacements: S. McLaughlin, C. Tinney, A McAlmoyle, D. Craig, T. McClelland.
After last weeks cup defeat the 2nd XV returned to league action last Friday night with a trip to Eaton Park to face Ballymena 4ths. Things were going well when the young Roesiders raced into a 10-0 lead, but the experienced North Antrim side clawed their way back to record a 21-10 victory. Enniskillen 2nds are next up. This one down for decision next Saturday afternoon at the John Hunter Memorial Grounds at 2.30pm.
The under 14’s were also in cup action on Saturday morning. They accounted for Ballymoney 47-5 in Rd1. Details of our opponents in Rd2 will be known once all fixtures for Rd1have been completed.
