LK 1st XV  lose out to Grosvenor in Ravenhill thriller 27 : 17  in the final of the GW Cup.

13/02: Our Lads went thru to Semi Final of Gordon West W Cup

06/02: Letterkenny 13 : 28 Grosvenor (Click here)

Letterkenny 12 Ballyshannon 5

Letterkenny remain unbeaten on home turf after this tough encounter at Dave Gallagher Park but they had to fight all the way against a fine Ballyshannon side. The visitors, who also have been unbeaten this season at home, played with a strong wind and heavy rain at their backs in the first period but it was the home side who dominated most of the opening twenty minutes. The home scrum with loose prop Kevin Mc Laughlin particularly prominent, defied the elements to keep play inside the Ballshannon half and had an early reward when outhalf Boyd Robinson sent over a fine penalty from thirty metres into the wind. The three point lead hardly reflected Letterkenny’s possession but they failed to improve on the scoreboard mainly through slow movement of the ball through their backline and a tenacious defensive display from the visitors. On the twenty five minute mark Letterkenny were made to pay the price for hesitancy in clearing their lines when Ballyshannon full back Turlough Mc Intyre was allowed to cross over the line past three Letterkenny defenders. By now they had come to terms with their scrummaging problems and would have been feeling even more confident three minutes later when Letterkenny centre John Anthony Mc Fadden had to leave the field with a torn hamstring . Despite this Letterkenny were back on the attack up to half time and would have been reasonably satisfied with the 5 to 3 deficit with the elements in their favour in the second period.

Ballyshannon found the early play after half time played almost entirely in their half but staunchly defended their line. Letterkenny did get some rewards for their constant attacks when outhalf Robinson again showed his coolness with a sweetly struck penalty after five minutes to put the home side into the lead. Five minutes later they went further ahead when Boyd Robinson again slotted over to bring up a nine points to five. The loss of centre Mc Fadden saw number eight Adam Moore slot into the centre position in defensive play but lack of numbers were beginning to have effect and Ballyshannon got back into the home twenty two with some good ‘pick and drive’ attacks. On sixty five minutes Letterkenny ‘s attack down their left wing seemed promising but the visitors in stopping the run again conceded a penalty which Robinson drove between the posts. The last seven minutes saw Letterkenny having to find reserves of strength and courage inside their own twenty two with sustained pressure from the visitors. The loss of second row Shay Blayney with a head injury added to their woes but they held out and at the final whistle were back on the attack.

Both teams deserved the greatest credit for play on one of the coldest experienced for a number of years. The ball handling and lineout play considering the conditions was of a high standard and the fitness level of all the players was commendable.

For the visitors, their pack showed skill and strength and skill and they had some problems in the scrum they more than made up for it in the loose. In the back line their scrum half/ out half combination were good all through while the Mc Intyre brothers at centre and full back were impressive. Letterkenny had good performances from Kevin Mc Laughlin, Conor Dunleavy and the back row of Boyle, Anderson and Moore. Behind the scrum Damien Williamson had an excellent game while the standard of tackling from centre Andrew Gibson has not been seen from a Letterkenny jersey since Jeremy Worth hung up his boots.

Letterkenny’ s injury list continues to grow with John Mc Fadden and Shay Blayney now a cause of concern. While flanker Liam mc Glynn should be ready to resume after Christmas, it may be some weeks before Shane Mc Art, Derek Daly and Ian Scott are available for selection.

Team : Kevin Mc Laughlin, Brendan Smith, Ray Clarke, Shay Blayney , Conor Dunleavy, Jamie Boyle, John Anderson , Adam Moore( Capt), Damien Williamson, Boyd Robinson, Tony Mc Bride, John Anthony Fadden, Andrew Gibson, Jason Daly, Brian Peoples.

Next scheduled fixture is for the second fifteen away to CIYMS in Belfast on the 2 nd January , however there are a number of re-fixtures for the first fifteen yet to be re-arranged. Their next scheduled fixture is at home to Newry in the League on the 15^th of January.

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Dec 5th  Letterkenny 1^st XV 20 : Monaghan 0

Letterkenny maintained their unbeaten home record in the wind and rain of Dave Gallaher Park on Saturday past and at the end were well worth their margin of victory. Monaghan, who are just below Letterkenny in the league table, showed very little enterprise apart from a five minute spell near the end and only a dogged defence from the visitors prevented Letterkenny running up a big score line. The home pack showed their intention from the start and with a useful mixture of rolling maul and pick and drive had the Monaghan men back inside their own twenty two. After seven minutes veteran outhalf Boyd Robinson put the Letterkenny men ahead with a penalty in front of the Monaghan posts. Straight from the next kick off, Letterkenny won a penalty and opted to go for the lineout, twenty metres from the Monaghan line. An excellent rolling maul saw flanker Jamie Boyle get over for a try just to the right of the posts. The conversion brought up a scoreline of 10 – 0 with less than ten minutes gone. The away team had great difficulty getting out of their twenty two but their defence held out until a further penalty from Robinson on the twenty five minute mark. From then until half time Letterkenny enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but failed to add to the scoreboard.

Letterkenny faced the wind and rain in the second period but scrumhalf Damien Williamson put the result beyond doubt after six minutes. Getting possession forty metres from the Monaghan line, he sprinted towards the centre of the Monaghan defence, gave a delightful chip, collected the ball and went over for an excellent individual try. The conversion was put over by Robinson, which left the score line 20 -0. To their credit, the Monaghan men never gave up and bombarded the Letterkenny defence with hard running for the last five minutes but the home teams line held solid. Best for Letterkenny were loose head prop Kevin Mc Loughlin aka “The Churchill Flyer”, Captain Adam Moore at number eight with his fellow back rowers John Anderson and Jamie Boyle. Behind the scrum Damien Williamson had another excellent game at his new position of scrumhalf, whilst Boyd Robinsons kicking for posts was nearly flawless, nearly!

Team: Kevin Mc Loughlin, Brendan Smith, Ray Clarke, Shay Blaney, Connor Dunleavy, Jamie Boyle, Adam Moore (Capt), John Anderson, Damien Williamson, Boyd Robinson, Andrew Gibson, John Anthony Mc Fadden, Jason Daly, Tony McBride, Brian Peoples.

Upcoming Fixtures

12^th Dec – Away match V Donegal Town

19^th Dec – Home match V Ballyshannon

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nov 21st: Letterkenny 1^st XV 11 : Randalstown 7

Letterkenny made the trip up to Randalstown on Saturday past to play a highly anticipated league match. With the previous week’s weather, it was touch and go whether the match would take place but thankfully the surface was playable and the sun even peeked its head out as the Letterkenny lads took to the pitch.

With the wind at their backs in the first half, Letterkenny took control of the match and kept the home team on the backfoot by putting the ball in behind them. This pressure eventually resulted in the Letterkenny men getting a penalty in front of the posts. This was converted by veteran outhalf Boyd Robinson to give the Letterkenny team an early lead. Randalstown came back strongly and looked to get the ball wide quickly. Half way through the first half this tactic paid off as their winger put the gas on just inside letterkennys half, evaded two tackles and touched down underneath the posts. The conversion was converted by the Randalstown outhalf to leave the score 7-3 to the home team. After this the Letterkenny team picked things up and increasing pressure eventually led to them scoring a try of their own. Good work from the forwards, left fast ball for the backs. With good offloads from Brian Peoples and Jason Daly, this left Tony Mc Bride one on one with his opposing winger. A lovely chip and chase from Mc Bride ended up with him diving over in the corner. With the conversion missed it left the score 8 -7 to Letterkenny with five minutes remaining in the first half. The away team kept the pressure on and got their reward with a second penalty just before half time to leave it 11- 7 at the half. The second half kicked off with the pitch and weather deteriorating. With the home team now with a strong wind behind them, it was Letterkennys turn to be put under pressure. Finding it hard to clear their lines meant they were on the backfoot and resulted in most of the play being played in their twenty two. However, the Letterkenny lads showed great heart and resilient defence to make sure the home team never breached their line.

This result was the team’s second win away from home in a row and the young team is definitely beginning to come together. On a day when conditions were far from ideal the Letterkenny lineout and scrum functioned very well, even nicking a few off the home side. Credit must also go to Anthony Gallagher and Roger Mc Laughlin who were called in at late notice for this game and both players played their part in an important victory.

Team – Anthony Gallagher, Jamie Boyle, Ray Clarke, Connor Dunleavy, Sean Dunleavy, John Anderson, Adam Moore(Capt), Andrew Gibson, Damian Williamson, Boyd Robinson, Shane Mc Art, Jason Daly, Tony Mc Bride, Roger Mc Laughlin, Brian Peoples.

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Oct 17th Letterkenny 7 Virginia 13

Letterkenny first fifteen made the long journey to Virginia short a number of their regular side and while they performed well at times during the afternoon their performance was not good enough to overcome a spirited home side whose fitness was impressive.

Playing up the incline in the first period Letterkenny had two good attacks into the home twenty two but Virginia got all their team back behind the ball on both occasions and cleared their lines. In fact in their first real advance into the Letterkenny twenty two the home side got their try when their burly right wing bull dozed his way across the line from ten metres out. An excellent kick from the conversion saw the score at 7 points to nil. The visitors lineout and scrum were working well but Virginia were on top in mauls and rucks.

And Letterkenny’s open field running while impressive at times was invariably negated at the subsequent mauls. Virginia went further ahead when their out half scored an opportunist drop goal on the twenty minute mark. Letterkenny had their chances, particularly a penalty on the Virginia twenty two but got nothing on the board up to half time.

In the second half, Letterkenny, with their lineout still on top and some excellent running from Shane Mc Art, Brian Peoples and Captain Adam Moore should have been over the Virginia line on at least three occasions inside the opening fifteen minutes but a combination of great defence from the home side and lack of supporting play denied the scores. Very much against the run of play Virginia brought the score to 13 points to nil minute when the visitors came offside at a ruck on the seventeenth minute mark.

From then to the end Letterkenny bombarded the home defence and the Virginia side lost their loose head prop to a yellow card when the referee caught him, for the umpteenth time, drop his bind under pressure from Letterkenny’s Ray Clarke. A minute later after an eight phase attack the visitors got the score they deserved when the impressive Shane Mc Art got into the left of the posts to set up a grand stand finish. Or at least it should have been, but the referee inexplicably blew the final whistle two minutes later and seven minutes short on time and the leave the visitors frustrated and to the delight of the home side who on balance probably deserved their victory for an exceptionally gritty display.

Letterkenny will possibly play well and win games this season but overall they had only themselves to blame. In a game littered with mistakes and scrappy play, hooker Jamie Boyle again impressed with Adam Moore and Dave Brown in the pack. While Shane Mc Art and Brian Peoples were most effective in the back line. An early injury to centre Andrew Gibson limited his effectiveness but he still put in two of the best tackles of the game.

Team

Benny Smith, Jamie Boyle, Ray Clarke, Dave Brown, Sean Dunleavy, Conor Dunleavy, Ben Morgan, Adam Moore( capt) Boyd Robinson, Brian Peoples, Andrew Gibson, Shane Mc Art, Conal Sheridan, Jason Daly, John Anthony Mc Fadden.

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Best of luck to Dave Brown soon on his way to Brisbane in Australia, he will be sorely missed.

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Next weekend sees a big home fixture when Jeremy Worth’s team entertain an English touring side, Guys Hospital, at the Glebe. It promises to be an enjoyable afternoon. Bring th ekids to watch the Vets.

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Letterkenny 36 Donegal Town 16