Donegal 10 : 17 Letterkenny

Following immediately after the U13s match the U15s quickly turned out to be an even more fiercely contested affair. (Did I mention in the U13 report that this must be the most beautiful location for a match in the rugby world?) The match kicked off at a fast pace with the Donegal Town pack quickly forcing their way into the Letterkenny twenty-two. An early score looked likely but the Letterkenny backs were having none of it, and strong defence with a number of telling tackles, one in particular from Daniel O’Driscoll saw the danger kicked to touch.
From the restart Letterkenny were finding their second wind, and play was brought to the other end of the pitch. A sustained period of pressure was finally rewarded as Mark Mulrine crossed the line for the first score of the match after ten minutes.

Four minutes later it was Donegal Town’s turn to score, (Christian?) and like Letterkenny, failed to convert, levelling the scores at five all. Just before the break Mel Harkin put Letterkenny ahead again with the third try of the half. Not a day for kickers, again no conversion. Half time score ten-five.

The second half opened as frenetically as the first, with both sides tackling with commitment. Letterkenny lost Donal O’Driscoll in one of these encounters, - a fractured arm, we wish him a speedy recovery. Nine minutes into the half Justin Allen looked like putting Letterkenny out of sight with a try, converted by Oisín McLaughlin. Donegal Town were not losing heart however and answered with a try four minutes later, bringing themselves to a converted try of levelling the scores at seventeen ten.

From there to the final whistle, it was a war of attrition with Donegal Town determined to score, and Letterkenny equally determined to keep them out. Twice it looked like the equaliser was on the cards, but try-saving tackles, from Oisín McLaughlin in particular stopped the advancing Donegal forwards.

A good game from two well-matched sides. Well played. Final Score Donegal Town 10 Letterkenny 17.

FR