Letterkenny made the long trip to Fivemiletown on Saturday, for the first of back to back fixtures with a number of players missing but in perfect conditions, and took the game to Clogher Valley from the start.

Whilst organised defence is an area the ‘Kenny side need to work on the commitment was never in question and no quarter was given. Due to the lack of an experienced prop the game had to be played with uncontested scrums, the rarity of such a restart however had little significance on the game.

The bigger, and more experienced, home team never overshadowed the visitors and an early score by the boys from the Valley was soon nullified when man of the match Caz Abakanyarko kicked and chased from the half-way line to out run his defender, only to be taken out without the ball, short of the line. A penalty try was awarded which Enda Gallagher converted.

The Clogher team rallied again and a well worked move stretched the defence and put the full-back through to score.

Back came the visitors to score when Ross Harkin, on 25 minutes, took a quick penalty 15m out and crashed through a number of defenders to score.   However  the home side added to the tally with another converted try scored again by the number 15 leaving the home side 19 points to 12 up at the break.  

Early in the second half the Tyrone side scored two well worked tries to extend their lead and the 14 strong visitors began to wane as the home side brought on fresh legs – a luxury Letterkenny didn’t have available.  

The Co.Donegal forwards, lead superbly by Enda Gallagher, battled hard and continued to create platforms for their backs to work.  Ben Mortimer competed well in the lineout, regularly being lifted above his opposite number.

 A clever crossfield kick from a penalty by the Clogher out half, into the left wingers hands, added to the score followed by a kick and chase try left the final tally at 43 points to 12.

 The back three of Leroy Edjah, Michael Lennon, and in particular Niall Curran tackled throughout and left a scoreline which doesn’t do justice to what was Letterkenny’s best team performance of the season. Saturday’s return trip for Clogher will not be a game they can take for granted and with Letterkenny’s home advantage it will be a interesting fixture.    

Letterkenny team: Casimir Abakanyarko, Keelan Boyce, Niall Curran, Darragh Doohan, Leroy Edjah, Liam Fogarty, Enda Gallagher, Patrick Gallagher, Ross Harkin, Michael Lennon, Wade McGee, Bryan McGinley, Brendan McGrory, Ben Mortimer