Banbridge u18 v Letterkenny u18

Having defeated Coleraine at 61-7 at home in their first game of the Cup, Letterkenny Under 18’s travelled up to Banbridge with confidence but knowing that a very different task would lie ahead, the same fixture going in Banbridge’s favour 37-5 last season. Everything was to play for, the victors would earn a spot in the quarters, the defeated left with an all-but-over season.

A light breeze blew across the pitch and straight from kick off the home side realised Letterkenny were a changed team from last year. Dermot Dunleavy took Ryan Mortimer’s kick off with a great diving catch, setting up the platform for crash ball that took the visitors from the ten metre line to just out from the try line. The ball was then sent wide with a clever switch sending winger Peter Scott through a gap and going over in the corner. The seven points in the first few minutes gave Banbridge an unexpected scare.

However, they had not yet had their chance to touch the ball, Letterkenny’s work at the breakdown being so effective. Banbridge threw everything onto the table, their pack working tirelessly to secure the ball and turn it over in defence. The breeze played to their advantage, aiding their half-backs and fifteen to pin Letterkenny in their corners. This territory led to Banbridge’s first score, the forwards’ hard work paying off with seven points to level the score.

Banbridge kept on the assault but to Letterkenny’s relief, centres Alex Boyd and Daniel Faulkner made several testing counter attacks. One such counter resulted in a Letterkenny penalty on half way. The kick for touch gave them a promising field position, from which prop David McLean managed to drive the pillar defence back onto the Banbridge line. Fellow prop Douglas Doyle then took the ball on himself from the base of the ruck and went over for the second score of the game.

The game stayed at neck and neck for the remainder of the first half until from Letterkenny’s own try line by winger Kevin Grant brought his side up the full length of the pitch. Banbridge kept Letterkenny out, but only temporarily. Letterkenny’s Scott made another line break off a scrum, giving ‘kenny dangerous territory. The ball came out from the breakdown to the hands of flanker Joe Dunleavy, who handed off the defence and crashed over for a 19-7 lead at half time.

Stung by the scoreline, Banbridge came back after the break with fiery intent. Strong ball carrying tested the Letterkenny defence at the fringes of the rucks, and one slip tackle left a gaping hole for the Banbridge scrum half who made an impressive forty metre dash to go under the posts. The conversion brought the game to 19-14, and suddenly both sides realised how crucial the next score could be.

Letterkenny regrouped and chased the kick off, adamant to be maintain their lead. Banbridge found now gaps in the pillar defence and opted to send the ball wide. The decision proved fatal, a dropped ball being hacked through by Joe Dunleavy who scooped it up and popped it off to centre Boyd to run in from the twenty-two.

Ten minutes passed before the scoreline changed, seeing mostly Banbridge on the attack. Their efforts were finally rewarded with crash ball leading to a try out wide but the failed conversion left a seven point deficit, Letterkenny leading but by no means comfortably. The dying minutes changed this on paper, however. From the kick off, it was Letterkenny’s turn to run the game and Banbridge found themselves camped on their own line and conceding a number of penalties. Letterkenny secured the ball from their lineout five out from the line. After numerous surges by the forwards for the line, the ball came wide and a miss pass from Mortimer to Faulkner saw the outside centre break through and score beneath the posts. The conversion was added, and Banbridge kicked off once more, knowing that it was finally too late to turn the score.

Flanker Martin Molloy took the catch to set up a ruck on halfway for the visitors, now daring to take greater risks with the game won. They attacked blind and another link up between Mortimer and Faulkner created a gap. Faulkner exploited the space, beating countless defenders from halfway to score his second beneath the uprights. The game ended at 40-19, seeing Letterkenny through to the Cup quarter finals against Randalstown at home on 11th April, KO 11am.

Letterkenny Team; 1. David McLean 2. Stephen Holmes 3. Douglas Doyle 4. Diarmuid Gallagher 5. Mark Gillespie 6. Joe Dunleavy 7. Martin Molloy 8. Dermot Dunleavy 9. Ben Khavia 10. Ryan Mortimer 11. Kevin Grant 12. Alex Boyd 13. Daniel Faulkner 14. Peter Scott 15. Evin Walsh 16. Daniel Bruce 17. Ciaran Sweeney 18. Sam MacGinty 19. Adam Boal-Quinn 20. Kevin Neely