Letterkenny U18s triumph 29 - 0 despite an occasionally scrappy display

Letterkenny u18s 29 Ballymoney u18s 0

In a game with almost as much scrappy play as quality, Kenny u18s beat
the visitors convincingly with the opposition team restricted to just
one kick at the posts and no pressure on the home try line. However
the home team will be well aware that this level of performance will
not suffice against better quality opposition. Indiscipline, poor
handling, no support of the ball carrier and poor concentration
littered this game but they were balanced by driving runs from the
second row pair of McMenamin and Fulton, dazzling footwork from
Matthew Faulkner and the intelligence and desire of Peter Scott,

Peter Scott opened the scoring after 3min with a penalty which was
followed shortly after with Ballymoneys only attempt at the posts
which went narrowly wide. A try from Fionn McGarvey, was the first of
Kennys 4 tries on the day, when he beat a number of tacklers from 15m
out and touched down to the right of the posts. Faulkner was next to
add the the scoreline when he also beat a number of would be tacklers
and scored under the posts. With Scott converting both tries the half
time score was 17-0.

The second half was no different to the first with periods of scrappy
play, poor handling and indiscipline only interrupted by two good
moves from the home team which resulted in tries for Faulkner and
Joshua Carr. A number of chances were spurned by the home team with
some poor decision making and passing but on days like these all this
can be chalked up to experience and the players will know that they
are capable of much better and that greater challenges lie ahead. The back row of Scott, Roulston and Sweeny were excellent throughout along with the power house second row of Fulton and McMenamin. Faulkner at 10 was the stand out performer and showed his full aray of skills on a day when he was central to all the positives. Letterkenny will need to develop much more control at set piece and at the base of the ruck to keep improving and be realistic cup chalengers in 2017.
Team D Ward (capt), B Scott, S Gibson, J Fulton, C McMenamin, J
Roulston, J Sweeney, P Scott, J McGarvey, M Faulkner, C Aitken, C
Cannon, E Henry, J Smeaton, F McGarvey Subs J Fogarty, W Douglas, J
Carr, E Stevenson,