1st XV
Matches
Sat 30 Jan 2016
Letterkenny RFC
1st XV
Tries: G McGill, C Dunleavy, B MortimerConversions: R Mortimer (2)
19
5
LURGAN RFC
Tries: L
Letterkenny v Lurgan

Letterkenny v Lurgan

Martin Mortimer3 Feb 2016 - 23:53
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Lurgan Out Muscled

Back to the home ground of Dave Gallaher Park Letterkenny welcomed Lurgan in a Qualifier 3 League encounter on a day when Mary Poppins would have kept her brollie well closed. Letterkenny had narrowly won the previous league fixture 20 – 22 and knew a good performance was required.
Letterkenny elected to play into the wind and get the hard work over first. Adapting better to the conditions early on Letterkenny’s set piece was a dominant factor, particularly in the scrum where the upper hand was ignored by the referee and the visitors escaped penalties which would have set the platform for a route. However the hard work of the ‘kenny front row of Rae Clark, Shaun McGill and Captain Christopher Digimas enabled the home team to stay on the front foot and gave returning scrum half Eoghan O’Riain an armchair ride.
Conor Dunleavy had another good day at the office and after a series of powerful assaults on the Lurgan line took a quick penalty and barrelled over for an unconverted try.
It was always going to be a day for the men up front but when the opportunites came O’Riain set out-half Ryan Mortimer’s back line alight and the Letterkenny 10 and Centre John Anthony McFadden caused havoc to the men from Co.Armagh. A couple of changes from recent weeks saw Ladi Yuno partnering McFadden in the centre with Gareth Gavin pulling on the 15 shirt whilst James Lee McLaughlin had another impressive outing on the wing.
One of Letterkenny’s strengths is the ability to implement the driving maul, they don’t use it enough and because of that get a bit nervous near the white wash, but one excellent passage of play saw McGill crash over the line from the back of one such maul for Mortimer to convert.
The visitors reacted well to the challenge and their fly-half utilised both feet and hands well to enable his backs to get into the game. Letterkenny, as is becoming the norm, switched off when they should have powered on, lack-lustre organisation in defence only failed to be turned into Lurgan points by unforced errors and last gasp tackling. Whilst ‘kenny’s defence has improved in recent weeks - communication and work rate off the ball still need to be picked up.
Just before half time Lurgan got onto the score sheet when they worked the ball wide, with some nifty interplay, to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.
Leading 12-5 at the break Coach Colin Farrell’s boys rallied and, playing with the wind, set about their task with a little more conviction. The back-row of Garry Canning, Michael Foy and Gareth McGill all made ground with bullocking carries and attack at the break-down ensured cleaner ball for the backs.
The 2nd row of Dunleavy and Ben Mortimer put in numerous trade mark hits, carried well, and mid-way through the 2nd half Mortimer muscled away three defenders to crash over and score for his younger brother to add the extra two points.
The home team ought to have twisted the knife and get the try bonus point but Lurgan never gave up and what they lacked in attack they made up for in defence.
The 1st XV are away to Monaghan on Saturday and could move to third in the table with a good win whilst the 2nds are away to Londonderry YM.
Letterkenny Team; Ray Clark, Shaun McGill, Christopher Digimas (Cpt.), Ben Mortimer, Conor Dunleavy, Michael Foy, James Lee McLaughlin, Gareth McGill, Eoghan O’Riain, Ryan Mortimer, Stephen Divine, John Anthony McFadden, Ladi Yuno, James Lee McLaughlin, Gareth Gavin

Match details

Match date

Sat 30 Jan 2016

Kickoff

14:30
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Senior Rugby Sponsor - McCafferty's Bar,
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Shirt Sponsor - Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre