Letterkenny under 18’s went out onto the pitch at Dave Galllaher Memorial Park on Saturday 13th eager to put into practice what will be expected of them in the upcoming league fixtures, with a friendly against Finn Valley. The game kicked off at 11, a thin layer of frost on the ground but bright skies and a gentle breeze proving perfect conditions.

Having beaten Finn Valley 57-0 in September, Letterkenny wanted to focus on putting into practice their game plan and solid team play rather than individual scores. Within five minutes, they had their first try after the side dominated the visitors through crash ball and running it up the middle, with a try from Daniel Faulkner in the corner. Letterkenny proved that there undefeated home record this season would not be easily broken, again forcing Valley back into their own 22. A lineout in the corner turned to a driving maul, and second row Conor O’Neill went over in the opposite corner, the conversion from Ryan Mortimer bringing it to 12-0. Finn Valley chased the restart with a steely resilience, desperate to get into the game. They proved more dangerous at the breakdown that out wide and so kept using crash ball to approach a dangerous field position. Over eagerness and ill discipline from the home side resulted in a penalty on their 22, and Valley’s captain and fly half put three on the scoreboard.

However there would not be a huge momentum swing, and Letterkenny were determined not to concede from any more unnecessary errors. Full back Peter Scott showed what damage he can do in his first game for the 18’s, finishing off a try made by winger Adam Boal Quinn’s break up the line. Letterkenny carried the restart straight back up, again proving their pack’s strength at crashing up the middle. Phase after phase of heavy artillery through the side’s big runners resulted in a try from David McLean amidst Finn Valley’s desperate attempts to hold the ball up over the line.

Within the next ten minutes Letterkenny had put another twelve points on the scoreboard, one try off Faulkner’s offload to fellow flanker Martin Molloy, the second another from Scott out wide. With the score gradually widening, the home side began to put into practice their moves off the training ground- a miss pass off a scrum sent centre Hughie Merlehen crashing under the posts. Great hands from the restart out wide found number eight Paul Johnston with acres of space and he ran in forty metres to secure a 50-3 score line at half time.

The second half would prove no more fruitful for Finn Valley. Early on it was evident that Letterkenny were out to continue their pressurising play, driving the opposition back and maintaining both territory and possession. Faulkner broke through the line of defence for his second after only four minutes. They then brought the ball straight back up and this time shipped it out wide and another second try opportunity was seized by Merlehen in the corner.

The backs began taking more risks and some clever play continually gained Letterkenny territory, breaks from the out backs and centres bringing the team within close range. Again good hands and intelligent timing proved too much for Valley’s defence, Scott making a break and going over for his hatrick. Shortly after, a charge down from Diarmuid Gallagher led to inside centre Daniel Bruce scoring under the posts and rounding off a confidence boosting performance, Letterkenny beating Finn Valley 76-3. Letterkenny hope to bring their impressive home record to away games as they prepare to face Coleraine next week- a side they beat at home in their first game of the season.