Saturday 11th April saw Letterkenny under 18’s face Randalstown RFC at Dave Gallaher Park in their biggest fixture of the season- the quarter final of the u18 Ulster Cup. A breeze blew across the pitch in what were otherwise favourable conditions, the game kicking off at 11am.

Having defeated Randalstown by a point in a particularly controversial ‘friendly’ game at the start of the season, Letterkenny were aware that they would not have an easy task facing the team that have been playing in the league above them. But having got a major scalp in Banbridge two weeks prior, confidence was high amongst the home team.

The kick off was met with a strong chase, Letterkenny fighting to make every tackle count, but over eagerness resulted in a Randalstown penalty. The game ebbed on in the opening minutes with no real try-scoring opportunities. However, a surge in pressure from the home side brought Letterkenny inside the opposition’s twenty-two and ill discipline gained them a number or penalties. Showing their confidence, Letterkenny opted to run rather than take the points. The forwards crash-balled closer to the line, Mark Gillespie coming agonisingly close to crossing the line. Their patience paid off nevertheless, seeing flanker Joe Dunleavey charge over for a crucial try in the first ten minutes, and Ryan Mortimer added the two.

Randalstown kicked off for the restart, which was dropped by the pressurised Letterkenny pack. From this scrum outside the twenty-two, the visitors pressed their first promising assault. And it certainly proved testing. The tireless dog-fighting around the breakdown ensued for what felt like an eternity for the defenders, but still Randalstown pressed on towards the line. Metres out, they crashed over the tryline but the ball was miraculously held up, giving them a scrum on five instead.

Randalstown shipped the ball wide, trying an attack through their centres, but they were wrapped up in the tackle and outside centre Daniel Faulkner ripped the ball off for the turnover. Letterkenny cleared their lines, eliminating Randalstown’s hopes as the ball bounced into touch. The roles were then reversed, as the ball came back into Letterkenny’s hands. They launched their attack with prop David McLean putting in an outstanding performance to suck in opposing numbers at the rucks, forcing penalties. This time they chose to take the points, Mortimer scoring a comfortably placed penalty. The game continued in this manner- the roles changing continuously with both sides defending strongly but lack of discipline costing the visitors. Mortimer slotted another penalty to bring the half to a close at 13-0 in Letterkenny’s favour.

Letterkenny were well aware, however, that the quarter final was far from won. The second half would pit them against the wind, and Randalstown made a change in the backline, a new fly half ensuring their game management would change. From the restart it became apparent that this was an effective substitution. The visitors began to get the ball out to the backs, aware that ‘kenny’s defence was impenetrable around the breakdown. While they found it little easier out wide, consistent ball retention resulted in an eventual line break, their left winger out stripping the desperate defence. The Randalstown winger put a kick through over fullback Evin Walsh and chased at breakneck speed. Letterkenny flanker Martin Molloy, knowing the opposing winger would undoubtedly be first to retrieve his kick through, took him out illegally, receiving a yellow card and conceding a penalty for his effort.

Aggravated that they had not been awarded a penalty try, Randalstown opted to go for the five points rather than take the kick for goal. They edged towards the posts and, amidst tireless Letterkenny defence, eventually crossed the tryline. Though the home side were convinced the ball was knocked on over the line, the referee nevertheless awarded the score. The missed conversion brought the game to 13-5, and suddenly it was anyone’s game.

Letterkenny’s game management in the last quarter outclassed the visitors’, yet still Randalstown found gaps with their temporary yellow-card overlap. But they proved unable to get another try to close the scoreline and instead it was Letterkenny who made the first line-break through Mark Gillespie and Alex Boyd. The attack resulted in a penalty thirty metres from the posts. Mortimer scored the penalty to stretch the lead. The dying minutes remained neck-and-neck, and the final whistle couldn’t have come sooner.

The 16-5 victory was hugely significant, seeing Letterkenny through to the semi-final which will be played on the 18th April at Dave Gallaher Park, 11am. They will be out for revenge, their opposition being the league-winners Dromore who defeated them 17-3 in their last meeting in December. This fixture, however, is for that much more. The winning side will play the final in the Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, for the chance to win the Cup.

Letterkenny Team; 1. D.Doyle 2. S.Holmes 3. D.McLean 4. D.Gallagher 5. D.Dunleavy 6. J.Dunleavy 7. M.Molloy 8. M.Gillespie 9. B.Khavia 10. R. Mortimer 11. K.Grant 12. A.Boyd 13.D.Faulkner 14.P.Scott 15. E.Walsh. Reps; S.MacGinty, C.Sweeney, D.Toal, A.Boal-Quinn, K.Wilson, D.Bruce