1) Luke McKeever
2) Eoin Parkinson
3) Dan Geoghegan
4) Adam McElwaine
5) Jack Smith
6) Mathew Duffy
7) Odhrán Finn
8) Jack Speer (Captain)

9) Ben Hopkins
10) Kaymin Shortt
11) Ben Connolly
12)Brian McGettigan
13) Conor Aiken
14) Jason Patton
15 ) Finn Nicolas

Subs: Emmet Gillepsie, Colm Gallagher

Players player of the Match on the day was Eoin Parkinson with second tied on votes for Kaymin Shortt and Jack Speer.

The conditions for KO this morning were perfect with only a spit of rain and no wind with Rainey having traveled to Dave Gallagher Park with only 14 players available on the day. This was not going to be to their detriment as they started the game with the same intensity and drive they showed for much of the match kicking off from left to right. Letterkenny took the ball from the off and worked through a few phases but not making much ground, eventually Ben picked from the back of a ruck and with a crisp pass to Kaymin set him on his way, Kaymin spotted a gap over the top and launched a huge kick up the field, he chased it down with the speed of a gazelle and opted to kick it on again from inside the 22 along the ground, the ball bounced kindly and Kaymin again chased it over the line and pounced on it with inches to spare from the dead ball line. First blood to the fired up Letterkenny side. Kaymin slotted the conversion which hit the left upright but dropped over the bar, to secure the first 7 points of the game after 4 mins of play. 7 – 0
Rainey get the game underway again and secure possession from the restart, the big number 4 for Rainey picks from the back of a ruck and Jack Speer is first to react with a thundering tackle to halt the attack. Rainey maintain the momentum and edge ever closer to the Letterkenny line and are awarded 2 quick penalties in succession which they opt for the corner on both occasions, the Letterkenny defense is immense as it was for much of the game and each man holds his ground and refuses to let the Rainey attackers cross the white wash. Letterkenny are awarded a scrum 10 meters from their line which they duly convert and Ben again feeds his out half Kaymin who puts in another huge clearance kick taking play almost to the halfway line.
Letterkenny again turn over possession and begin to make their way up the field with phase after phase of impressive play, the ball again finds it’s way out the back line to Conor Aiken and he beats several players and makes a further 7 or 8 meters, again the forwards get involved and with some tight interchange passes and some nice charges by Jack Speer and Dan Geoghegan, Adam McElwaine is next to pick from the back of the ruck and he gains some great ground also, Letterkenny again find themselves on the Rainey 22 where the set up the maul the ball is fed back to Jack Speer on the charge and he has his wing man on his should Jack Smith who takes the pass and crashes over to the right of the uprights for Letterkenny’s second try. Kaymin slots the conversion and the score now after 17 mins of play is 14 – 0.

Rainey get the game underway again and are soon awarded a scrum on the 10 meter line, the big number 8 for Rainey picks from the back of the scrum and Mathew reads it superbly and flattens him where he stood, again Rainey run through the phases mounting the pressure on Letterkenny but the defense on the day was awesome from each and every player. Rainey are now 5 meters out again and under the posts but the pack with their never lie down attitude on the day keep them out and hold up the drive and are awarded the scrum out. Again they clear the danger to outside the 22 but Rainey from the line out continue to probe the fringes and keep the pressure firmly on the Letterkenny defense.

After a couple more penalties and opportunities for Rainey who spend much of the next 10 mins camped in the Letterkenny 22, Letterkenny are given the scrum for a crooked ball into the line out which affords Letterkenny the chance to clear their lines once more. Letterkenny are awarded a penalty on the 22 and Kaymin kicks for the far touch line allowing Letterkenny the put in to the lineout on the halfway line. But Rainey steal the lineout on this occasion and with some great play of their own find the big number 12 with a free charge at the line but Kaymin is having none of it and flattens him before he can cross the line however Rainey manage to hold onto possession and again sirge for the line only a few meters out but again some fine tackles coming in from the defense and they halt the attack once more and force a knock on from Rainey. The Ref blows for half time after an exciting end to end first half of rugby.
Score Letterkenny 14 – 0 Rainey OB

Kaymin gets the second half underway but Letterkennys eagerness to win back the ball finds the runners straying offside and Rainey get the put in to the scrum on the halfway line. Rainey continue their fine play on the day and run through the phases but they are matched by some fine defensive tackling from Kaymin and Brian McGettigan in the back who manage to keep the 12 channel closed all day.
Letterkenny make a sub after a few mins with Mathew taking a knock and having to come off to be checked, he makes way for Emmet Gillespie. Rainey get another penalty on the 22 and they tap quickly this time and go for the corner but Jack Speer is alert to move and takes out the runner in the corner, again Rainey keep coming but the defensive line is set and there is no way through. Letterkenny get a scrum for a knock on just 5 meters out and from the scrum they win a penalty which allows them to clear their lines once again.

After 7 mins Mathew in reintroduced and Emmet stays on with Adam McElwaine having played a great match makes way. Rainey find themselves on the attack again this time with the big number 4 charging through but Mathew Duffy hits him hard and manages to strip the ball in the tackle. Rainey again show their never say die attitude on the day and are again charging for the line only to be stopped by some fine tackles from Brian McGettigan and Jason Patton only meters out. Letterkenny again clear their lines through a penalty and they win the ensuing lineout which Letterkenny run through the hands, They again form a ruck and Dan and Mathew both hit the line at pace making 5 or 6 meters, they hold possession and Ben feeds Kaymin who this time opts to go himself with a fine side step he accelerates though the crowd of defenders and makes 20 or 30 meters up the field before the full back halts his charge, Kaymin turns in the tackle and pops the ball to a charging Odhrán Finn who makes a few more meters and from the maul a penalty is awarded to Rainey for something that wasn’t apparent to the sideline spectators. Rainey again tap and go quickly and find themselves in space but Conor Aiken is up to the challenge and takes out his man halting yet another charge by Rainey.

Jack speer gathers the loose ball and makes a good 10 meters before he is brought crashing to the ground, he holds onto possession and the ball is gathered by Eoin Parkinson who puts his head down and burrows through several forwards before setting up a further charge by Dan Geoghegan who makes a couple more meters. Letterkenny are awarded a scrum on the halfway line and the ball is fed out to Kaymin who does another great dummy creating the space to set Brian on a run and he with some fancy footwork beats his man and Kaymin does a loop outside and is fed by Brian, Kaymin puts another grubber through on the deck which crosses the line but this time Rainey are quick to react and touch down for a 22 out.
10 mins left and Letterkenny make their final substitution with Ben Connolly making way for Colm Gallagher, who makes a fine tackle within seconds of his introduction. Rainey now have a penalty on the Letterkenny 10 meter line they go for the corner for the lineout. They win the lineout and run the ball through the hands but Letterkenny are quick of their line and again halt another promising onslaught by Rainey. The final 10 mins are spent in the Letterkenny 22 with Rainey throwing everything they have at Letterkenny, they continue to probe the flanks but Letterkenny do an outstanding job of holding them out.
With one min left on the clock Rainey get a scrum inside the 22 where they win the scrum and the big number 8 again peels from the back into space and with a well-timed pass sets the number 10 into space and he crashes over for the visitors for a well-deserved try on the day to the left of the posts. They quickly take the conversion and the ref calls for last play from the restart. Letterkenny win a penalty which ben taps and boots into touch and the ref blows the final whistle.

The score after what was a fine game of rugby with both sides out on their feet at the final whistle was Letterkenny 14 – 7 Rainey.

Thanks to the coaches for all their work and efforts, to the folks who made the hot dogs, to the supporters on the day and to the visitors who played a fine game on the day.