On the hottest day of the season so far, Letterkenny faced Portadown in the first round of the cup. After a magnificent season for the U14 side, they were confident of taking on any side in Ulster. However with a few injuries especially in the forwards and a couple of players playing out of position, they faced a Portadown side with a significant size advantage, especially in the pack.

After a delayed start with both teams waiting for nearly 40 mins on the pitch due to the lack of a Branch Ref, the game eventually started under the supervision of club Referee Martin Mortimer who came at very short notice. The game started, as it was to proceed with a bruising and attritional first half. Portadown scored first without conversion. Letterkenny composed themselves and after some impressive scrimmaging and forward play, the Letterkenny backs eventually stretched Portadown enough to let Kaymin Shortt run an impressive line and score about 5m in from the corner. A difficult conversion was just too far wide for Kaymin to convert his own try. Portadown managed to muscle their way through the Letterkenny side to score again without conversion, before half-time to leave it a one score game.

Half time: Letterkenny 5 Portadown 10

The second half started with a number of substitutions due to the size and amount of tackles made by the Letterkenny team. The second half turned out to be even more physical with such committed tackling resulting in both, Ewan Douglas and Jack Speer having to leave the pitch injured. Portadown scored again without conversion and were starting to dominate play. They eventually scored an impressive late try and converted it.

Full time: Letterkenny 5 Portadown 22

Despite the score Letterkenny can hold their heads high, to have held such a physically bigger side to 22 points.
Portadown gave the boys some consolation, by telling them, they were the toughest opposition they faced this season.

Letterkenny Under 14s ( starting ) XV:

1 Dan Geoghan
2 Eoin Parkinson ( Captain )
3 Jack Doherty
4 Matthew Duffy
5 Lorcan Sweeney
6 Daithi Doherty-Vago
7 Jynaid Rayes
8 Oisin Farrell
9 Ben Hopkins
10 Kaymin Shortt
11 Ewan Douglas
12 Peter Sparks
13 Tiernan McFadden
14 Eoin Harris
15 Brian McGettigan

Reserves:
16 Jack Gibbons
17 Gaetano Cinquemani
18 Matthew Murray
19 Jack Speer
20 Cuan Brophy
21 David Sparks
22 Rory O’Connell

Our thanks to Martin Mortimer, who came at very short notice to referee the match, to avoid having a replay and all the coaches, parents and supporters who helped the team.