Ballymena latest victim, as U14s contest the "Plate" competition.

Another beautiful sunny morning in Letterkenny.
After a long season, the Under 14s are in the quarterfinal of the competition, for the "Plate". They were up against Ballymena, whom they played against twice, this season, in the Ulster Carpets North League - coming out on top on both occasions.

Letterkenny kicked to start the match.
The game opened with a strong start from Letterkenny, but quickly moved to Ballymena, whom had all the possession, and dominated play, for the first ten minutes. When Letterkenny got the opportunity, they tried driving up the middle, but constantly met heavy traffic. Letterkenny were awarded a penalty, when Ballymena were standing offside. Flyhalf, Kaymin Shortt took the kick and sliced the ball between the uprights. Great start.

Letterkenny tended to dominate the rest of the first half. Ballymena were able to frustrate and upset Letterkenny's plays.
From another penalty, 15 metres from the tryline, scrumhalf, Ben Hopkins took the tap, passed to number eight, Oisin Farrell, whom used his brute strength and power to drive over the line. Kaymin successfully kicked the conversion.

Half Time: Letterkenny 10 - Ballymena 0

Ballymena kicked to restart.
Letterkenny had made two changes in the scrum, at the break, bringing on Jack Doherty, and Conor Mangan, for Jack Gibbons and Daithi Doherty-Vago ( at prop, and lock ). Ballymena continued to disrupt play, but managed to made unforced errors, and conceded a kick-able penalty. Kaymin Shortt attempted, but missed.
Five minutes later, Ballymena made a head-high tackle on winger, Alex Wylde, and Letterkenny were awarded another penalty.
This time, Kaymin 'made good' and got the points.

Ballymena started to tire.
From a run by Oisin Farrell, as he was tackled, he offload ( with one arm ), to fullback, Bryan McGettigan, who ran 30 metres, and scored a try, under the posts. Kaymin converted the try.
Just as Letterkenny were starting to pull away, Ballymena came back. From a penalty near their scoring end, their forwards drove the ball over the tryline for a try, of their own. The game was on.

From a DDP move, the ball was dummied to outside centre, Tiernan McFadden, whom broke through the defence, and scored a try. Kaymin's conversion hit the posts. No points.
Ballymena fought back again , and ran in another try.

Letterkenny emptied their bench.
Lock, Conor Mangan, had the final say. Conor stormed through Ballymena defence, and scored under the posts. Dan Geoghegan converted Conor's try.

Full Time : Letterkenny 32 Ballymena 12

Letterkenny Under 14s ( starting ) XV :

1 Dan Geoghegan
2 Gaetano Cinquenani
3 Jack Gibbons
4 Jynaid Rayes
5 Matthew Duffy
6 Daitha Doherty-Vago
7 Eoin Parkinson
8 Oisin Farrell
9 Ben Hopkins
10 Kaymin Shortt ( Captain )
11 Alex Wylde
12 Rory O'Connell
13 Tiernan McFadden
14 Ewan Douglas
15 Bryan McGettigan

Subs
Forwards: Jack Doherty, Conor Mangan, Lorcan Sweeney, Matthew Murray.
Backs: Eoin Harris, David Sparks, Alex McDermott.

Team Reserves:
Dylan Coyle, Aaron Fitzsimmons, Emmet Gillespie, Ryan Hegarty, Peter Sparks, Jack Speer, David Henry, Levi Lapsey & Callum Orsi.

Thanks to the coaches, the referee, the supporters, parents and the Ballymena Rugby Football Club.