Ballyshannon rugby club men recorded their first win of the season when they defeated a strong and much fancied Derry side in the Maiden city on Saturday.
Ballyshannon were slow out of the blocks and allowed the home side to dominate at the beginning. The Derry side scored an early penalty and for the opening fifteen minutes controlled the contest. Derry Y M C A went further ahead when they scored a converted try. At this stage Ballyshannon were looking in to the abyss. The turning point came when the Ballyshannon forwards showing true grit won a scrum against the head and realized that the way to win this game was to take the opposition head-on and beat them at their own game. The Ballyshannon men harried and harassed the home side into making mistakes. From a mistake in the middle of the field Rion Treanor picked up the ball and like the will-of-wisp took off and showed everyone a clean pair of heels and scored under the posts. The first half ended with Ballyshannon on the ascendancy but with a lot of work to do.
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Ballyshannon came out for the second half with renewed vigor and sensed a victory was on the cards. For the first time this year the backs received clean ball from the hard working forwards. This allowed Mark Rooney and Aidean Murray to run at the opposition. Options were opening up for the visitors all over the field. From a well rehearsed blind side move the ball was transferred to Shane Roper on the overlap and he scored in the corner. Nobody deserved a try more than Roper for his determination and hard work. With the scores level this was anybody’s game yet Ballyshannon showed the greater resolve and willpower. John Mc Intyre slotted over a penalty to put the Shannon ahead. Derry Y M had one last chance to snatch victory when they made a sortie into the Ballyshannon twenty-two but were repelled by steadfast defense. John Mc Intyre kicked a monster of a penalty from the half way line to leave the Ballyshannon men victors by six points.
Team:
David Hoey, Conor Gallagher, Brian Killilea, Anthony Coughlan, Clinton Morrow, Conor Mc Hugh, James O Donnell, Donald Hannigan, John Mc Intyre, Ray Gallagher, Richard Gallagher, Mark Rooney, Aidean Murray, Shane Roper, Rion Treanor.
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SENIORS:
Ballyshannon R.F.C.’s training continues this week. This Tuesday and Thursday the senior men will be training at 7.00pm at the lakeside centre in Ballyshannon. The senior ladies will also be training this coming week, their sessions will be held on Wednesday and Friday at 7.00pm at the lakeside centre in Ballyshannon. These days will continue for both men and women.
YOUTH:
Under 13’s and 15’s rugby training continues this coming Wednesday at 7.00pm sharp at the lakeside centre in Ballyshannon.
The training times are open to all newcomers, with or without previous experience. So feel free to come up and have a run out with the lads and ladies
MINIS:
The Mini’s are training as normal at 11:00 am, at the lakeside centre on Saturday. Any problems contact 086 8035335.
