Letterkenny U15’s hosted Dungannon in a friendly fixture on Saturday and put on their performance of the season. Missing their captain and inspirational leader, Mel Harkin, a couple of changes to the line up were made and they all adapted well.
Tiarnan O’Dea opened the scoring with 3 points from the boot, taking his season’s tally to 100 points, after the visitors were penalised for diving into the ruck and Letterkenny continued to hold the upper hand for the opening exchanges.
However it was Dungannon who scored the first try, which was converted, following some uncharacteristic poor defence from the home team’s back line.
‘kenny were soon back in front as they continued to dominate the forward battle and Shane O’Brien touched down after being driven over the line.
The visitors soon rallied and replied with a try wide out on the right wing which wasn’t converted to retake the lead.
David McLean, who partnered Ben Russell in the second row, was having a fine game and used all his strength and power to score a try as the scoreboard see-sawed but Dungannon had the last say of the half with a converted try on 26 minutes to leave Letterkenny trailing 13 points to 19 at the break.
The second half continued to be a very even affair with both teams preventing each other creating scoring opportunities. Due to injury Karl Wilson , Letterkenny’s blind side flanker, who had been having a solid game, was replaced by Demot Dunleavy at the break who put in a very sound performance of his own
Mid way through the half stand in captain, Olan Noonan, broke from the back of a maul and stretched over the line, despite the efforts of the opposition, to touch down. A coversion here would have taken the lead, but alas ’twas not to be.
Dungannon held out to the end to claim a one point victory and the return friendly fixture, sceduled for April, should prove an interesting affair.
Whilst all Letterkenny players are showing great improvement Donnacha McNaillis deserves special mention for his performance and attitude throughout the game.
