Welsh Rugby club enthusiasts enjoy their bi-annual Donegal visit

John Hanna and Charlie McGinty presenting a plaque, handcarved by Mike Williams, to David Price and Duncan Davies. Photo: Jason McGarrigle

Stalemate in local derby

Donegal Town 1 Letterbarrow Celtic 1

The first meeting of the season between these two local rivals provided exactly what one would have expected and both teams must be commended on the tough, but sportsmanlike, nature of the game. Played on a glorious February afternoon in perfect conditions, special mention must go to Donegal Town’s groundsman, Seamus Hanafin for having the Hospital Field in such superb condition and, considering the time of year and that Donegal Town have almost completed their home match schedule, it was no mean feat.
Donegal started the brighter of the two sides, controlling the hard gained possession a little better. In a bright opening 20 minutes, Donegal created a number of chances, Aaron Slevin narrowly missing at the near post from a low cross from Ringo Cannon. Darren Kelly then shaved the foot of the post from a header, after a cross by Rory Dunlevy.
Letterbarrow then started imposing themselves more forcibly on the game, John McGroary still as influential as ever in the heart of the Letterbarrow midfield. Up front, Letterbarrow were always dangerous when able to exploit the pace of John McClean and, more often than, not it was the clever touches of Alan McGroary which allowed this to happen.
The game was to really spark into life in the second half after the early game nervousness gave way.
Donegal finally took the lead in the final 15 minutes when Damien Dunnion played Fintan Doherty through on the right wing, Doherty then produced a delighted chip to the back post where Ringo Cannon stood unmarked and only too happy to tuck it away.
Donegal seemed to sit back after this and this was inviting trouble as McLoone and McGroary looked all the more dangerous on the break and with Conor Rooney becoming more involved in the game, Letterbarrow definitely upped a gear. The equaliser, when it came, was worth waiting for, the ball broke some 30 yards out from the Donegal goal and Alan McGroary pounced to send a wonderful left foot drive into the top corner. Cyril Svarek, in goal, having just kept Donegal in the game five minutes earlier with a fine save, could do nothing to stop.
This, having come so late in the game, just 4 minutes left, would seem to have finished it. Donegal, though, not to be beaten, broke up the field moments later and were awarded a penalty after the ball had been handled on the line from a Fintan Doherty effort and, despite the fact that the ball was then bundled to the net, the referee insisted that the whistle had been blown.
Ringo Cannon stepped forward to take the spot-kick and while all held their breaths, the kick was sent just wide of the left post. Disappointment for Donegal, relief for Letterbarrow - drama nonetheless. Donegal may have shaved it on chances, but perhaps Mc Groary’s strike deserved something. Rory Dunlevy

Damien Dunnion getting close attention from Mark Leonard Photo: Jason McGarrigle

Basketball Notes
Donegal win exciting game
Donegal 88 LYIT 72

In a cracker of a game, Donegal came away with the points in a fast paced, high scoring, encounter in Donegal’s home court of Ballyshannon. Both teams began with high pressure man to man defence, the students racing into an early lead with Mark Cannon putting the finishing touches to some good early moves. Donegal quickly turned things around hitting IT on the break, with Paul McHugh(7), Simon Waugh(6) and Liam Travers(4) making some important baskets. Seven different players scored for the home team in the opening quarter, giving them a 27-16 end of first quarter lead.
The students switched to a zone defence for a large part of the second. However Travers and Cookie Meehan still managed to find a way to the basket, Gareth Britton also got hot towards the end of the half, making several outside shots. Dan Mulholland was proving impossible to stop, and kept the visitors in the game, ably assisted by the aforementioned Cannon. Despite their best efforts, Donegal managed to increase their lead to seventeen.
The second half saw Donegal stretch further ahead, as Britton and John Kennedy contrived to keep Letterkenny on the back foot. Stephen Cannon and Conor McGeehan stepped up to ensure it remained interesting to the end, and Mulholland hit the score of the match, triple teamed, he still managed to get a shot away. In the final quarter Manus Brennan’s tactics of running his bench paid dividends. As IT upped the pressure all over the court, Brennan had the luxury of having fresh men on the court at all times. Niall Timoney came in and hit three baskets in quick succession, William Timoney pulled down some big boards and Bill Collins controlled the offence, it was to be Donegal’s day and they finished victorious in en excellent game of Basketball.
MVPs for the game were Gareth Britton and Stephen Cannon. Thanks to referees Nigel Weir and Brian McHugh.
Donegal: Paul McHugh (14), Liam Travers (15), Gareth Britton (12), John Kennedy (12), Cookie Meehan (5), Miroslav Negic (7), Niall Timoney (6), William Timoney (2), Bill Collins (4), Simon Waugh (11)
Following this victory over the league leaders, a bad 67-53 defeat ensued away against Kilcar. Liam Travers hit 18 points, Paul McHugh 16. This aside, there was nothing of note, in a poor game of basketball. There was a return to form in a recent cup match as Letterkenny Heat were seen off relatively easy, with Gareth Britton hitting somewhere in the region of twenty points. The second leg takes place on Tuesday 24th with the winners progressing to play Milford this Saturday in Letterkenny, tip off five o’clock.