The two-week break had helped shorten the injury list as they were able to welcome back captain Ali Lockhart, Matthew Stockton and Nathan Boyd. With Sam Moore injured and Sam Ingham unavailable Ollie McCormac moved into the second row, Bryn McCartney, Ryan Butler and Robbie Grant making up the back row. Danny McBride joined Stockton in the centre with Braiden McGrath and Robbie Ingham filling the wing berths.

The match kicked off in good conditions and the Dee started brightly, immediately testing the home defence. However, it was Letterkenny who scored first after 8 minutes after the Dee were harshly penalised for tackling the man in the air. Letterkenny kicked deep into the Dee’s 22 and from the line out created a rolling maul. With most of the Letterkenny’s back joining in they managed to cross the line to touch down. The conversion was missed to leave the score 5-0 to the hosts.

For the next half hour Letterkenny had at least seventy five percent of both possession and territory causing the Dee to defend for long periods. This they did with great tenacity, denying the home team on several occasions with both forwards and backs playing their part with try saving tackles and several critical turnovers. Unfortunately, Boyd sustained an ankle injury and was replaced by Ethan O’Byrne.

Just as it looked that the Dee had survived the pressure to half time Letterkenny managed to score when their scrumhalf dived over a ruck to touch down under the posts. The successful conversion pushed the score to 12-0 as the referee signalled for half time.

Stockton was replaced by Aaron McKee at the break and within the first five minutes the home team stretched their lead when the winger went over in the corner. McCartney injured his knee in the build up to this try and he also had to leave the field, being replaced by Paul Miller in his first appearance for the 1st XV this season.

All this disruption did not help the Dee’s cause as the Letterkenny backline, particularly their two centres, were creating lots of scoring opportunities, one of which they converted after 15 minutes of the half to make the score 22-0. The Dee could well have capitulated at this stage but to their credit they upped their game and for the final quarter of the game were the better side. After a lovely run by Sam Hyland, the forwards made their way into the Letterkenny 22 and after several rucks it was Ollie McCormac who forced his way over to score. McBride converted to reduce the deficit.

Five minutes later it was Letterkenny who scored again when their centre broke through the Dee’s defensive line and sent the out-half in for a converted score.

For the final 10 minutes it was Dee who did all the attacking, with Sam Hyland again showing what a good rugby player he is, dancing his way past several Letterkenny tacklers. After being awarded a string of penalties near the Letterkenny goal line, the tenacious Ali Lockhart decided to go himself and managed to scramble over to score Dee’s second try. McBride again converted with the final kick of the match to leave the final score 27-14 to Letterkenny.

So, the Dee left Co Donegal with no points but a lot of pride as the team showed great spirit throughout and will be encouraged by how they played in the last half hour of the game. There were several contenders for man of the match, in the forwards young Callum Bain scrummaged well all day, Ollie McCormac had his best day in a Dee shirt and Robbie Grant was his usual dependable self. Danny McBride had an excellent game in the centre and Sam Hyland showed his class. However, the award this week goes to Robbie Ingham, who was solid in defence all day with several outstanding tackles and linked up well with the rest of his backline.

Next week the Dee entertain Monaghan at Donaldson Park, 2.30 K.O.