With the edge of Storm Freya battering the Donaldson Park Clubhouse over seventy of the Dee faithful gathered for a Pre-Match Lunch. The Club were delighted to be hosting over a dozen young men from Regent House and Bangor Grammar Schools and all were royally entertained by former Ireland International Eddie Grant whose tales of on-field “derring-do” once again inspired the assembled. Donaghadee were hosting Letterkenny in a key league fixture in Kukri Championship Three and looked forward to a keenly contested game given the reverse fixture in Co. Donegal pre- Christmas in which the Dee emerged narrow victors. With the effects of a long season taking their toll the home side were without the likes of Skipper Matthew Stockton, Kyle Morrow, Stephen Adams, Chris Knox, Ben Siri and Danny McBride. Vice-Captain Chris Hamilton was not fit enough to start but took a seat on the bench and the Dee coaching team knew that, as in many recent games, the depth of their squad would be tested.

The Dee started strongly as the rain took brief respite and were unlucky not to score from the kick-off when they were penalised after a strong run from Karl Yellop which took him deep into the opposition twenty-two. The opening twenty minutes was a close affair with Letterkenny utilising their “pick & go” style of rugby to good effect. Despite having the wind behind them the Co Donegal men did not make it much over the Dee ten metre line due, in no small measure, to the strong defensive efforts the Dee back row of acting captain Sam Ingham, Jonny Gamble and Owen Roberts aided by Andy McCraken. Also to the fore in these early forays was the ageless Rab Irwin whose experience and strength foiled many a Letterkenny drive at this stage of the game. After twenty minutes play full-back Dicky Bailey struck a great line in attack, outpaced the opposing left-winger before firing a rifle pass back into right-winger Robbie Ingham who had stepped inside and who now outsprinted the remaining defence to open the Dee’s account. The conversion was missed but the Dee now appeared to have the bit between their teeth and ten minutes later a sublime backs interchange took Bailey over the try line only for the ball to fumbled in the act of scoring. The Dee side shook themselves down after this disappointment and, on the stroke of half-time, a signature barn-storming run from Jack Chesney loosened up the opposing defence before out-half Mark Cooper delivered a flat pass to outside centre Chris McGivern to score under the posts. Cooper added the extras and the Dee now turned around with the benefit of a 12-0 lead and the wind & rain at their backs.
Five minutes into the second period scrum-half Paul Johnston sniped through the opposition back row ten metres out before off-loading to the supporting Chris Good who crashed over the line to score. Cooper’s conversion was good and the Dee had a 19 point lead. The Dee scrum led by Irwin, Good and Morgan McCartney in the front-row was gaining the upper hand and on the fifty minute mark Sam Ingham fed his No. 9 Johnston who passed to Cooper who then attacked the opposing midfield defence before delivering a sweet inside pass to left-winger Chris Scott who had stepped off his wing. Scott sprinted into the gap created by Cooper to run thirty metres to the line for the bonus point try. Although that score remained unconverted the Dee stretched further ahead five minutes later when Ingham picked up from the back of another dominant scrum and this time backed himself to crash over and, with Cooper’s conversion, take the Dee into a 31-0 lead. Two minutes later, from a scrum in a similar position, Ingham picked up and fed Cooper who this time dotted down himself before adding the extras. With Hamilton now off the bench and the Letterkenny men tiring the Dee tightened the screw and three tries were scored in quick succession through McGivern, Yellop and Owen Baillie. The final try was scored two minutes from time when Scott made a powerful break through midfield before finding the ever-present Johnston who dived over to end proceedings.

As ever, a few hands were put up for the Man of the Match Award including Irwin, Good, Johnston, Cooper, Yellop and Gamble. However, for the second game in succession, the award goes to Sam Ingham who was peerless all afternoon in both defence and attack. All in all a very good performance indeed from the Dee men who produced a superb handling display given the horrible conditions. For their part Letterkenny competed to a much higher level than the scoreline would suggest but eventually the long trip down from the North West took it’s toll and the home side benefitted accordingly. As always the case however, the visitors made their presence felt in the Clubhouse after the game, remaining long into the evening before starting back on their lengthy journey home. The Dee now look forward to hosting Cavan in the Gordon West Cup semi-final next Saturday when they will attempt to make the final at Ulster Rugby HQ for the second season in succession.