The Donegal Town women took to the pitch on a mild and misty day for their league opener against City of Derry and edged out their visitors by a 21-20 scoreline.
A crowd gathered to the The Holmes hoping for an enthralling game and both teams did not disappoint. Donegal, through Joanne Mc Cormack, Claire Mc Glinchey and Tracy Stella Connaghan smashed the Derry defence but with credit to Derry they held strong.
Derry were first to get on the score board when Donegal couldn't secure their ...
The Donegal Town women took to the pitch on a mild and misty day for their league opener against City of Derry and edged out their visitors by a 21-20 scoreline. A crowd gathered to the The Holmes hoping for an enthralling game and both teams did not disappoint. Donegal, through Joanne Mc Cormack, Claire Mc Glinchey and Tracy Stella Connaghan smashed the Derry defence but with credit to Derry they held strong. Derry were first to get on the score board when Donegal couldn't secure their own ruck, Derry ripped the ball and sprinted clear to score their first try of the game, missing the conversion and making the score 5-0 to Derry. This didn't stop the home side who started working though the backs Laura Kenny, Helen Mc Partlan and Claire Graham. They found weakness in Derry's defence which would eventually lead to a penalty, converted by Helen McPartlan. Donegal came right back with good pressure from the forwards - Nao Cannon and Elaine Britton saw Leanne Wray taking contact and offloading to Laura Kenny who dived over the line. Helen McPartlan converted again, taking the score to 10-5 to Donegal. Good pressure from Derry again saw Donegal miss two tackles in midfield which lead to Derry's second try. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 10-10 at half time The 2nd half brought new life into Donegal as they sat camped in Derrys 22 and it paid off when quick ball from Marie McCabe set the back line free and quick hands out to winger Martina Cunningham saw her dive over the line for her first ever and Donegal's second of the day. A missed conversion took donegal into a 5 point lead, 15-10 to Donegal. Donegal pressed again and saw good switch play between the Kenny sisters - Laura and Linda. Laura broke the line but got dragged down just 5 metres short of the try line. This led to hands in the ruck from Derry and Helen went on to convert the penalty, score 18-10 to Donegal. Derry, with grit and determination pressured the Donegal line and despite valiant defending, went over for their 3rd try,18-15 the score. Scores were swapped and the home side pushed again on Derry to force a penalty just inside the 10 metre line. On the edge of Helen's range she stepped up, struck the ball clean and it soared over the bar with metres to spare. Derry would get one final attack which saw them get what was in Donegal's eyes a controversial try. The match finished a nail biting 21-20 to Donegal Town Ladies. DONEGAL TEAM:
Leanne Wray, Elaine Britton, Tracy Connaghan, Nao Cannon, Claire Mc Glinchey, Joanne McCormack, Marie McCabe, Laura Kenny, Helen McPartlan, Claire Graham, Martina Cunningham, Linda Kenny. Coach: Gareth McMurray.
The Donegal Town women took to the pitch on a mild and misty day for their league opener against City of Derry and edged out their visitors by a 21-20 scoreline. A crowd gathered to the The Holmes hoping for an enthralling game and both teams did not disappoint. Donegal, through Joanne Mc Cormack, Claire Mc Glinchey and Tracy Stella Connaghan smashed the Derry defence but with credit to Derry they held strong. Derry were first to get on the score board when Donegal couldn't secure their own ruck, Derry ripped the ball and sprinted clear to score their first try of the game, missing the conversion and making the score 5-0 to Derry. This didn't stop the home side who started working though the backs Laura Kenny, Helen Mc Partlan and Claire Graham. They found weakness in Derry's defence which would eventually lead to a penalty, converted by Helen McPartlan. Donegal came right back with good pressure from the forwards - Nao Cannon and Elaine Britton saw Leanne Wray taking contact and offloading to Laura Kenny who dived over the line. Helen McPartlan converted again, taking the score to 10-5 to Donegal. Good pressure from Derry again saw Donegal miss two tackles in midfield which lead to Derry's second try. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 10-10 at half time The 2nd half brought new life into Donegal as they sat camped in Derrys 22 and it paid off when quick ball from Marie McCabe set the back line free and quick hands out to winger Martina Cunningham saw her dive over the line for her first ever and Donegal's second of the day. A missed conversion took donegal into a 5 point lead, 15-10 to Donegal. Donegal pressed again and saw good switch play between the Kenny sisters - Laura and Linda. Laura broke the line but got dragged down just 5 metres short of the try line. This led to hands in the ruck from Derry and Helen went on to convert the penalty, score 18-10 to Donegal. Derry, with grit and determination pressured the Donegal line and despite valiant defending, went over for their 3rd try,18-15 the score. Scores were swapped and the home side pushed again on Derry to force a penalty just inside the 10 metre line. On the edge of Helen's range she stepped up, struck the ball clean and it soared over the bar with metres to spare. Derry would get one final attack which saw them get what was in Donegal's eyes a controversial try. The match finished a nail biting 21-20 to Donegal Town Ladies. DONEGAL TEAM:
Leanne Wray, Elaine Britton, Tracy Connaghan, Nao Cannon, Claire Mc Glinchey, Joanne McCormack, Marie McCabe, Laura Kenny, Helen McPartlan, Claire Graham, Martina Cunningham, Linda Kenny. Coach: Gareth McMurray.