Three Letterkenny RFC players started for the Ulster Under-18 team and played Connaught in their opening intro provincial match at Rainey RFC in Magherafelt today.
Joseph Dunleavy started at blindside wing-forward, Daniel Faulkner lined out at inside-centre and Peter Scott was entrusted with the full-back duties. Eunan Henry is also on the  development panel but was unlucky not to make the matchday 23.
However they suffered a home defeat to Connact on a 15-8 scoreline. The home team went in at half time leading 8 – 5 after playing their way back into the game with a very well taken try by  Scott.
This was a try made in Letterkenny when Joe Dunleavy sent a ball off the top from a line out with Daniel Faulkner beating the western defence with a great outside break. With the line at his mercy he unselfishly off loaded to Scott who made no mistake from five metres out.
The second half was a forward battle where the Ulster pack seemed  determined not to use their strong back line. Connact were more committed at the breakdown and made fewer mistakes which yielded them two unanswered tries.
This was a game that the home team should have won but the Connact team deserve credit for absorbing all that Ulster could throw at them in the final 10 minutes. Next week Ulster play Leinster and a big improvement by the pack and at the breakdown will be required to get a result against the strongest Under-18 province.
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