Extra-time heartbreak for Inishowen RFC in Forster Cup semi-final

Inishowen narrowly went down to Ballynahinch in the Forster Cup semi-final at the weekend  on a the day where the Peninsula men, unfortunately, came up just short. 

On a great pitch with no wind, the conditions were perfect for rugby. 'Hinch scored within two minutes when a good kick and well-executed lineout and maul got the pack over for a try and conversion to make it 7-0. 

Mark Scott and Dermott McGonagle then combined well to make a great break only for the latter to get chopped down by a good covering tackle. 

Scott then took the points on offer from a penalty to leave it 7-3. It only took a few minutes for him to slot over another to reduce it to a point at 7-6.

But 'Hinch turned up the pressure with a great kicking game and they really carved up the back field and it was from a lineout they scored again to make it 12-6. 

Their experience told when 'Hinch notched up three penalties in the space of seven minutes to lead 21-6 at the break. 

But if you ever seen a change in momentum it was after the break when, with caution thrown to the wind, Inishowen came out of the blocks and even with a man in the bin they started to dominate big carries from the likes of Dermot and Jason Callaghan, Coran Donaghy and Riain Shortt making dents in the home defence. 

It was from this platform the backs struck when McGonagle slipped through to touch down under the sticks and a conversion made it 21-13.

A cross-field kick from Scott so nearly found McLaughlin with the line at his mercy but sadly it was just too strong for him. Inishowen were on the rampage at this point with Neil Gillespie carrying hard in tight and Browne, Fitzpatrick and McKenna giving it their absolute all. 

Scott managed to wriggle through a sea of defenders then to leave it 21-18  and the visitors could smell blood and, after a few penalty advances,  the referee finally blew right in front of the sticks with 30 seconds left on the clock. 

McKeague went for posts to take it to extra time at 21-21.  Sadly though the home side managed to score early in extra time and although Scott came up only inches short and McGonagle, Byrne and Kantwell all spent the very last of their energy for the cause, the clock went into the red and the visitors suffered a gut-wrenching defeat.