Donegal U13 0 Monaghan U13 15
Monaghan travelled to Donegal on Saturday last to take on Donegal in the Cup. This Donegal side had been unbeaten this season including inflicting a heavy defeat on Monaghan in the league earlier in the season.
The Monaghan lads went into this game intent on redeeming themselves and started like their lives depended on it with some strong running and determined rucking. Everyone was up for this encounter however this excellent Donegal side were not going down without a fight.
In the first ten minutes both sides had opportunities with good defending by both teams. The first breakthrough came when Monaghan broke up field and in typical Munster style set up ruck after ruck with Niall Carvill, who was immense throughout, James Hughes and Jack Madden all carrying towards the Donegal line. Just as it looked as if the movement had stopped Darragh O Reilly took responsibility and crashed over the Donegal line for the first try.
With the try unconverted the Donegal side immediately drove into the Monaghan 22 however some fine tackling by Simon O Connell and Jack Brannigan stemmed the tide. Monaghan broke from defence with Ryan carrying from the Monaghan 22 to the Donegal 22. As the support piled in the whistle sounded and Ryan was sin-binned for 10 minutes, a decision which confused and annoyed the players , coaches and supporters. The lads responded in true fighting spirit and withstood attack after attack by Donegal, with Jack Brannigan controlling things in the Monaghan backline.
The second half started with Monaghan back to a full compliment and now began to assert some domination. Monaghan were awarded a penalty thirty meters from the the posts which Eoin Treanor converted. Monaghans defence was now severly tested with new boy Gareth Mc Caffery, John Cambell, Eoghan Watters and James Mc Adam all putting in strong tackles. Donegal eventually broke through the Monaghan defence. The Donegal player after crossing the Monaghan line tried to give his kicker an easier kick by bringing the ball under the Monaghan posts, however as he tried to ground the ball he was hit with as good a try saving tackle as you are likely to see even in the Heiniken Cup. Take a bow Ryan, what a great example of never giving up.
This only served to encourage the Monaghan team to up the intensity and they bore down on the Donegal line time and time again with some powerful running by Troy Jennings and Donal Mc Kenna and Conor Smyth constantly asking questions from behind the ruck. The reward eventually came when having been awarded a scrum 10 meters from the Donegal line, Ryan lifted and drove over for the insurance score. Eoghan Treanor converted with a wonderful kick from the sideline. Subs used on the day Daniel Smyth and Michael Mc Donnell.
The game finished 15 – 0 to Monaghan after a real gutsy performance by all the players. Keep up the good work.
