Monaghan Begin new season with a win against Cavan in Gordon West Cup
Monaghan’s 1st XV got their new season campaign off to a start at the weekend against Cavan in the first round of the cup. Monaghan, the cup holders, were not in the shape they would like with a few key players out with injury, Last years 1st team captain Marc McArdle was out with a dead leg and veteran Paddy Sheridan was drafted in to replace him. With the retirement of Monaghan legend Gary Treanor at hooker Paul Kelly was learning the trade at 2 but was unavailable on Saturday so Stevie Graham was called upon to fill the void. Several backs, too, were unavailable due to GAA commitments so Monaghan were nervous about this one.
Conditions were perfect, a class day for rugby and Monaghan chose to kick off form the start and the drama began. Cavan spilled the ball form the restart and Monaghan spun it wide, the try was on for a dream start but Monaghan, through poor hands in midfield, lost the ball and Cavan hacked it on for their flying winger and the dream start for Cavan. 7-0 down after 2 minutes was not what we wanted.
Monaghan applied pressure on Cavan at the restart again and gained a couple of penalty’s to earn field position. they chose to kick for touch and the pack went for a lineout. the forwards constructed a good maul form this and were making good ground when the ball mistakenly spilled out the back and Monaghan’s Captain David Berry, at scrum half, reacted quickest to gather and run in behind the Cavan defence for Monaghan’s opening score. Conversion missed and Monaghan were on the charge again, Some good attacking play form both sides ensued for the next 15 minutes or so but it was Cavan again who struck next, a good lineout and a big runner up the midfield in Monaghans 22 was just too hard to stop and Cavan went ahead again. It was Monaghan, through, that upped their game in the final minutes for the first half With 2 trys in quick succession. the first from another maul that was walked over the line and Paddy Sheridan touched down, the second was dotted down by Stephen Graham after some good play by the pack saw Monaghan 5 meters out and Stevie took a flat pass at pace to go in 3 meters to the left of the posts. Only one conversion kicked for a 17-12 lead at the break. Monaghan sustained an injury to Darren Berry in this play and Darren will be out for a few months as a result.
Monaghan received the ball form the restart and pushed on from there. They were gaining field position and controlling the game at the breakdown. Monaghan’s superior fitness in the second period gave them a notable advantage. Cavan tiring at the break down and left gaps round the fridges and Monaghan’s 9 got in for 2 more trys and was starting to kick the conversions now also. Dylan Carleton got in for a score mid way through the second from a simple switch move inside the 22 and powered his way through. Paddy Sheridan registered another try for himself to finish Cavan off.
Monghan will take confidence from this result as they look forward to facing Donegal Town next week end at home in their first league match. Donegal beat Monaghan in this fixture last season and finished one spot above Monaghan in the league.
Team list,
1 Bennie O’Rielly
2 Stevie Graham
3 Richard Carleton
4 Ross McEnerney
5 Ciaran McKenna
6 Wesley Moffet
7 Stephen Niblock
8 Paddy Sheridan
9 David Berry
10 Darren Berry
11 Marcus Totten
12 Dylan Carleton
13 Ashley Berry
14 Kevin McGonnigal
15 Dean Mc Dermott
