MINIS U12S in Virginia Saturday 12th January 2013-01-13
Monaghan U12s travelled to Virginia on Saturday last to play two games against the hosts and Cavan RFC. The games were played were played on a rain soaked pitch making conditions difficult for everyone especially the normally free moving Monaghan backs.
The first game v Virginia was played at a frantic pace with end to end rugby. The first try came from a great individual effort by Darragh O Reilly, crossing the line with half the Virginia team attempting to halt this rock of a man. Virginia replied very quickly with a well taken try. The second half saw Monaghan upping the intensity with some great work at the breakdown by Simon O Connell and strong running by James Hughes and Ryan Wilson. Monaghan crossed the Virginia line with Jack Brannigan getting the touchdown after some great work by the backs. Jack followed up with another try after some good rucking. Virginia finished the scoring with a fine try to end a though thightly contested match.
Monaghan had very little time to recover before kicking off their second game against very big physical Cavan side and conceded an early try. This setback spurred Monaghan to greater effort with Jack Madden, Darragh Maguire Maguire, Simon O Connell and James Hughes tackling like demons. The pressure eventually paid off with the ball moving quickly from a ruck by Conor Smyth who worked tirelessly throughout to Jack Brannigan who showed his skill by side stepping his way yo the line for the first of a hat trick of trys in this game. The second came after great work in the backs by John Cambell, Ryan Wilson and Jack Carragher sending Jack Brannigan down the left wing.The third came after some intense pressure on the ball carriers by the Monaghan defence allowing Jack Brannigan to make an interseption and stroll over the Cavan line.
This was tremendous work by this Monaghan team as they played both games with a player less than the opposition. Monaghan Jack Madden, James Hughes, Darragh O Reilly, Jack Carragher, Darragh Maguire, Conor Smyth, John Cambell, Ryan Wilson, Jack Brannigan, Simon O Connell.
