The annual Boxing Day game was played in front of a large crowd between the current first team and a selection of ex players and exiles competing for the Seamus Keogh Memorial cup. The spirits were high before the match as old friends were re-acquainted and a few beverages were enjoyed. As the teams made their way on to the pitch the mood started to shift as for the next 80 minutes all friendships would be put aside.
Referee for the day was Mark Glasha still nursing a rib injury and unable to play, the game kicked off and it was the exiles who applied all the pressure leading to Luke Dalton crashing over the try line with barely five minutes on the clock. Fullback Jamie Lee Loftus did well to tackle Luke and attempted to hold the ball up but the try was scored. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 5-0.
The game restarted with some big hits from both sides, later in the half Greg Byron scored to level the scores and James McColgan converted to leave the score at 7-5.
When the half time whistle blew both teams sheltered from the wind and rain in the tent as Ann Scott served mulled wine and hot whiskey to the players and the large crowd of spectators. With the temperature outside starting to drop and the rain getting heavier it was decided that the quicker the second half started the quicker everybody could head to the pub.
The second half begun in the same fashion as the first, when the current XV were awarded a couple of penalties they opted to kick for posts much to the disappointment of linesman/exile team manager John Merrit who felt it wasn’t in the spirit of the game. With one penalty missed and one successful the score was stretched to 10-5 in favour of the current XV.
The remainder of the game saw both teams pushing hard for the winning score and it was the exiles who got it through Emmett Johnston, with the scores leveled at 10-10 James Carr stepped up to take the conversion trying to make it easier by moving the kick infield. When ref Glasha ordered him to go back to the original spot Paul Cassidy stepped forward to take the kick. The score line was stretched to 12-10 in the exiles favour, with less than 10 minutes left the current side pushed for a score but when Glasha signaled that time was up exiles captain Brian McNally kicked to touch to end the game.
The exiles were deserved winners and it was noted afterwards by a number of current first XV players that this was one of the hardest games played this season with big hits and strong tackles from the opposition. Everybody headed to the Arch bar where Vice President Michael Keogh presented exiles captain McNally with the cup. Memories of the late night festivities are blurry and the last thing seen was two six foot plus Elfs walking around Carn.
Inishowen return to league action on Jan 5th as they welcome unbeaten Strabane 2nd XV to Carn for a must win top of the table clash.
Inishowen 1st XV
back row Michael McDaid, Jamie Lee Loftus, James McColgan, Matthew McCrossan, Ritchie Fearon, Colm Sweeney, Tony Diver, David Cassidy, Paul Gallagher, Mark Glasha (ref)
Front row Seamus McDaid, Gregg Byron, Gary McEleney, Philip McFadden, Robert McClelland, Neil Gillespie (captain), John Kelly, Joe Doherty. Missing from picture Maurice Harkin.
Exiles XV
back row Shaun McElhinney, Paul Cassidy, Anthony Cantwell, Eamon Doherty, Luke Dalton, James Carr, John McKinney, Emmett Johnston, Paddy Johnston, Shaun Friel.
Front row
Pat Hayes, Brian McNally, Brian Harkin, James Friel, Dermot McGonigle. Missing from picture Paddy Jaki Doherty and Shane McDermot.
Marian and Orla McNally helping Ann Scott serve Mulled wine and hot whiskeys to the large crowd.
