Monaghan 2nd IX made the long journey to take on their Ophir II’s in a cracking match and a debut for Sean McMeel on the wing. Monaghan in this latest fixture in the league and despite having a very strong team, had a poor start, were on the back foot for much of the opening half and unsurprisingly fell behind to a penalty soon after. Not long after Ophir broke the Monaghan rearguard to score the game’s first try and found themselves down by 8 after about 15 mins or so. The heavy opening pressure was coming from the Ophir pack who were dominent in the scrums and not letting Monaghan gain any real strangle hold in the game. This set back seemed to spur the Monaghan team into action and as the scrum began to shore up, the away side finally got a strangle hold on the game and Ophir knew they were in a real game. The Monaghan pack, aided by some great steals from both Wheatley brothers, Ian and Adam, asserted their dominance and made serious inroads on the Ophir defense leading to a concession of a penalty which Dwayne Rooney happily converted. This purple patch for Monaghan had shaken the Ophir team and the restart was kicked straight into touch giving Monaghan a chance to attack from halfway. As Monaghan continued to attack, Ophir found it more difficult to cope and the pressure finally told as Monaghan won another penalty. A quick tap and go sent Rooney over the line to open Monaghans try account for the day. The conversation was narrowly wide of the mark leaving it all square at 8-8.
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Momentum was now well and truly with Monaghan now as they continued to press Ophir and it wasnt long before Monaghan crossed for their second try. Powerful carries from Stuart Heatrick set good ball for Fintan Hanna at scrum half to deliver to the backs and a clever pick and go from Adam Wheatley from the back of a ruck sent him over the line. Again Rooney missed the conversation but Monaghan still lead by 5 approaching half time and minutes for the whistle Ophir were pinged for another infringement and Rooney took the three points on offer. Half time: Ophir 8-16 Monaghan.
The half time break came at a bad time for Monaghan as they were really enjoying the possession and pressure they asserted on Ophir and with the sound of the whistle is broke momentum slightly and they had to start from scratch again. The second period was mostly an superb defensive effort from Monaghan, with some last minute tackling and critical steals keeping Ophir out. Gareth Graham and Rooney in midfield, Stephen Clerkin, Adam Wheatley and Jim McArdle in the back row, Liam Savage at full back and Aaron Dolan at out half put in a heroic defensive display to protect the lead. Rory Mc Kenna was dominating the line outs which again gave Monaghan good go forward ball to work with. With Ophir having no option but to attack it left them short at the back and Monaghan drove forward again sensing another score. Their sense was spot on as Adam Wheatley crossed for his second of the game and Fintan Hanna showed Rooney how to convert conversations with perfect kick from the side line to leave Monaghan with a comfortable lead, 23-8. Daniel McCrossan and debutant Sean McMeel put in good good shifts on the the wings and Ronan Cadden was still chasing players with only moments to go until the clock hit red for the 80th minute. Declan Savage also put in his usual bustling performance at hooker. Monaghan held Ophir scoreless in the second half to win on a scoreline of Ophir 8-23 Monaghan. This was a well deserved win for our 2nds as it was a very physical, intense game and the match points was just reward for the efforts of the players. Finton Hanna kicked the final con to collect a well deserved 2 league points. The physicality of the game was evident as the Ophir scrum half and Monaghan wing McCrossan retired from the game through injury and we wish both players a speedy recovery.
Monaghan team:
Ian Wheatley, Declan Savage, Ronan Cadden, Stuart Heatrick, Rory McKenna, Stevie Clerkin, Adam Wheatley, Jim McArdle, Fintan Hanna, Aaron Dolan, Daniel Mc Crossan, Gareth Graham, Dwayne Rooney, Sean McMeel and Liam Savage.
Fixture
This Saturday 3rd November home to Ballyclare.
