Sunday saw the Monaghan ‘Legends’ travel to Deramore Park – Belfast, for the annual fixture against Perennials RFC, for those retired players who still have a pair of boots in the cupboard and can still fit into their shorts. With several of Monaghan’s experienced veterans either missing or considering themselves beyond the rigors of this fixture, Monaghan still managed to gather up a twenty four strong playing contingent, however with a few younger players mixed in to try and balance the huge array of experienced talent at the disposal of the Perennials.
Monaghan competed well in the opening ten minutes with most of the rugby being played in the Perennials half. Richard Sleator showed that he still has a deft boot with a series of excellent kicks to touch which established some good field position and the aggressive defence of flanker Gary Audley helped keep the Perennials pinned down. The backrow partnership of Gary Treanor and Gerry Reynolds linked well to create a number of breaks from highly contested rucks, however a final drive for the try line unfortunately concluded in a turnover, which saw the Perennials outhalf running the length of the pitch and score the opening try. The Perennials ran in a second, before a twenty meter break from Merve ‘the Swerve’ Browne set up James Hurson for a run in under the posts and Monaghan’s opening score. CLICK HERE for the shots
The second quarter saw Monaghan draw level through a fantastic break from the halfway line by Mervin Browne Jnr who linked up with an off load to Jeremy Treanor who then split the defending Heineken Cup winners centre partnership of Maurice Field and Jan Cunningham and for a swan dive under the posts. Another break away try by the Perennials outhalf saw them move ahead, however their lead was short lived following an intercept by Joe O’Connell, who side stepped his way through four would be tacklers before offloading to Declan Savage just short of the line, bringing the scores level at three a piece at the half way stage.
The third quarter saw a change in tactics from the Perennials, who utilised their star studded backline to devastating effect with three unanswered tries, before Monaghan pulled one back when Alex Graham hacked through a loose ball and showed he hasn’t lost all of his speed in winning the race to touch it down. But the quarter was rounded off by a further Perennials try to leave the score at 8 tries to 4 entering the final quarter.
Monaghan struggled to regain possession, hampered by restarts landing behind their pack !, and the growing pace of the Perennial backline saw them move further ahead. However the Monaghan pack responded well in the final period with strong performances from Seamus O’Neill and Sammy Mealiff (I suspect few clubs in Ulster could envisage having both their President and Chairman tog out) which concluded in a deserved conciliation try from a well worked catch an drive from a lineout by ‘Legends’ new comer Bernard McNally, who provided an extremely effective presence in the lineout throughout the match. The Perennials captain concluded matters in a narrowly won sprint to the corner rounding off the day with the final try to give the Perennials a 10 tries to 5 victory.
The result on the score board was soon forgotten thanks to the fine hospitality provided by the Perennials and the staff of Belfast Harlequins RFC, and great night was had by all that travelled.
Well done to those who turned out, hopefully this tradition can be maintained by Monaghan RFC for many years to come. A big thank you goes to Gerry Sloan for his organisation of both the squad and the trip.
Finally Monaghan RFC offer our condolences to the family and friends of Perennials Past President Maurice Megaghey, who sadly passed away last week.
SQUAD : Andrew Agnew, Ciaran Allen, Gary Audley, Stephen Adamson, Mervin Browne, Mervin Browne Jr, Diarmuid Culligan, Alex Graham, James Hurson, Stephen Hurson, Hugh Kerns, Paddy Mallen, Sammy Mealiff, Jimmy McElwain, Bernard McNally, Gerry McKenna, Mark McKenna, Joe O’Connell, Seamus O’Neill, Gerry Reynolds, Declan Savage, Richard Slater, Jeremy Treanor, Gary Treanor (Capt)
MENTORS : Gerry Sloan, Sean McGillan, John McKenna
