This was a much anticipated game for the home side after their opening round defeat to this top of the group Armagh outfit. With Monaghan sitting second to this only defeat it was near perfect timing for this midweek game. Under the lights on a crisp fresh evening at Rafeenan both teams took to the field with both sides out to rubber stamp their group positioning.
A slight ground frost and maybe some nerves left early ball handling a little difficult as much of the first 10 minutes was error riddled by both sides each trying to take control. But it was the home side that made the first break through, after good ball carrying from Jamie Sheridan and a pick and drive from John Leonard to just fall short of the line, it was an instinctive try from Alex Mallen who picked it from the bottom of the ruck to dive across and put Monaghan 5-0 up. Monaghan’s scrum was starting to become a feature of this match as they applied pressure on all of Armagh’s possession turning at least 50 percent of their ball over. Monaghan’s confidence started to grow and with scrum half Shane Duffy accurate distributing, Monaghan’s backs started to use the width of the field pulling Armagh left and right. The away side were not going to be steam rolled and defended well but Monaghan’s support play, off loading in the tackle and a will to win for each other was very evident in Monaghan’s next score. An Armagh knock on from high line defending saw Monaghan secure scrum ball and passes through centres Michael Savage and Dean Wilson released Killian Murphy who only knows one direction but was well tackled and managed to set up a ruck from great support from Wilson. Jamie Sheridan picked up the ball and with those quick feet and half round turns had Armagh scampering backwards only to be tackled with 10 meters to the line but Duffy was their quickly to make a decisive pass to Savage and go over for Monaghan’s second try and Stuart Allen converting. Before the break Monaghan’s coaches swapped Mallen and Wilson around as Armagh’s first centre started to cause problems. Halftime score Monaghan 12 – 0 Armagh.
Monaghan came out with a point to prove in the second half so much so that they were now forcing Armagh into silly mistakes, high tackles and knock ons became more evident in their play as Monaghan were now dominating all round. Winning opposition line outs with great work from Ciaran Wynswg and Mark Allen and Monaghan’s hooker Robert Metcalf throwing accurately saw Armagh being starved of possession.
Monaghan’s third try started from a line out, ball won and shifted quickly out to David Mc Conkey who started and finished the move, receiving it inside Monaghan’s own half Mc Conkey drove forward but support play was fantastic after five or six off loads saw Mc Conkey still in support to go over. Monaghan 17 – 0 up after 40 mins. Jamie Sherlock replaced Jamie Sheridan after a leg injury then Duffy retired which then saw Sherlock move to scrum half and Mc Conkey switch to No. 8. and Daragh Todd introduced to no. 7. Monaghan’s fourth try came from some fantastic support play with ground being made from the ever willing Kristian Graham, from the versatile Josh Graham and a hungry pack saw Jamie Sherlock go over from a simple pick and go from 5 meters out on the blind side. Monaghan 22 – 0 Armagh with 50 mins gone. A few Monaghan changes saw Omar Duffy on for Leonard, Josh Kelly on for Murphy and Oisin Sheridan, making his debut, on at full back for Stuart Allen. Mc Conkey secured possession after restart and Monaghan only knew one way to go as Savage received the ball and ran through a depleted Armagh Defence to score his second and Monaghan’s fifth try and Mallen converting to leave a final score.
Monaghan 29 – 0 Armagh.
Undoubtedly the best team performance to date, holding Armagh to a no score is no mean feat but the continuity, hunger and desire from the home side was dazzling at times. This leaves Monaghan joint top of the group with Armagh.
It’s very hard to criticise such a good performance but Monaghan’s mauls were the only flaws that stood out giving away penalties each time with either the ball not coming back quick enough or going into the tackle too high.
From last gasp tackling from full back Stuart Allen, defensive tackling from Mallen, Metcalf, Josh and Kristian Graham, good ball carrying from Jamie Sheridan, Leonard and Mc Conkey and backs Savage, Wilson, Karl Mc Kenna and Murphy willing to run all night and who’s positional play is getting better and better left the home side with smiles all round and deserved pats on the back.
Kristian Graham, Robert Metcalf, John Leonard, Mark Allen, Ciaran Wynswg, Alex Mallen, David Mc Conkey, Jamie Sheridan, Shane Duffy, Josh Graham, Karl Mc Kenna, Michael Savage, Dean Wilson, Killian Murphy, Stuart Allen, Daragh Todd, Omar Duffy, Oisin Sheridan, Josh Kelly, Jamie Sherlock.
Training wed nights 7 – 8.30pm.
