Although Monaghan won the last game between the sides Monaghan knew that this team always put up a tuff fight. Strabane had the heavier of the two packs but after Monaghan beating the PSNI the week before this did not really cause any panic for the lads.
Monaghan received the kick off which allowed Monaghan to take control of the game, the first score came from the boot of Darren Berry, and Monaghan received a penalty on the Strabane 22 which the lads decided to kick straight away.
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The next score did not come for another 30 minutes during this period the Monaghan defence stood strong, for majority of the time Monaghan were on the defence this was a good work out for the lads and showed that you should never panic as the scores will come. Monaghan’s first try came from the team Captain MarcMcArdle, majority of the back line had packed the blind side but a few of the forwards saw the opportunity out wide and use their ball handling skills and the all new side step to score the try, Darren Berry converted the score now stood at 10-0.
Straight from the drop off Monaghan were caught on the back foot, Strabane got their hands on the ball and scored their first score of the match, a few choice words were used to try and awaken the lads of the danger and threat that Strabane posed. The score now stood at 10-5.
Monaghan knew they needed to get the next score on the board if they wanted to win the game on the stroke of half time David Berry received a pass from the back ofthe scrum and used his dummy pass and lightning pace to score Monaghan’s 2nd try, even though David had support with him this was a great individual effort. Darren Berry who had his boots on today kicked the conversion the half time score stood at Monaghan 17 Strabane 5.
Both teams knew that the 1st score of the 2nd half was vital and it took 10 minutes for the first try of the half to come. Monaghan’s Dylan Carleton side stepped his opposite number and used his hand off on the full back to score the first try of the half which was converted by Darren, thistook the score to 24-5.
The next try of the game came from Evan Rutledge although Evan is one of the lighter players on the team he has a great technique in breaking through the tackle he used this skill to score the 2nd score of the half.
Monaghan had used this opportunity to give some of the U19 panel a run out and both lads showed that they were not out of their depth Conlith McGillen was playing open side wing forward and his line out work was brilliant, although this was David Savages 3rd game he was moved to full back and he soaked up any pressure that Strabane threw at him and at this stage of the game he scored Monaghan’s 5th try of the game which Darren converted. The scoreline now stood at Monaghan 36 Strabane 5.
Monaghan’s 6th try of the game came from Marc McArdle Monaghan set up a ruck near to the Strabane line of which the lads did not panic and it was Marc who saw the gap and scored the try, Darren Berry had a good day at the office he kicked 13 points in total.
On the last play of the game Strabane received a scrum on the Monaghan 5 metre line the Monaghan lads seemed to have tired at this stage and Strabane sneaked in for a consolation try. The final score stood at Monaghan 43 Strabane 10.
This was a score line that Monaghan should be very happy with they scored 6 tries in total, they lost Gary McBride half way through the 2nd half due to a reoccurring injury mind you every time he goes off injured Monaghan seem to win, we also had two U19’s on the panel which is great to see lads coming up through the ranks.
Monaghan face Instonians 2’s on Saturday at home which will be a tough game for the lads but let’s hope it will be a great warm up game for the Cup Semi Final game the following week in Larne.
To see some pictures from the match visit www.picturesofireland.ie
