Donaghadee welcomed Monaghan to Donaldson Park on Saturday for a Championship 2 League encounter. With Nathan Boyd, Bryn McCartney and Matthew Stockton all joining the injury list after last week’s match and coach Ray Dobson also unavailable it was all change again for the Dee’s lineup.

James Small came in at prop , Ethan O’Byrne started in the second row and Sam Ingham returned to the back row. Adam McGrath started at out-half, allowing Mark Cooper to form the centre partnership with Pete Callaghan. Newcomer Ed Van der Pol started on the bench alongside Paul Miller and Sam Moore.

The moist surface of the well-prepared pitch would test the handling ability of both teams even though the game was played in cold, still conditions. The visitors were first on the scoreboard after 8 minutes when the Dee were penalised for a high tackle close to their own line. Monaghan opted for the scrum and with the much heavier pack pushed the Dee over the line allowing their number 8 to touch down. The conversion was missed to leave the score at 5-0.

It only took four minutes for the Dee to get back on level terms when the ever-alert Ali Lockhart won the ball from his opposite number at a scrum. The ball found its way to full back Sammy Hyland who took off on a scintillating run leaving several defenders in his wake. At the 22 line he popped the ball to Lockhart who sprinted in to score in the left-hand corner.

For the next 20 minutes the game was played mostly in the middle of the park with both teams having chances to score but both defences holding fast. Ryan Butler led the tackle count for the Dee and Sam Ingham produced a crucial turnover and also a memorable tackle on the line to frustrate the Monaghan attack. However, on the half hour mark Monaghan managed to create an overlap to send the winger in at the corner for an unconverted try. The Dee replied with a try of their own as the half came to a close.

After a strong drive down the middle of the park by Robbie Grant the ball was spun out to Hyland who sucked in two defenders before off-loading to Robbie Ingham giving him a free run into the corner to level the score at half-time.

The Dee managed to build a lead in the third quarter of the game as the visitors got on the wrong side of the referee. Firstly, they lost a man to the sin bin in the 44th minute for a high tackle, McGrath slotting over the penalty kick. Six minutes later the Dee doubled their lead with another successful penalty. Ten minutes later another yellow card for Monaghan and another three points for the Dee took the score to 19-10 for the home team.

Just as the Dee faithful were beginning to believe a win was possible, Monaghan came back into the game and in the final quarter were the stronger team. Despite excellent cover tackles by both Robbie Ingham and James Small Monaghan eventually managed to score to reduce the deficit to 19-17 with fifteen minutes to go. Monaghan continued to press for the winning score and with five minutes left managed to force themselves over the line for a converted score.

Although the Dee pushed hard in the final few minutes, it was not to be, and the referee blew for full time with the score 24-17 to Monaghan. A losing bonus point was scant reward for the shift this young team put in and they should travel to Monaghan next week with the knowledge they can reverse this result.

The Copeland Distillery 1st XV Man of the Match this week must go to Sammy Hyland (pictured being presented a bottle of Copeland Irish Gin, by Club President, John Blewitt) who was solid in defence and also looked threatening every time he got the ball in his hands in attack. Many thanks again to Copeland for their continued support.