Match Preview by Ryan Campbell

Much like a year ago it will be the top two teams from Kukri Championship Division 3 who contest the Gordon West Cup Final at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday 6th April 2019, with Donaghadee hoping to go one better this time around and bring the Cup to Donaldson Park for the first time.

Donaghadee have put the disappointments of last season firmly behind them and sit proudly at the top of Championship 3 boasting a perfect 20 wins from 20 outings and the League title but their opponents at Ravenhill have themselves had a fantastic season by all accounts and have been relentless in their pursuit of the men from Donaldson Park….Saturday should be a fitting Final.

Their journeys to the final began at the end of October with both sides facing, on paper, very tricky away ties; Donaghadee made the long journey to County Cavan to face a tough Virginia side, while Monaghan travelled to Belfast to face the PSNI, who on their day can be as tricky as anyone in the draw. The Dee men racked up a comprehensive 45-12 win whilst Monaghan produced an impressive 62-8 win to see both sides into the draw for the next round. That came in mid-February when Donaghadee overcame another away tie, this time to Newry, by a score of 26-12, while Monaghan once again ventured to Belfast, this time beating Belfast High School 25-0.

The Semi-Final draw handed both sides home ties for the first time in their run; Donaghadee entertained 2017 winners Cavan Rugby Club while their neighbours from up the road, Holywood, faced the unenviable task of a trip to Rafeenan to face Monaghan. Cavan are always a different beast in the Cup, but the Dee men booked their place in the Kingspan showpiece, thanks to a tremendous display from their pack and some good finishing from the men outside, running out 53-7 winners on the day. Meanwhile Monaghan comprehensively defeated Holywood, a side just one place below them in the league, 45-0 to secure their place at Rugby HQ.

The sides have already met twice in the league this season; Donaghadee produced one of their best performances in recent memory when they visited Rafeenan in September, running in 10 tries on their way to a 62-24 victory; a benchmark performance of the season for the Dee men which they have been striving to replicate with varying levels of success in the matches which have followed. The return fixture came at the end of December and saw Donaghadee again take the victory, this time by a score of 45-10, quite like their first encounter however the score line does not tell the full story with Monaghan causing Donaghadee problems throughout.

Donaghadee were crowned Kukri Championship 3 Champions after their 57-0 victory against Strabane last Saturday and Monaghan, already assured of a league playoff and a minimum 2nd place finish, will be determined to stop the men from Donaldson Park taking the double. They have been the two standout teams in both League and Cup all season long and their two matches thus far have produced bags of tries, excitement and some truly outstanding rugby throughout - Saturday will surely be a game befitting of a Cup Final.

The Donaghadee men take great pride in the much-vaunted support which follows them far and wide and this will never be more important than at the Kingspan come Cup Final day. Tickets are still available to purchase through Ticketmaster or on the gate for the 2.30 kick off so, grab something green and red and come roar the boys over the line in what promises to be a spectacle of rugby.

In other news Donaghadee stalwart Paul Blewitt has been selected as a semi-finalist in the SONI Ulster Real Rugby Heroes. Paul has been a part of Donaghadee Rugby for close to half a century, rising from mini rugby to 1st XV Coach with around 25 years playing senior rugby at Donaldson Park in-between. Paul has been with the Club through the highs and lows and in recent times has been instrumental in the survival and re-emergence of Donaghadee Rugby. In addition to his senior club commitments Paul also spends his Sunday afternoons coaching the youngest talent Donaghadee has to offer in their P1s and P2s ensuring the future generations know exactly what they have ahead of them! Pablo is a true Donaghadee Rugby hero and no man can deserve such recognition more. You can vote for Paul via www.ulsterrugby.com/realrugbyheroes it only takes a few seconds but it would go a long way to rewarding our very own Real Rugby Hero!