After a poor week of Spring weather the sun shone at Kingspan Ravenhill as Donaghadee met Monaghan in the Final of the Gordon West Cup. Having secured the league title the previous week Donaghadee were hopeful that another spirited performance would bring more silverware to Donaldson Park playing against a side that hung on their coat tails throughout the league campaign.

Monaghan started the stronger of the two sides and, with only two minutes played, some powerful rugby took them to close to the Dee line and were only denied by a terrific last ditch tackle by Robbie Ingham. Monaghan won the ball from the lineout which ensued and orchestrated a well drilled drive which took them over the try line to touch down and take a 5-0 lead. Five minutes afterwards Monaghan were penalised for a high tackle on Stephen Adams and Karl Yellop stepped up to reduce the margin to 5-3 as his kick sailed high through the posts. Monaghan returned to the attack and after period of pressure were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts which their full-back Lorcan McGillan gratefully converted to extend their lead to 8-3. The next fifteen minutes saw possession swing one way and then the other. Donaghadee were continually frustrated by a combination of very robust Monaghan defence and a succession of penalties against which served to highlight the difference in the interpretation of the laws relating to the ball on the ground between the referee and the men from Donaldson Park. On twenty five minutes however a Dee foray into the Monaghan twenty-two saw Donaghadee spoil opposition lineout ball and scrum-half Paul Johnston nipped over the line to touch down and bring the scores level. Ten minutes later the Dee were again penalised – this time for coming in at the side – McGillan gratefully accepted the opportunity to give Monaghan a 11-8 lead which they maintained until half-time was reached.

The Rafeenan men once again started brightly from the second half kick-off and, with six minutes played, repeated their driving lineout exploits from the first-half to cross the Dee line. This time McGillan made no mistake from the tee to give his side a 18-8 lead. Donaghadee were now spurred into action and after 55 minutes a flowing backline move allowed Yellop to go around a despairing Monaghan defender to bring the scoreline back to 18-13. The game now ebbed and flowed with neither side able to capitalise on any attacking options which opened. What was to the defining moment of the game took place on 65 minutes when Donaghadee were once again penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground and McGillan kicked confidently from 35 metres out to take his side more than a score away at 21-13. Seven minutes later the dose repeated for a similar offence and Monaghan stretched to a 24-13 lead. The Dee now attacked from all areas of the field but the Monaghan defence held firm until eventually a combination of drives through skipper Matthew Stockton and Chris Hamilton released Yellop who powered over three defenders to score and reduce the deficit to 24-18 as the game moved deep into injury time. Monaghan kicked deep from the restart and the ball was passed wide to Ben Siri who, despite his best efforts, was bundled into touch and the referee blew for no side.

The result means that Donaghadee have lost their hitherto unbeaten season record and side’s disappointment was visible for all to see. The upside is, however, that they only have a week to wait to set things to rights when they travel to Virginia and attempt to maintain their 100% league record. The support for Donaghadee at Ulster Rugby HQ was magnificent and all those associated with the men in red and green remain exceptionally proud of a side who have been simply magnificent throughout the season. To Monaghan we offer our congratulations and look forward to meeting them again next season should they be successful in their upcoming league play-off with Lisburn.