Junior Shield Group 2 4th November 2023
Scorers: AJ.Brown(1*Try), Henry(1*Try), Kearns(1*Try), C.Devlin(1*Try), Evans(3*Conv)
Rainey II travelled to Monaghan last weekend for the second group match in the Junior Shield. Arriving just 30mins before kick-off, they started slowly, but improved as the game wore on, eventually running out 24-26 winners.
They had an inauspicious start as the heavier Monaghan pack forced a pushover try in the opening minutes. The conversion was missed, but Monaghan added another unconverted try and a penalty before Rainey finally got on the scoresheet. Good work by the forwards brought Rainey close, and when scrum-half Lloyd-Evans sent the ball to AJ Brown on the blindside, he made no mistake. Out-half Evans added the first of his three conversions of the day.
The half ended with no further scores, but early in the second-half, Monaghan extended their lead with another unconverted try, and when they added two further penalties, things looked ominous for Rainey.
However, their youth and fitness was taking its toll on the older and more experienced Monaghan side, and when the forwards set up a maul close to the home line, hooker Henry forced his way over the for the score.
Working the phases and sending the home side all over the pitch, it was no surprise when replacement centre Kearns crashed over to bring Rainey within three points.
With the final whistle approaching the game turned into a dogfight, but youth will have its day and Rainey took the lead with a fine try out wide by winger C.Devlin. Evans was wide with the difficult kick, but a turnover from the restart allowed Rainey to run down the clock for a great comeback win.
TEAM: T.Hughes, T.Henry, D.McPeake, D.Devlin(c), M.Millar, P.Browne, S. Bergeron, B.Hall, J.Lloyd-Evans, H.Evans, C.Devlin, AJ.Brown, E.Canavan, A.MacDonald L.Regan
SUBS: D.O’Connor, C.Cmyth, R.Kearns