Larne were always in control in this entertaining 26 – 12 win against Monaghan on Saturday afternoon at the Glynn in this Gordon West Cup semi final.

Larne started this match in determined fashion sending down wave after wave of attack with Ryan Garrett, Reece Thomas and Gary Mills all prominent for the Glynn based side.

Monaghan defended with resolution and were pleased that after an opening 15 minutes of incessant Larne pressure that they had only conceded three points through a Garrett penalty.

As the half ticked on Larne eventually made their pressure count. First up, scrum half Ricky McIlheron  spotted a gap in the defence round the base of a ruck and the nippy scrum half was through and on his way to the line before the defence had a chance to react. Garrett converted and shortly after added another penalty giving Larne a convincing 13 – 0 lead.

Larne were full of confidence, looking to move the ball on every opportunity but they were brought crashing back to reality when the Monaghan 14 intercepted a speculative pass to race clear and touch down under the posts for a converted try taking the score to 13 – 7 and Larne turned their thoughts of running out at Ravenhill back to the match in hand.

With their minds back on the game Larne always had too much for a determined Monaghan and a mazy run from the impressive Garrett was finished of by Mark McIlheron who blasted over from close to the line. Garrett missed the conversion but Larne took an 18 – 7 lead into the break.

Despite their confident display with ball in hand Larne failed to completely close out this game due to their poor lineout which failed to function all afternoon and it was through the lineout that Monaghan found their route back into the game with a series of catch and drives seeing their No 8 crash over the whitewash shortly after the re-start. The conversion was missed but it was game on with the score at 18 – 12.

The home team refused to panic and continued to play their attractive brand of rugby and were rewarded with their third penalty moving the score to 21 – 12.

Larne made the tie safe when veteran full back Stephen Marshall sent winger Gary Mills clear to touch down in the corner. The try went unconverted leaving a final score of Larne 26  Monaghan 12.

Larne now face Letterkenny at Ravenhill on Saturday 16^th April in the final of the Gordon West Cup.

Larne Team (1-15)  D Hagans, C Gibson, M McMullan, J McFetridge (Capt), D Garstin, E Hunter, M McIlheron, J McCluggage, R McIlheron, R Garrett, R Thomas, S Knox, M Magill, G Mills, S Marshall.  Subs: R Adair, J McKinty, T Boyd, G Knox, M Agnew.

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