Monaghan Rugby Club dumped our pre match prediction on it’s head with a 18 – 24  win against, hot favourites, Donaghadee in the Gordon West Cup Final at Ravenhill on Saturday afternoon.

Monaghan started the game as they meant to go on with an early score from captain Jason McGuirk off the back of a driving maul.

The teams swapped penalties before Dee crossed for a try to tie the game at 8 all.

The bulk of the first half was played in Monaghan territory but Monaghan’s full back Lorcan McGillian landed a massive penalty to give his team an 8 – 11 lead at the break.

A barging run from Monaghan’s hooker Dermot McGlone led to a second try with Christopher Brady crossing and McGillian converting to push the score to 8 – 18 before Donaghadee replied with an unconverted try from Karl Yellop.

However, another long range penalty from McGillian kept Monaghan over a score in front and when he landed another from closer in the game was Monaghan’s for the losing.

Yellop crossed for a second score, close to the end, but Monaghan held on to record an historic win.

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Photo credit – Bob Given Photography and John McMurtry