Tallaght R.F.C. 24
Tries: Mark Keogh, Aaron Shanahan, Adam Nolan, Simon Collie
Con: Aaron Shanahan 2
Monkstown R.F.C. 33
Challenge Match
Pitch 100, Firhouse
2/9/2017
Tallaght took on a strong Monktown team in a pre-season friendly in Firhouse. It was a slow start though and Tallaght looked rusty and Monkstown scored three tries and converted two of them to lead 19-0 at half-time. It didn’t get much better in the second half and Monkstown scored another converted try to lead 26-0.
Tallaght finally sparked into life ten minutes from the end and from a lineout maul Mark Keogh forced his way over for a try. Aaron Shanahan’s conversion attempt was wide by a millimetre. Monkstown hit back with another converted try to make it 33-5.
Then Adam Nolan cleverly found a gap and went through for a try which Shanahan converted. Then Nolan turned provided with his pop pass putting Shanahan away for a try of his own to make it 33-17. Simon Collie scored an excellent individual try with the last play of the game. Shanahan converted to make the final score 33-24 to Monkstown.
Tallaght coach Tom Leigh felt Tallaght were rusty at the start but improved as the game went on. “Pre-season friendlies are about getting back up to speed so despite the loss, I was happy enough overall. The top contenders for man of the match were Adam Nolan and Aaron Shanahan who were both excellent. Al Sower played a stormer too, big carries and good offloads. Jack Russell captained the side and led by example as usual”.
Report: Audrey Fulham & Jim O’Connor
Photo: Audrey Fulham