St Senan’s secure vital bonus against rivals

St Senan’s 29   Crosshaven 6

ST Senan’s bounced back from their away defeat to St Mary’s and secured the winning bonus point at home against relegation rivals Crosshaven, a crucial win which should stand to the club at the end of the season.

 

The game produced a lively start from both sides with the Shannon side that bit hungrier from the beginning, David Dunne organising the defensive efforts from the back.

The first score came from Ged McNamara after 15 minutes, Stephen Ryan was quick to catch the Crosshaven defence napping with a quick tap penalty in the middle and Senan’s moved the ball right spreading the defence. The ball was passed back to the left impressively through quick hands considering the conditions and McNamara stepped inside the last two defenders.

Philip Noone added the extra points, giving Senan’s a 7-0 lead.

Crosshaven began to threaten but Senan’s held them out and after pushing each phase back again and again Crosshaven eventually conceded a penalty from the scrum within range for Noone’s boot. This left the score at 10-0 after 30 minutes.

Crosshaven dominated the last 10 minutes of the first half, picking up their only scores of the games, after the home side conceded penalties at the breakdown. This left the half-time score at 10-6 in favour of St Senan’s.

The second half started with Crosshaven threatening but good defensive work in the middle of the field pushed the Cork side back. More pressure forced the penalty turnover, which Stephen Ryan again took quickly driving the defence backwards forcing another penalty. Daragh McCoy reacted first on this occasion with a quick tap and the pack piled in picking from the back. Declan Collins spotted the opportunity and dived over the line. The conversion was just to the right but Senan’s were 15-6 in front with 20 minutes remaining.

The Saints had their tails up and knew the bonus point was on the cards. The introduction of Tony O’Brien, Aaron Skerrit and Fearghal Lawlor helped the pack punish the opposition eight, forcing penalties and turnovers.

With 10 minutes to play, the pack drove Crosshaven back from the middle of the 22, with Stephen Ryan picking from the back and crashing over for his third league try of the year. Noone converted another difficult kick from wide and right.

Just two minutes later, the bonus point was secured, Ryan carried from the halfway to the 22 and Noone spun it into the middle where Aaron Skerrit was waiting. A powerful carry, brushing off three defenders, saw him score just left of the posts. Noone converted leaving it 29-6.

St Senan’s: Mike Hayes, David Webb, MJ McDonagh, Trevor Skerrit,  Stephen Ryan, Jayme Keogh, Eamonn O’Donoghue, Ian Fitzgerald, Daragh McCoy, Philip Noone, Ged McNamara, Declan Collins, Neal McDonagh, Jake Egan, David Dunne.
Subs used: Tony O’Brien, Aaron Skerrit, Feargal Lawlor.