A sizeable group of loyal supporters made the journey to Magherafelt on Saturday to witness one of the best performances by the boys in blue for some time. A high class rugby match with high scouring and well taken try's gave the large crowd a lot to cheer about.
Barnhall got off to a flying start and Leo Quinn continued his excellent kicking game out of hand with a booming opening salvo that sent both the winger and full back scarpering to recover his clearance. Ben McCarthy was called into action after only two minutes and he slotted home a 26 meter effort with some ease to establish a three point lead.
On twelve minutes after a sustained attack by the Home forward unit Barnhall conceded a penalty which Gavin Martin converted with lots to spare from 30 meters out. Paul Burke started his first AIL game since a training ground injury in February, was a complete menace to the Old Boys defence for much of the opening half. On thirteen minutes he cut loose and left the home defence in tatters. After eating up the yards Paul popped a neat pass to Daryl furlong who won the20 meter race to the line. McCarthy narrowly missed the conversion but Barnhall had established a nice lead at 3 points to 8.
Somewhat shaken by the excellent back play and by the rampant forward displays of Conor Feeney, Greg Boland and Colm Dufficy Barnhall edged towards the Rainey line. Gareth (Muzzy) Murray picked the ball from the ruck and made his way over the line for a well deserved try. McCarthy again slotted the kick with confidence and established a wider gap at 3 points to 15 after only 26 minutes of this excellent clash. Gavin Martin was always going to be a dangerman with his excellent kicking skills and he scored a terrific drop goal on 29 minutes to keep the Old boys in touch at 6 points to 15.
Ben McCarthy was offered another pop at goal from about 32 meters which he converted to bring Barnhall to 6 points to 18 after 33 minutes. Rainey did not drop with the success rate of McCarthy. If anything the score rejuvenated the Old Boys into a higher level of intensity in the forwards and Barnhall had to withstand a lot of pressure in the final ten minutes of the first half. On 37 minutes Rainey prop Peter Boyle found himself in the self same position as Muzzy did for Barnhall ten minutes earlier and crossed over for a well worked try which Martin converted to close the gap to five points at 13 points to 18 which remained the halftime score.
News filtered through at half time that Sundays Well were having much the better time of things against Old Wesley and were winning at half time. The early second half exchanges again brought superb action from Feeney, Mana Harrison and Burke. However the additional Rainey pressure yielded another kickable penalty and Martin duly obliged and brought the score to 16 points to 18 on 50 minutes. Immediately Barnhall struck back and McCarthy slotted home a long range kick to edge further in front at 16 points to 21. On 60 minutes a somewhat controversial decision by the ref who impeded both Jason Van Houte and Ryf Botha as Botha made his way to the Barnhall line. No scrum was awarded and Botha touched down under the posts to tie the game at 21 points each. Incredibly Martin missed the simple conversion. At this time Old Wesley were still behind by ten points to twelve and if this situation remained Barnhall were heading for the playoffs to stay in senior rugby.
At this time Eoin Burke replaced Leo Quinn and Eoin quickly got into the rhythm of the game. Barnhall were very determined in the forwards and a scrum on ten meters out from the Rainey line was fed to Burke who went on the blind side and danced past three players and touched down in the corner. McCarthy made the impossible conversion and Barnhall were in front again 21 points to 28 with ten minutes left in the game. The home side lost the services of the big no 5 but defended well against a final fling by the Visitors. Barnhall camped on the line in search for a bonus point try but in the end Rainey stood up to the pressure.
The game ended on the 21 points to 28 score line and back in Dublin Old Wesley scored a late try to see off the challenge of Sundays Well who now face the playoff competition to avoid relegation. The supporter's bus and the team bus, when it eventually left Rainey, was a very happy and noisy sight with unfamiliar celebrations. The win and avoiding a playoff to stat in senior rugby was a big an achievement as winning our way into senior ranks ten years ago. “This has been a year of rebuilding for Barnhall and we have made extensive use of our youth and under 20 panel of players and our overall squad system”. “The win today and the haul of ten bonus points in the season is testament to the dogged, resilient nature of the Barnhall spirit” commented a delighted Ian Morgan head coach of the Barnhall Blues. |
