Boyne finished their Leinster League campaign at Lansdowne Road on Saturday last against Wanderers in the shadow of the Aviva Stadium on the home clubs synthetic pitch. Preparations are now complete for their entry into the real cut and thrust of Div 2B of the Ulster Bank All Ireland League next Saturday against Sligo away.
The game was played at an unbelievable fast pace from the kick off due to the underfoot conditions and Wanderers took the lead with a penalty in the 5th minute when Boyne were penalised for a ruck infringement. Bryan Croke had the chance to square matters 5 mins later but was just wide with his kick. Wanderers went on the offensive from the drop out when Boyne failed to collect cleanly and they drove well into Boyne territory. From a series of phases Boyne managed a turnover when they were awarded a scrum. Another mess up at the back of the scrum when they were penalised for obstruction, resulted in another penalty for the home team and they duly took full advantage to increase their lead to 6pts. Boyne were making all the moves and were clearly establishing a dominant pattern to the game but the superb rugby that they were playing did not translate into scores. Young centre, Michael Hennessy, had to retire with an injury on the 15th minute and was replaced by Bevan Duffy who made an earlier than intended entrance into the game. Duffy was playing in the Louth GAA junior final with St Fechins the following day. Croke again failed to find his range on the 30th minute when he missed narrowly with a penalty out wide on the left.
Boyne’s efforts were rewarded with a try just before half time when an excellent inter passing move sliced open the Wanderers defence that led to a scrum deep in the home 22’. An excellent scrum drove the Wanderers pack back and No 8, Eoin Collins picked the ball at the base and crashed over for the try. The conversion was missed to leave the half time score 6pts to 5pts.
The second half saw Wanderers push their lead out another 3pts with a penalty. Boyne grabbed a deserved lead on the 67th minute when the brilliant Howell chased a Bryan Croke kick which was fumbled by his opposite number. It was hacked on and the winger won the race for the touch down. Croke made it a seven pointer with the conversion. This left the score 9pts to 12pts in the visitors favour. However, Wanderers made a break in midfield and finished it with an excellent try by their winger to regain the lead. They missed the conversion. They added a further penalty to bring their score to 17pts. Boyne failed to score again and the full time score of 17pts to 12pts saw a 5pt victory margin to the home team.
Boyne XV & Repls: James McKevitt, Paddy Shuttleworth (George Cooney 60th min), John Kinsella (Captain); Paddy Muldowney, Richard Shuttleworth (Ian O’Reilly 60th min); Ciaran Smith, Conor Walsh, Eoin Collins; Craig McGrath, Bryan Croke; Adam Sherrard, Michael Hennessy (Bevan Duffy 15th min), Brian Howell; Graeme McQuillan. Rpls; Sean Rooney & Hugh Carolan.