KILFEACLE & DISTRICT 28
Ulster champions Enniskillen now stand between Boyne and a place in next season’s All-Ireland League after the Drogheda men came through an exciting Provincial Play-off semi-final against Munster’s Kilfeacle and District in Mullingar last Saturday.
Whilst conditions were dry, Boyne had the benefit of a very strong wind in the first half and the elements turned out to be a significant feature of the game.
Boyne lost no time in going on the attack from the start, and following a good lineout take by Leon Fox they moved the ball quickly and captain and number 8 Dylan Lynch drove close to the Kilfeacle line.
It took resolute defence by Kilfeacle to hold out this early attack, but Boyne kept the pressure on the Kilfeacle rearguard with good drives by OisÃn Howell and Hugh Carolan and Kilfeacle conceded a penalty when they strayed offside in midfield.
Karl Keogh took the opportunity to split the posts and give his side an early 3-0 lead.
The pattern of Boyne exerting pressure on the Munster men continued, with half backs Nicky Smith and Michael Briscoe controlling matters. Good breaks by centres Bevan Duffy and Robbie Vallejo, complemented by the powerful running of winger Jack Mitchell, continued to be met with a stubborn Kilfeacle defence.
The pressure eventually told, however, with Kilfeacle conceding two further penalties which were converted by the accurate boot of Keogh for a 9-0 lead mid-way through the first half.
A brief break into the Boyne half by Kilfeacle was halted by a strong Boyne defence, with Theo Sheridan and Cody O’Neill making crunching tackles.
Kilfeacle once again conceded a penalty which saw Boyne Bevan Duffy find an excellent touch just inside the Kilfeacle 22’.
From the lineout another excellent take by Fox allowed scrum half Smith to set the Boyne backline away and stretch the Kilfeacle defence, moving the ball from one touchline to the other.
It was full back Eoghan Duffy who came into the line, found a gap and fed winger Adam Brodigan who crossed in the corner for Boyne’s first try.
The difficult conversion by Keogh narrowly drifted wide, but Boyne held a 14-0 lead on the half-hour.
With the first half coming to an end Boyne mounted another series of attacks and good carries by the back row of Lynch, Fox and Keogh forced Kilfeacle into an infringement under pressure and once again Keogh kicked an excellent penalty, expertly judging the difficult wind to perfection to give his side a 17-0 interval advantage.
With the ever-increasing wind – now in Kilfeacle’s favour for the second half – Boyne had to use their initiative to keep possession and defend their lead.
Before Kilfeacle could use their wind advantage, it was Boyne who went on the attack from the restart. Super breaks out of defence by Vallejo and Eoghan Duffy seriously stretched the Kilfeacle defence and Fox and Howell then combined to make a telling drive deeper into the Kilfeacle half.
The outstanding Smith set his backline away and great hands by his out half partner Briscoe along with Bevan Duffy allowed Mitchell to sprint clear and powered his way in for a try.
The tough conversion into the wind was nailed by another excellent kick from Keogh to stretch the Boyne lead to 24-0.
In the 51st minute Kilfeacle decided to make changes, bringing on a powerful front row and also strengthening their back row.
It was now ‘do or die’ for the Munster men, but in the short term Boyne continued to hold them out with the help of excellent defence from Smith and Theo Sheridan.
Head coach Kevin McCleery now availed of his bench, with Matthew O’Callaghan, Thomas Gregory and Graeme McQuillan coming into the fray.
Boyne were continuing to play some sparkling rugby and another super back-line move saw Brodigan make ground in midfield before releasing the supporting Eoghan Duffy who outstripped the Kilfeacle defence and sprinted in under the posts for Boyne’s third try.
Keogh made the conversion and Boyne had stretched their lead to 31-0 in the 55th minute.
Soon after, Boyne lost their impressive winger Brodigan to a high tackle, which saw Kilfeacle receive a yellow card and Bradley Abbedeen come on as a replacement for Brodigan.
Kilfeacle finally did open their scoring account when they pressurised the Boyne lineout, and following a series of drives they managed to get in for a try which they converted.
Buoyed by this score, Kilfeacle went on the hunt for a second score. Boyne lost Vallejo to a yellow card for a high tackle and Kilfeacle took full advantage of their extra man when they scored two tries in quick succession – the second from a deft pinpoint cross-field kick into the corner.
Two excellent conversions now saw Boyne’s lead reduced to 31- 21 and suddenly Kilfeacle were right back in contention.
From the restart a revitalised Kilfeacle gained possession in their own half, but their kick for territory saw the wind carry the ball all the way over the dead-ball line, which gave Boyne a scrum some 15 metres inside the Kilfeacle half – a huge moment in the game.
Boyne emptied their bench when bringing on Patrick Prendergast, Evan McGinn, Lincoln De Year and Eliot Lenehan.
From the ensuing scrum Boyne mounted a series of attacks, with McQuillan making a good break deep into Kilfeacle territory. Quick recycling saw full back Eoghan Duffy free on the right side and the full-back showed great pace and footwork to get round the defence and score Boyne’s fourth try.
The conversion from the touchline fell short, but Boyne now had a comfortable lead of 36-21 with just five minutes remaining.
Kilfeacle’s determination lasted up to the final minute and right at the death their efforts was rewarded with a consolation try and conversion, but that failed to take away from another tremendous performance by Boyne.
The play-off final against Enniskillen is fixed for Saturday April 11 at a venue to be confirmed.
Boyne: Eoghan Duffy; Adam Brodigan, Robbie Vallejo, Bevan Duffy, Jack Mitchell; Michael Briscoe, Nick Smith; Cody O’Neill, Theo Sheridan, Hugh Carolan; Nile Banks, Oisin Howell; Leon Fox, Karl Keogh, Dylan Lynch.Replacements: Matthew O’Callaghan, Tommy Gregory, Elliot Lenehan, Evan McGinn, Graeme McQuillan, Bradley Abbedeen, Lincoln De Year, Patrick Prendergast.