NICKY RACKARD CUP ROUND 2.
Warwickshire 1-21, Monaghan 3-11.
Warwickshire have all but assured themselves of a place in the Rackard Cup semi finals with this their second win in this group, when they finished strongly to edge past a battling Monaghan side in Pairc na hEireann, Birmingham on Saturday.
Warwickshire got off to the better start with the accuracy of Niall McKenna in particular helping them establish a foothold with a series of early points that had them ahead by 6 after 20 minutes.
Warwickshire were comfortably ahead approaching half-time, but 2 goals in the space of 2 minutes from. Mark Treanor and Tadhg Campbell brought Monaghan right back into contention to leave just 2 between the sides at the break, Warwickshire 1-10, Monaghan 2-5.
It was nip and tuck in the early stages of the second-half with Warwickshire registering early points but Monaghan struck back with points apiece by Fergal Rafter and Eamon Collins before the latter drilled home Monaghan’s 3rd goal to put the visitors into the lead for the 1st time and set the game up for a grandstand finish.
And it didn’t disappoint with the sides deadlocked on 3 further occasions but it was Warwickshire, who eventually finished the stronger with substitute Breen Fallon making all the difference when he lashed over 2 excellent points from either wing to put the home side back in front and they went on to hit 2 further points in stoppage time to win it by 4 at the finish.
Teams and Scorers: Warwickshire: Conor Robbins; Tom Kelly, Willie Allen, Michael O’Reagan; Peadar Scally, Paul Hoban (0-2, 1f); Donncha Kennedy; John Collins (0-1); Shane Caulfield (0-1); Niall Kennedy; Domhnall Nugent (0-2), Niall McKenna (0-9, 5f); Kelvin Magee; Kieran Boxwell, Gary Lennon (1-4). Subs: Breen Fallon (0-2, for K Magee 55); Robbie Curley (for K Boxwell 59).
Monaghan: Patrick Bermingham; Jamie Guinan, Kevin Crawley, Brian Flanagan; Patrick Finnegan (0-1), Peter Treanor, Martin Murphy; Mark Treanor (1-0), Aaron Kenny; Conor Boyle (0-3), Fergal Rafter (0-5, 3f), Brian McGuigan; Niall Garland, Eamonn Collins (1-1), Tadhg Campbell (1-1). Subs: Conor Flynn (forN Garland 47), Cathal Power for C Boyle (66). Referee: Kevin Brady (Louth).
By Majella Boyd Sun 20th May
