The opening weeks of 2025 were always going to be a challenging task for Skerries first XV, and so it proved, as they fell to a 34-5 defeat at the home of an impressive Rainey outfit to close out a tough block of AIL Division 2B fixtures.
Skerries had enjoyed a decent return of results against the Magharafelt men since renewing acquaintances last season but the two most recent wins at Holmpatrick were hard-fought and on the back of evenly matched contests, and it appeared it would be another similar story during a tight first half.
Indeed, the visitors had the better of the opening exchanges but couldn’t manage to register a score, with Ronan Mulcahy uncharacteristically off-target with a penalty attempt.
Instead, Rainey struck on first visit into the Skerries ’22, as they attacked through a five-metre lineout maul and when the referee deemed it to have been brought down illegally, he had no hesitation to awarding a penalty try under the posts, and sending Tomas O’Donovan to the bin with a quarter of the contest played.
Despite being down to 14 men, Skerries hit back inside five minutes with a score of their own to reflect their extended pressure, as scorer-turned-creator Kevin McGrath set up fellow wing, Davey Goodman to touch down with a deft crosskick. Mulcahy was just wide with the difficult conversion from the corner, but it was game-on at 7-5.
Having survived the sinbin, Skerries were buoyed by the return of O’Donovan on the half-hour mark but from the following scrum deep in enemy territory, Rainey no 8 Jody McMurray picked and swatted a couple of would-be tacklers to register his side’s second try of the afternoon.
Skerries looked to respond again and enjoyed a couple of phases of possession inside the Rainey half but just couldn’t find their flow and after the hosts had patiently worked their way back up the other end, centre Killene Thornton showed fleet feet to jink his way under the posts on the stroke of half-time. Scott McLean’s conversion made it 19-5 at the break.
The clear objective for the visitors after the resumption was to get themselves back in the game early but again, they found themselves stuck in their own half and an offside penalty gave McLean the easiest of chances to extend the lead and he duly converted for 22-5 on 45 minutes.
The introduction of Paul O’Loghlen sought to unlock the Rainey defence but Skerries continued to be undone by a combination of combative opposition, unforced errors and the concession of penalties at crucial times and when centre, Jack Hardy barrelled over from close range for the bonus point fourth try to make it 27-5 inside the final quarter, the result was all bit decided.
Skerries continued to press for what would have been a consolation score but a disappointing afternoon was capped off when Hardy crossed for his second almost untouched, and McLean added the conversion from out wide to make it 34-5.
With injuries and sore bodies taking their toll, the senior squad has a welcome break before a block of two begins with a trip to Malone on February 8th, when Skerries will be keen to get back on the horse and wrestle back a bit of momentum for the business end of the season.
There was better news for those involved in the Provincial Towns Cup on Sunday, as the J1s emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins over Roscrea in Nenagh.
First half tries from Harry Cole and Ben McKiernan, along with five points from the boot of Jack Litchfield, had Skerries 15-7 to the good at half-time but a converted intercept score early in the second period got Roscrea right back in the hunt.
Adam Boyers’ touchdown extended the lead for Skerries and ultimately proved to be the crucial score as they held out on a score of 19-20 to advance to the next round.
Skerries versus Clogher Valley:
- Tomás O’Donovan
- Cal Marrey
- Evann Shelley
- Sam Deering
- Jack McGregor
- Barry Murphy
- Darragh McEneaney
- Paddy Finn
- John Healy
- Ronan Mulcahy
- Kevin McGrath (capt)
- Mike Sherlock
- Tim Deering
- Davey Goodman
- Jack Litchfield
- Trevor Scuffil
- Cian McGuinness
- Cormac Murphy
- Shane Hannon
- Paul O’Loghlen