Bonus point consolation after heroic Boyne effort

determination was apparent from as early as the sixth minute when they dotted down for a try. This followed a Sligo lineout when Boyne managed a turnover and whipped the ball wide with good transfers to send Adam Brodigan over in the corner. Niall Kerbey added the extra two points with the conversion.

This had the home support worried as Boyne were making the early running and forcing errors in the high-flying Sligo side.

Another penalty conceded by the hosts for not releasing brought play deep into the Sligo half which resulted in a lineout for the home side. Once again Boyne forced an error which led to them winning possession and centre Brian Howell crossed for their second try in the 20th minute which again was converted by Kerbey.

That gave his side a 14-point advantage and even better was to come as a penalty by Kerbey on 33 minutes left the scoreboard reading 17-0 in the visitors’ favour.

However, the home side began to assert themselves following this score and they immediately won the ball from the drop-out to set up an attack which yielded their first score, a well-worked try. The ball was spun wide which brought play right up to the Boyne 22 and another forward drive brought them close to the line before the ball was released to out half Wells who ran in for the score. Full back Keegan added the extra points and the gap was back to 10 points after 27 minutes’ play.

The Sligo revival continued and they worked their way once again into the Boyne 22. Their sustained pressure forced a penalty and they elected to move the ball quickly, with their forwards driving to within 10 metres of the line where a quick presentation was made to their out half who was tackled but managed the offload to a forward who crashed over. The conversion Navan Sligo Rainey Tullamore Bruff Bangor Midleton Seapoint Kanturk Boyne closed the gap to just three points with five minutes remaining to half-time.

Boyne were let off the hook when Sligo went over for what appeared to be another try but were called back for an infringement which saw Boyne clear from the resultant penalty. From the lineout Boyne made good use of their possession and grasped this reprieve to drive over the line for another try through prop Hugh Carolan, right on half-time. The missed conversion meant Boyne’s lead was now 22-14 going into the break.

The home side started the second half in determined mode, however, and they were gradually gaining in confidence. With 50 minutes on the clock, they moved to within one point of the visitors when their winger made a great run into the 22, and whilst his pass was almost intercepted by one of the Boyne centres they were allowed the advantage to gather from the knock-on and cross for a vital try through winger Goddard. The try was converted by Keegan with an excellent touchline kick and now it was a one-point game.

An ugly off-the-ball incident in the 60th minute saw impressive young Boyne hooker Padraic Mongey leave the field of play with a horrific groin injury suffered in a stamping incident which necessitated his removal to hospital.

The Sligo offender received a sin-binning when Boyne felt a red card might have been more appropriate in the circumstances.

Boyne’s resistance was admirable for the remainder of the game, but two well-taken penalty kicks by Sligo full back Keegan saw them overall Boyne’s tally.

Nevertheless, a losing bonus point was some consolation for Boyne’s efforts and their heroic defence also denied their opponents a four-try bonus which could in itself prove significant at the top end of the table.

Boyne now have a weekend off before playing host to fellow strugglers Seapoint on March 4th in what looks like a must-win game.

But they look set to be without Mongey and also Eoghan Duffy who, it was reported on Monday, has suffered a serious-looking knee injury. Tom Grimes Cup s-finals: Thatch A 4 Carranstown A 9, Mariner A 5 Lantern Bar 8. John Speedy Heavey Cup s-finals: Carranstown B 7 Coast Tavern 6, Mariner B 5 Valley Inn 8. Fosters Premier Div: Mariner A v Mollys Bar; Lynchs A v Carranstown A; Thatch A v Morning Star A; Lantern Bar v Dalys. Fosters Div 1: Cottage Inn v Black/White Thatch Inn; Boyne Rvs v Alverno; Sally Inn v Maguires A; Lynchs B v Matthews. Fosters Div 2: Carranstown B v Watters; Hill Bar v Valley Inn; Grennans v Fair Green Bar; Foxs v Coast Tvn. Fosters Div 3: Admirals v Mariner B; Maguires B v Railway Bar; Thatch B v Thatch C; Morning Star B v Barney Macs. Carranstown Lantern Bar Dalys Morning Star Mariner A Thatch A Lynchs A Mollys Bar PW 12 10 12 8 12 5 12 7 12 5 12 3 12 2 12 0

PW Boyne Rovers 12 8 Maguires A 12 7 Cottage Inn 12 5 Matthews 12 5 Alverno 12 3 B/W Thatch I 12 3 Lynchs B 12 2 Sally Inn 12 2 D 1 3 5 0 3 3 0 1 D 4 4 5 4 3 2 3 1 L F 1 69 1 64 2 52 5 53 4 49 6 45 10 30 11 24 L 0 1 2 3 6 7 7 9 F 60 61 57 52 36 40 41 37 A 27 32 44 43 47 51 66 72 A 36 35 39 44 60 56 55 59 Pt 21 19 15 14 13 9 4 1 Pt 20 16 15 14 9 8 7 5