Firsts miss out on day at Ravenhill

LURGAN missed out on a chance to play at Ravenhill when they came up just short in their Gordon West semi final against Monaghan at Pollock Park.

All the scores came in the first half with Monaghan touching down to take a 5-0 lead after Lurgan’s Johnny Kingham had a try ruled out for a forward pass.

Lurgan’s out half Josh McKay reduced the deficit with a penalty and Monaghan were lucky not to go down to 14 men when one of their players escaped a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Lurgan second row Aaron Robinson.

A converted try from the visitors added insult to injury with McKay kicking three points just before half time to leave the score at 12-6.

Lurgan rang the changes in the second period but try as they might they couldn’t penetrate the Monaghan rearguard.

A sizeable crowd looked on as a concerted spell of pressure in the closing minutes saw Lurgan camped in the visitors’ 22, but none of the home side were able to make the crucial breakthrough.