Bective Back in Business with Five-Try Win Over Monkstown
Rangers rediscover fluency and discipline to secure 34–21 home victory in Donnybrook
25 October 2025, Energia Park, Donnybrook - A view from the sideline By OMAHD 🐕
BECTIVE RANGERS FC 34 – 21 MONKSTOWN FC
Bective Rangers produced a confident, balanced display to defeat Monkstown 34–21 at Energia Park on Saturday, recording their second win of the Energia AIL Division 2C campaign.
The Donnybrook side blended set-piece control with sharp finishing to earn a result that will lift belief across the squad.
From the opening whistle, Bective played with tempo and intent. Their pack, with Gavin Kelly, James Gallagher and Tiarnán McCloskey leading the charge, established dominance at the breakdown and provided clean ball for the backs to strike.
Chris Rolland opened the scoring after neat handling in midfield, before Oscar Egan added a second following a well-timed off-load from inside centre Matthew Gilsenan, who converted both tries and later slotted a penalty.
Monkstown hit back through Luke Kelly to make it 17–7 at the interval, but Bective’s structure and confidence suggested more to come.
(Half-time: Bective 17 – 7 Monkstown)
The visitors rallied after the restart, crossing through Chris Stack and Leo Poisson, yet Bective’s control never wavered. Their response was immediate and ruthless.
Tiarnan McCloskey powered over from close range to restore breathing room, and moments later Chris Poole completed a superb team move for his second try of the afternoon.
Team captain, Matthew Gilsenan’s reliable boot — three conversions and a penalty — rounded off a complete performance at inside centre.
James Gallagher’s and Donagh Lawlor’s work rate in contact and Mattie Keane’s defensive reads proved vital as Monkstown pushed for a late bonus point. ‘A statement of defensive grit and leadership’. Connor Kelly’s fresh energy from the bench helped Bective close the game out with authority.
Afterwards, head coach Ben Manion praised his team’s composure and collective effort:
“We asked for eighty minutes of focus and got it. The lads managed the game brilliantly, especially in that last quarter. This is the level we expect — strong up front, creative out wide, and disciplined when it counts.”
This result moves Bective back into mid-table contention and, perhaps more importantly, restores belief after a stop-start opening to the season.
With five different scorers and strong leadership from Gallagher and Gilsenan, the Rangers appear to have found the blend of structure and spark that had eluded them earlier in the campaign.
Next up is a tough visit from Ballyclare to Donnybrook, Saturday 1st November @ 2.30pm, — but on this evidence, Bective are very much back in business.
Scorers
Bective Rangers: Tries — C. Rolland, O. Egan, T. McCloskey, C. Poole (2). Conversions — M. Gilsenan (3). Penalty — M. Gilsenan.
Monkstown: Tries — L. Kelly, C. Stack, L. Poisson. Conversions — M. Stapleton (3).
Bective Rangers 1st XV: 15 Tim Carroll; 14 Chris Rolland, 13 Bobby Holland, 12 Matthew Gilsenan, 11 Craig Cantwell, 10 Oliver Foote, 9 Connor Halpenny; 1 Christopher Hennessy, 2 Chris Poole, 3 Oscar Egan, 4 Gavin Kelly, 5 Donagh Lawlor, 6 Mattie Keane, 7 Tiarnan McCloskey, 8 James Gallagher.
Replacements: 16 Conor Kelly, 17 Mark O’Brien, 18 Oisin McCloskey, 19 Ross MacGoey, 20 Mikey O’Hare.
Referee: Chris Cahoon, Grosvenor RFC, USRFR IRFU.
