Friendly victory in Carlow

GOREY’S UNDER-17 team took the opportunity to arrange a friendly fixture against Carlow, because their South East League game was called off as Wexford couldn’t field a team.

New head coach Philip Doyle took the opportunity to see a few more of his players from this very strong 2016-’17 panel.

This game would be a good test for this new team, as Carlow always produce strong opposition.

Gorey started very well, dominating the opening phases and newly drafted-in flanker, Frank Kavanagh, showed that he was up for the game by making a great tackle off an early scrum. He fed the ball to Seán Wafer who ran along the touchline, dodging several tackles, to score the first try in the corner after seven minutes.

Carlow didn’t have a chance to re-group, as only two minutes later prop Jack Ryan make a storming carry into the ’22 and in almost a replica of the first try, Seán Wafer once again gathered the ball and ran along the try line, however on this occasion he was able to continue his run to place the ball under the posts and therefore ensure the conversion (12-0).

Carlow made some good moves after this and they showed the great speed that they had in their backs, but Gorey kept their composure and their defence was ultimately too strong for Carlow to break.

On the half-hour mark Gorey put together some beautiful team play, as they put together over twelvepasses, patiently working until finally Robert Murphy got over the line for his try, which Henry Kennedy converted (19-0).

Carlow were still in this game though and they exerted huge pressure on Gorey’s line, as they attacked time and again, but Gorey’s defence was outstanding and they managed to repel wave after wave of determined Carlow attacks.

The referee sounded the whistle for the half-time break, just as Gorey were threatening to breach Carlow’s try line again.

Gorey started out the second-half with the same high-tempo intensity from the first-half. But an error from their line-out maul cost them dearly, when Carlow gathered a loose ball and sprinted for the line for their opening score after five minutes of the second-half (19-5).

Doyle made a few changes and brought on some fresh legs. Just five minutes later newly-introduced centre, Mark Boyle, made a strong run, handing-off several tacklers in time for him to deliver a pass and then make his way across the pitch to receive the ball again and finally put second row Martin O’Loughlin in for a try in the corner.

Gorey’s line-out worked well throughout and it was from one of these that second row Tadhg O’Neill gathered the ball and popped a quick pass out to the backs, who worked the ball beautifully across the pitch, where Mark Boyle made a high looping pass to Seán Wafer for his third try (31-5).

Just six minutes later Boyle again gathered the ball and tried a cheeky chip over Carlow’s defensive line for Wafer, but he couldn’t gather it cleanly and full-back Oisín Fortune quickly scooped the ball and went over in the corner for another Gorey try. Fortune then made a super kick to convert his own try.

To Carlow’s credit they never gave up fighting and the game continued to played at a blistering pace.

Carlow were deservedly rewarded with their second try with just minutes remaining to leave the final score 38-10.