Enniscorthy in U16 final
ENNISCORTHY BOYNE 33 22
THE ENNISCORTHY Under-16s played Boyne in Naas on Saturday in an eagerly anticipated cup semi-final.
Conditions were dry but windy at the Kildare venue. Boyne started well and almost scored in the first minute after some sustained pressure in the Enniscorthy ‘22, but the defence held firm.
Six minutes into the game the Wexford boys declined to kick for the line from a penalty in the middle of the pitch and ran the ball instead.
This led to a half break by Ore Lassisi who off-loaded to the onrushing Aaron Doyle who sprinted in under the posts for the try. Outhalf Conal Kervick converted to make it 7-0.
Two minutes later the Slaneysiders coughed up possession inside their ‘22 and the ball was picked up by the Boyne centre who scored in the corner.
Coming up to half-time in a hard-fought game, Enniscorthy scored their second try.
After a solid scrum from the pack, the half-backs combined to release James Doyle who ran through the heart of the Boyne defence, scoring between the posts and leaving the half-time score 14-7.
Enniscorthy started brightly in the second-half, and a line-out was won by the excellent Wayne Sutton who made ground before the equally impressive Aaron Doyle broke the line and released Conor Murphy to score in the corner for a vital try.
With the all-action, tough tackling Ronan Kervick having a great game in defence and attack, the Meath boys could not get any foothold in the Enniscorthy half.
Shortly afterwards, with Boyne chasing the game, the pressure from the Enniscorthy defence resulted in Stefen San Augustin breaking through to catch his kick with one hand and dot down under the posts, making the conversion a formality.
The score was now 26-7 and the Ross Road boys started to express themselves with a move straight off the training ground.
Chris O’Leary and the backs combined to release Cillian Doyle who stepped a couple of defenders to score near the posts. Kervick converted to leave the score 33-7.
Boyne to their credit never gave up and scored three late tries to take the bad look off the scoreboard.
The final score was 33-22 and the lads have now qualified for their first Leinster Cup final which will be played in Donnybrook against the winners of the Carlow/ Gorey match.
This is a great achievement for a super bunch of young men who will not be satisfied with just reaching a final and will be determined to bring home some silverware.
Team: Wayne Sutton, Conor Murphy, Evan O’Connor, Joshua Kinsella, Chris O’Leary, Josh Murphy, Aaron Doyle, Ore Lassisi, Seán Kelly, Conal Kervick, Cillian Doyle, Ronan Kervick, James Doyle, Stefen San Agustin, Barry Hassey, David Bolger, Shawn Leacy, Evan Jacob, Ryan Collier.