Two out of three ain’t bad
Enniscorthy maintain their winning form on home soil
ENNISCORTHY WERE both stubborn and defiant as they managed to summon up one last final attack that produced a scintillating try one minute from the end in Alcast Park on Saturday.
And the precious score saw them sail to the top of the AIL Division 2C table, having disposed of second-placed Skerries to gain the crucial points in a tough and entertaining third round encounter.
Try explaining all of this to their hardcore supporters who had to endure 79 minutes of pressure rugby, and with their side running out of precious time.
One could not envisage such a late transformation since Skerries looked likely to be the recipient of the points, which would have taken them clear at the top.
They were playing composed rugby, keeping the home side at arm’s length and forcing them to build from deep inside their own half for most of that second 40 minutes.
One felt as the game entered the closing minutes that Enniscorthy would have to accept their fate, and be content with the bonus point, but that was obviously not in the players’ minds.
Having won a scrum on halfway, big Nick Doyle, who had a powerful game, picked from the base of the scrum, and made the decisive break to the right.
He off-loaded to the supporting Timmy Morrissey, who cut through a gap before managing to pick out Ivan Poole.
With the Skerries defensive cover closing, Ivan Jacob - the recipient of the final pass close to the touchline - still had much to do, but his sheer pace and strength saw him power over the final 30 metres to crash over in the corner despite some desperate tackles for what was the score of the game.
Now leading 18-15, Ivan Jacob then kicked a superb conversion off the touchline. While ahead 20-15 as a result, Enniscorthy still had some defending to do but managed to keep the ball tight until they were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle.
Many would have taken convincing that Enniscorthy would be sitting top of the table after three rounds, heading into the one-week break.
However, the manner in which they have prevailed in their two home games, with their only slip away to Bruff where they still gained bonus points on offer, suggests they are very much alive, with the potential to prevail in Senior club rugby after such a lengthy absence.
As is their way, Enniscorthy thrive on meeting the best, having taken full points from two title challengers in Midleton and Skerries. And as it has turned out so far, they have shown they will not fall short even when the pitches become heavier.
It was not a perfect start for Enniscorthy as Skerries controlled the opening twelve minutes, being camped inside home territory.
Enniscorthy had to get in the decisive tackles, managing to hold out the visitors as they met the early challenges. There was no panic stations as the home side diluted the Skerries attacks with hefty tackling, lifting the siege and taking an 18th-minute lead.
Having launched a series of attacks, a strong Enniscorthy maul saw them entice the opposition into an offside offence, leaving Ben Kidd to kick the 35-metre penalty for a 3-0 lead.
Skerries got back level five minutes later through a Billy Mulcahy penalty from just outside the ‘22.
Skerries were good value for this score and they grew in confidence, getting the game’s opening try after 25 minutes.
A series of mistakes and poor ball handling saw Skerries capitalise, and hooker Kieran Leonard drove over the line from a few metres. Mulcahy was wide with his conversion attempt.
Enniscorthy were playing well but they knew they would have to step up their performance to take anything from this game. Kidd kicked a 33rd-minute penalty to reduce the deficit to 8-6 which was how it remained to the interval.
Not everything was falling Enniscorthy’s way, but they managed to keep their composure. A Kidd penalty to within five metres of the Skerries line set them up, but they were unable to capitalise as the visitors’ defence held firm.
Twenty minutes into the second-half, Skerries looked have secured the crucial breakthrough when, following a flowing move involving forwards and backs, Conor Lennox got in for a try close to the corner.
When Mulcahy kicked a superb conversion off the touchline, the visitors now led 15-6, leaving the home side with a huge hill to climb.
Enniscorthy knew they had to produce something special. The pack, now gaining supremacy in the scrums following the half-time introduction of Paddy Waters, set up the platform.
And following a number of strong forward drives, Enniscorthy switched the ball out to the back line, and Arthur Dunne crashed through two tackles to get the touchdown.
When Ivan Poole added the conversion, it was an early birthday present for Dunne who turned 29 the following day.
Enniscorthy were now in bonus point territory, but they still went in search of the winning points. With the result still in the balance, the all-important breakthrough came in the final minute, with
Ivan Jacob’s touchdown lifting the home crowd and leaving the visitors stunned.
Enniscorthy: Richard Dunne; Ivan Jacob, Daniel Pim, Ivan Poole, David O’Dwyer; Ben Kidd (Billy Wickham, 48), Arthur Dunne; MJ. .Doyle (Paddy Waters, HT), David Murphy, Angelo Todisco (M.J. Doyle, 64); Tomás Stamp, Joe Carley; Brian Bolger (Tom Ryan, HT), Timmy Morrissey (capt.), Nick Doyle. Unused replacements: Jamie Barron, Michael Farrell.
Skerries: Ross Gordon; Rúairí Woods, Kevin McGrath, Colin Doyle, Conor Lennox; Billy Mulcahy, Eoghan Carron; Johnny Sherwin (Dara Lowdnes, 52), Kieran Leonard, Cormac Marrey; Tom Mulvany, Paddy FayWatt; Ben Jenkinson, Ross McAuley (Con Marrey, 52), Michael Turvey (Tom O’Hare, HT). Unused replacements: Sam Deering, Davy Goodman.
Referee: Eddie Sheehan (Sunday’s Well).