Morrissey returns as Enniscorthy put Warriors to sword
MIDLAND WARRIORS 15 ENNISCORTHY 48
ENNISCORTHY TRAVELLED to Mullingar on Sunday and safely negotiated their passage into the second round of the Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup with an emphatic 48-15 win over Midland Warriors.
The game was moved from the home side’s pitch in Moate, and the good condition of the all-weather Mullingar pitch certainly helped Enniscorthy’s flying backs.
Enniscorthy opened the scoring after just three minutes when full-back Richard Dunne joined the line to score under the posts. Ivan Poole added the conversion for the early lead.
Ten minutes later Richard Dunne was on the end of another slick back move to score the second try and extend the lead.
The home side, who play in Division 2B of the league, never gave up and scored a penalty to close the gap.
Almost as soon as they had scored, Ivan Jacob scored the third try for Enniscorthy, followed by the fourth when scrum-half Arthur Dunne broke from the back of a maul to leave the half-time score 22-3.
Enniscorthy introduced longtime injured forward Timmy Morrissey for the second-half.
The towering second row/number 8 missed all of last season through injury and it is a big boost for the team as Nick Doyle is now part of the Wexford Senior football set-up.
The home team scored a try in the second-half but they were always on the back foot as Enniscorthy dominated in all areas of the field.
Tom Ryan, who is a brother of inter-county hurler Liam Ryan, scored a superb fifth try, and as the home team tired Enniscorthy ran in tries from Richard Dunne and Ivan Jacob.
Ross Barbour, who had started at out-half but switched to full-back in the second-half, helped himself to a brace of touchdowns for an easy 48-15 win.
Lock forward Glen Deacon was the man of the match. Enniscorthy got a home draw in the second round against Longford on February 11.
‘We were delighted first of all that the match went ahead and whilst we were missing a few I think we played well,’ team manager David Wrafter said.
‘Although we are two divisions higher in the league than Midland Warriors, we knew that we had to be careful because the cup is a straight knockout and we just got the job done.
‘It was nice to see Timmy Morrissey get some game time as he has missed a full year through injury and he came though well. Glen Deacon was outstanding today and whilst the backs were flying the hard work of the forwards was nice to see.
‘We travel to Boyne next Saturday in the league to play the match postponed after Christmas, and it will be vital for us to get a win to keep the pressure on Ashbourne at the top of the table.’
Enniscorthy: Angelo Todisco, Davy Murphy, Paddy Waters, Tomás Stamp, Glen Deacon, Tom Ryan, Jim White, John Daly, Arthur Dunne, Ross Barbour, Ivan Jacob, Danny Pim, Ivan Poole, Andrew Shore, Richard Dunne. Subs. (all used) - Timmy Morrissey, Liam Stamp, Tony White, Tom Farrar, Alexander Pim.