Gorey gain bonus win to move to fifth place
Fifth with three games left
GOREY TRAVELLED to Dundalk for their first outing of 2020 in the Leinster League Division 1A.
With every point vital at this stage of the season, this bonus point win lifted Gorey into fifth place with three games left.
The visitors started well and pinned the home side deep into their half, but Dundalk were defending well and keeping the Gorey threat at bay.
A line-out inside the Dundalk ‘22 was the catalyst for Gorey’s opening try when a quick ball off the top saw Jordan Ahern crash over for the opening score.
Minutes later Gorey were back on the offensive, with carry after carry taking them again into the home ‘22.
A number of phases later, Willie Earle rounded off the move when he ran in under the posts. David Shannon added the conversion.
The final ten minutes of the half saw Dundalk shade the territory, but Gorey’s defence soaked up the pressure and added a David Shannon penalty to leave the halftime score at 15-0 to the visitors.
The second-half continued in a similar vein, with Gorey edging the exchanges.
A Dundalk bout of pressure saw them reduce the Gorey lead with a penalty.
But that was as good as it got for the home team as the game headed into the final quarter. Gorey were reduced to 13 men in quick succession, but the visitors were to capitalise as they went up another gear.
Phase after phase of big carries from the forwards took them within striking distance, and quick hands saw them move the ball through the backs for Joe Naughton to go over for try number three. David Shannon added the conversion.
Gorey were now playing with confidence and, with the opportunity of a bonus point in sight and the importance of every point, they went in search of another try.
Again a number of carries from the pack created the platform, and when Aaron Davies went over for the fourth try it was no more than they deserved for their effort.
The final score was 27-3 for a crucial win for the Wexford men. Fionn O’Loughlin and David Shannon were the pick of the backs, but it was the pack that laid the platform, with Cormac Walsh in his first league game, Killian Breen and Willie Earle working hard.
This Saturday, Gorey are at home to Suttonians with kick-off at 2.30 p.m.
Gorey: W. Rothwell, C. Walsh, K. Browne, D. O’Leary (capt.), W. Earle, E. Walsh, K. Breen, J. Ahern, A. Davies, F. O’Loughlin, F. Donnelly, D. McGrath, J. Naughton, D. Shannon, S. Hadden, B. Brooks, B. O’Connor, T. Jameson, J. Mulligan.