Enniscorthy’s first loss since October

BANGOR ENNISCORTHY 15 14

ENNISCORTHY SUFFERED their first defeat in the All-Ireland League Division 2C since last October when they went down by one point away to Bangor on Saturday.

Despite this loss, they still remain on top of the division. They met a very fired-up Bangor side who seemed determined to atone for their big loss in Enniscorthy before Christmas.

Bangor got off to a good start, with their out-half kicking a penalty after eight minutes. Five minutes later, an error by Enniscorthy spilling the ball in a tackle gave the Ulster men a scoring opportunity which they took.

Their big pack mauled over from ten metres, and their conversion made the score 10-0.

A Ben Kidd penalty cut the deficit after 25 minutes. Unfortunately, he had to go off with an ankle injury shortly afterwards.

As Enniscorthy came more into the game, Ivan Poole kicked a further penalty but, with only a few minutes remaining in the half, Bangor struck again with a well-taken try in the left corner. They were good value for their 15-6 lead at the interval.

Enniscorthy, however, came more into the game in the second-half, aided by a stiff breeze blowing into the left corner.

Influential number 8 Timmy Morrissey had to retire after 50 minutes with a groin strain.

They had plenty of possession but at times gave up the ball too easily. The backs were finding it difficult to gain ground due to a stout Bangor defence, although Ivan Poole kicked another penalty after 55 minutes.

Flanker Nick Doyle moved to inside centre and this helped. He made a lot of ground down the left side but still the Bangor defence held firm.

With the clock running down, the visitors continued to press with big drives from Niall Parker and Liam Stamp.

After a number of phases, the ball was spread wide and lock Tomás Stamp dived over to score. Ivan Poole’s difficult conversion to win the game just drifted wide in the breeze.

‘Bangor are a big, physical side and were probably hungrier today,’ coach Declan O’Brien said.

‘We have no complaints as we just did not do enough in the first-half.

‘We have had a number of injuries recently and this doesn’t help.

‘Having said that, I thought our subs, in particular Liam (Stamp) and Niall (Parker), played very well when they came on.’

Enniscorthy’s next game in the league is at home to City of Derry on Saturday week, January 25.

Enniscorthy: Angelo Todisco, Davy Murphy, Paddy Waters, Tomás Stamp, Tom Ryan (capt.), Nick Doyle, Brian Bolger, Timmy Morrissey, Billy Wickham, Ivan Poole, Arthur Dunne, Hugh O’Neill, Daniel Pim, Richard Dunne, Ben Kidd. Subs. - Cian Wickham for Kidd (30), Liam Stamp for Morrissey (50), Niall Parker for Wickham (65), also Andrew Redmond, Ryan Cahill.