Seconds strike back for victory
GOREY D.L.S.P. 32 22
IF THE Gorey J2 team could turn up in the first-half they just might manage to make things easier for themselves.
As they did in all their games so far, they have given the opposition a head start and then began the task of over-hauling a sometimes significant lead.
As the scoreline suggests this was a cracking game with both sides throwing caution to the wind. Nearly all the scores came from both teams when they played into the wind.
Gorey did start well but somehow butchered three good opportunities. But De La Salle were not as wasteful and by the tenth minute had crossed for two wellworked tries, having covered the length of the field for both to lead 12-3, with a Cian Hadden penalty the only reward for Gorey.
De La Salle kept the pressure up and were really looking impressive, extending their lead to 17-3 with ten minutes remaining in the half.
Gorey eventually started to put a few phases together and with seconds remaining saw Jack Willoughby cross in the corner. Cian Hadden converted from a difficult angle to leave just seven between the teams, with Gorey now turning into the wind.
But as they did in previous weeks, Gorey finally started to put some shape on their game. The introduction of Reece Hughes seemed to lift the team as they moved the ball at pace.
As De La Salle had done in the first-half, Gorey did in the second and on the 48th minute Paul O’Connor put Gorey in the driving seat when he split the defence to go in just left of the posts.
Cian Hadden converted to put Gorey in front for the first time. Gorey kept coming and a Cian Hadden penalty shortly after, followed by a Seán Kinane try, saw them extend their lead to 27-17.
But De La Salle were not done yet and on the 65th minute reduced Gorey’s lead to just five after a brilliant try. The next 15 minutes saw both teams throw caution to the wind as they both attacked at every opportunity.
But Gorey finally sealed the victory when Reece Hughes latched on to the ball to touch down in the corner and leave ten between the sides. 32-22 was how it finished with both teams deserving credit in probably one of the finest J2 games seen in Gorey in many a year.
The pick of the Gorey forwards were Ben Mason, Ross Doyle and Reece Hughes, with Jack Willoughby, Cian Hadden and man of the match Robert Harrington the best of a lively back line.
Gorey: W. Rothwell, F. Bolger, D. Bellanova, Z. Sinnott, R. Doyle, L. Kinsella, B. Mason, C.A. Tucci, R. Harrington, C. Hadden, C. Hatton, S. Sheehan, P. O’Connor, D. O’Neill, J. Willoughby, B. Doyle, S. Kinane, C. O’Keeffe, S. Tomkins, K. Rothwell.