Second place finish

Enniscorthy left in runners-up spot

Ivan Poole kicked a penalty on the half hour, and two minutes later Ivan Jacob caught a crossfield kick to make ground down the right flank. He then transferred inside to Arthur Dunne who scored near the corner.

Poole converted to put them ten points up, and just before the interval D.L.S.P. kicked a penalty to leave the score 10-3 at half-time.

If Enniscorthy dominated the first-half, the reverse happened after the break as the home pack upped their game. They also had a lot at stake trying to survive in the top division and were much hungrier.

After sustained pressure, they scored an excellent try through the centre. Two further tries were scored through their back row in the third quarter due to numerous missed tackles. A further penalty put the home side 27-10 up with ten minutes remaining.

Enniscorthy struck back after a 20-metre break by Nick Doyle who off-loaded to scrum-half Arthur Dunne to race over from 25 metres. Although Enniscorthy were pressing at the end, they did not score again.

Coach Declan O’ Brien said afterwards: ‘We were flat today and D.L.S.P. deserved their win. Two of our front row were missing and as a result our scrum and line-out suffered.

‘We would hope to be back to full strength next Saturday for our Towns Cup match against Clondalkin.’

That quarter-final is on in the Ross Road at 3 p.m.

Enniscorthy: Tony White, Jamie Barron, Paddy Waters, John Daly, Joe Bulmer, Tom Ryan, Tomás Stamp, Timmy Morrissey, Arthur Dunne, Killian Lett, David O’Dwyer, Ivan Poole (capt.), Daniel Pim, Ivan Jacob, Ross Barbour. Subs. - Nick Doyle for Daly (30), Tom Farrar for White (30), Luke Cummins for Morrissey (35), Ronnie White for Barron (50), Hugh O’Neill for Barbour (65), Morrissey for Bulmer (65), Anthony White for Farrar (65).