Gorey gain a vital success
Relegation worries eased
line intact.
Gorey did have a chance to score in the final minute, but overall the visitors shaded the first-half.
The second-half saw Gorey start the better, with the back row of Eoin Walsh, Killian Breen and Jordan Ahern making some hard yards to take them deep into Suttonians’ ‘22.
Gorey kept the pressure up and, minutes later, a long pass from Fionn O’Loughlin saw Joe Naughton cross for a well-worked try. David Shannon added the conversion.
It was nip and tuck for the next ten minutes as the visitors managed to get a foothold in the Gorey ‘22.
In the 55th minute that pressure paid off when, after a number of phases, they scored a carbon copy of the Gorey try. Jennings was just wide with the conversion.
Suttonians had the better of the next ten minutes but could not break down a resolute Gorey defence.
The final ten minutes saw the game finely balanced at 10-8. Gorey were finally edging the exchanges and putting pressure on the visitors, with some massive carries by the entire team.
A David Shannon break saw him kick deep into the visitors’ ‘22. Suttonians were forced to carry, with the Gorey chasers now arriving in numbers.
Pressure at the break down saw the ball go loose, and the ever-alert Stanley Hadden gathered to race in for a crucial try. Shannon added the conversion.
Suttonians re-started and Gorey now had their tails up, and wave after wave of pressure forced a penalty.
Shannon added the three points to put Gorey out of touch for a vital win on a score of 20-8.
In a tremendous team effort, David Shannon, Fionn O’Loughlin and Mark Kehoe were the pick of the backs, with the entire pack and man of the match Willie Earle guiding Gorey to victory.
The next league game for Gorey is an away trip to Wicklow on Sunday, February 9.
Gorey: W. Rothwell, C. Walsh, K. Browne, D. O’Leary (capt.), W. Earle, E. Walsh, K. Breen, J. Ahern, D. McGrath, F. O’Loughlin, F. Donnelly, M. Kehoe, J. Naughton, D. Shannon, S. Hadden, G. Bater, B. O’Connor, T. Jameson, B. Mason.
GOREY SUTTONIANS
THE GOREY J2s narrowly lost out to Suttonians on a perfect day for rugby on Saturday.
The visitors set out their stall early and drew first blood after a number of phases took them into the Gorey ’22 to cross for the opening try.
The Gorey response was swift, with John Condren - in his first game back - crossing out wide.
Both sides kept plugging away, but the visitors were next to move 12-5 ahead.
A Cian Hadden penalty and a Suttonians converted try ended the half on a score of 19-8.
The damage for Gorey was done in the opening stages of the second-half as they were slow to get off the mark, with Suttonians opening with two unanswered tries to leave the score at 33-8.
Gorey dominated territory in the next 15 minutes, but a sound visitors’ defence kept them at bay.
Finally the door opened and, with less than ten minutes remaining, Jack Willoughby crossed for a try.
A minute later John Condren added his second try, with both converted by Hadden to make it 33-22, so Gorey had something to play for.
The clock was now against them, but a Henry Kennedy try in the 80th minute reduced the margin to 33-27.
Gorey, though beaten, will be happy to have some old faces back in the team as they prepare for the Towns Cup.
Gorey: J. Mulligan, R. Gibney, D. Slator, C. Reynolds, R. Slator, S. Besanson, K. Rothwell, D. Sawyer, C. Reynolds, B. Brooks, S. Hadden, C. Kennedy, H. Kennedy, J. Condren, T. Martin, J. Willoughby, D. Gardiner, T. Jameson, J. Furlong, B. Mason.