’Scorthy regain sole top spot
Table-toppers bounce back with bonus point success
ENNISCORTHY CITY OF DERRY
ENNISCORTHY EDGED their way back into sole possession of first spot in the All Ireland League Division 2C table with a hard-earned bonus point victory over City of Derry in Alcast Park on Saturday.
The high fliers lost solo top spot and a little of their momentum with an away defeat against Bangor two weeks earlier, but showed their fabled grit and determination to get another win on the board.
It’s tough sledding for the Enniscorthy men at the moment, because numbers are tight as injuries continue to mount up, so much so that they had the opportunity to hand AIL debuts to Jack Kelly and John Nolan from the bench.
However, those two, plus the 18 others that took to the field, all played their part in this sterling team victory. It proved to be an interesting contest, with ‘Scorthy the more polished in possession.
The Ulster side did have one big advantage area, as when they clicked they were able to spread the ball wide to their backs for them to cause plenty of problems. All three of their tries came in those circumstances, and a couple of wayward passes ended other similar Derry opportunities.
Enniscorthy were more balanced, they were composed and powerful, but also showed the ability to spread play out when the opportunity arose.
Much like any sport, teams that can beat you in a number of ways are usually the most dangerous, and the hosts are certainly that.
There wasn’t much happening in the early exchanges as the sides felt each other out, that was until a late tackle by Stephen Corr earned the Derry flanker ten minutes in the sin-bin. What Enniscorthy didn’t do was take advantage.
In fact, it was the visitors who won their spell with 14 men. Given the numerical disadvantage it was surprising how easily they got numbers down the left.
David Graham did most of the damage before off-loading for Thomas Cole to touch down in the left corner in the twelfth minute.
As sweet as Alex McDonnell struck the resulting conversion, it just tailed wide of the near post.
From 5-0 down, Enniscorthy got on the front foot and dominated the second quarter. They started the right way, with an Ivan Poole penalty from in front of the posts to narrow the gap.
Ten minutes before the interval the Leinster side took the lead. Daniel Pim and Arthur Dunne were involved in the build-up as Enniscorthy swung the ball from right to left, and it was Poole who raced away for the try, cutting back to touch down under the posts and make it a gimme conversion.
Poole was involved in another patient build-up four minutes before the interval that led to a second Enniscorthy try.
However, this one was all about the superb Richard Dunne, who seemed to carry three or four tacklers over the line with him.
When Poole added the extras, Enniscorthy led 17-5 at half-time. The second period was a more balanced affair.
Enniscorthy were far more disciplined than their opponents, and that really helped the hosts as the penalty tally piled up for Derry.
However, they did get a gift from ‘ Scorthy when Christopher Lamberton latched on to a poor defensive kick, and a missed tackle saw him break free and combine with Tiernan Thornton to send David Graham over in the right corner.
McDonnell added the extras to get his side within five, but the try spurred Enniscorthy on. Within three minutes the home side worked the ball across the field from a left wing line-out, and Daniel Pim touched down in the corner.
Poole missed the conversion but Enniscorthy didn’t have to wait long for their next score, the all-important bonus point try. It started with a great line break from Billy Wickham, and Dunne was then involved as they won a penalty.
Determined to get that fourth try, they kicked for the corner, got the rolling maul going from the line-out, and Nick Doyle peeled off the back to touch down and make it 27-12. The score all but wrapped up the game for Enniscorthy.
City of Derry were able to exert some pressure in the last 20 minutes but only scored again in the 79th minute when Daire Walker got in on the right.
Alex McDonnell did tack on the two extras but it wasn’t enough to garner them a losing bonus point or unduly dampen the ‘Scorthy joy.
Enniscorthy do not return to AIL action until February 15 when they travel to third-placed Tullamore. That’s sure to be a huge challenge for the team as they look to keep Skerries in their rear-view mirror.
With only seven round-robin games left, the lay of the land may look a little clearer after contests against Clonmel and Sunday’s Well following in back-to-back weeks after the Tullamore test.
Enniscorthy: Richard Dunne, Michael Farrell, Daniel Pim, Hugh O’Neill, Billy Wickham, Ivan Poole, Arthur Dunne; Angelo Todisco, Davie Murphy, Paddy Waters, Liam Stamp, Tomás Stamp, Tom Ryan (capt.), Luke Cummins, Nick Doyle. Replacements - Joe Carley for T. Stamp (23), Jamie Barron for Murphy, blood (25-28), Niall Parker for Cummins (41), Jack Kelly for Poole (67), Jamie Barron for Murphy (67), John Nolan for Waters (67).
City Of Derry: Callum O’Hagan, Jack Beattie, David Graham, Dennis Posternak, Thomas Cole, Alex McDonnell, Rico Schneider; James Hamilton, David Ferguson, Steven Duffy, Gerard Doherty, Stephen Kelly, Stephen Corr, Tiernan Thornton, Richard Baird. Replacements - Ross Harkin for Hamilton, blood (38-41), Ross Harkin for Ferguson (45), Daire Walker for Beattie (45), Christopher Lamberton for Kelly (45), Quermy Warmerdam for Doherty (46), Craig Huey for Thornton (58), Doherty for Duffy (58).
Referee: Mike Scanlon (Connacht Branch).