ROUND-UP Gorey let lead slip near end
RUGBY Kilkenny grab late scores
GOREY RETURNED to action on Saturday in the Leinster League with an away trip to Kilkenny.
After two narrow defeats, against Monkstown and Dundalk respectively, Gorey travelled to the Marble city knowing that a win was vital to restore confidence, and to ease them into the top half of the league, with a crunch game at home to table-toppers Enniscorthy this Saturday at 3 p.m.
The game started brightly for the hosts as they moved the ball with pace and within five minutes opened their account with a try.
Gorey responded when David Shannon gathered deep in his own half, eluded a number of wouldbe tacklers and raced in under the posts for a fine individual try, making it 7-5 to Gorey.
A penalty each saw the teams enter the second quarter with the home side looking the more menacing, as they punched holes in the Gorey defence.
It paid off with another fine try to lead 13-10. As half-time approached a further Kilkenny try saw them end the half on high to lead 20-10.
The first quarter of the second-half was uneventful as both teams tried but could not impose any dominance. But the visitors turned this game on its head with the introduction of Phil de Barra who injected pace into the Gorey attack.
The cracks began to appear as Gorey moved the ball at every opportunity, and it was a just reward for endeavour when the captain, J.P. Redmond, crossed under the posts.
Gorey were now playing with confidence and within two minutes crossed for try number three. Stephen Triggs was on the end of this try, as phase after phase of Gorey play saw them take the lead (22-20).
Having worked so hard to get in this position, Gorey will be disappointed with how they managed to lose the game. With minutes left on the clock, Gorey should have closed up shop and killed the game, but keeping the ball moving now came back to haunt them, as Kilkenny were awarded a penalty on the halfway line and went for the corner.
Phase after phase saw them eventually cross for the winning try to take the score to 27-22. The conversion went over to the sound of the referee’s whistle.
Gorey will be disappointed having got back into the game to let it slip in the dying seconds, but this very young team proved in the second-half that with a bit of luck they can play and compete at this level.
Steven Triggs, Stanley Hadden and J.P. Redmond were the pick of the forwards, with Nevil Copeland, Gareth Bater and man of the match David Shannon the outstanding backs. Gorey welcome league leaders Enniscorthy to Clonattin next Saturday with kick-off at 3 p.m.
The opening round of the All-Ireland Junior Cup takes place on Saturday, October 29, when Gorey’s J1s welcome Galbally from Limerick.
This is the first time that Gorey have qualified for this prestigious countrywide competition so it would be important for the lads to have big support both from within the club and the local community as a whole.
In the meantime Gorey have that important home Leinster League fixture this Saturday against local rivals Enniscorthy.
Team: D. Gregan, S. Triggs, D. Bellanova, D. O’Leary, A. Bond, J.P. Redmond, S. Hadden, Heino, G. Bater, J. Thomas, N. Copeland, E. Walsh, G. Rynhart, A. Walshe, D. Shannon, P. Horan, R. Deering, E. Horan, S. Horan, P. de Barra.