Seconds to face Gorey after victory over Carlow
Big clash set for Arklow RFC this Saturday at 3pm
WICKLOW RFC CO CARLOW 21 19
WICKLOW’S seconds joined their first squad colleagues in the semi-final of the Seconds Cup with a last-gasp win against a tough Co Carlow side.
Carlow had surprisingly turned over one of the favourites Enniscorthy in the second round and came to Wicklow in determined mood.
Wicklow got off to a strong start with a well taken try by Simon Breen. The conversion was missed but Wicklow led 5-0.
Alan Byrne added a penalty soon afterwards to make it 8-3. Carlow responded with a kick of their own to make it 8-3.
Alan Byrne was on target again on the stroke of half-time with another penalty to make it 11-3 at the break .
Russel Andrew did well to score ewarly in the second half and Alan Byrnes conversion stretched Wicklows lead to 18-3. Two Carlow penalties brought the score to 18-9.
The men from Carlow got in for their first try to make it 18-16 before Wicklow went behind for the first time to a well-taken penalty to make it 18-19.
As time ran out it looked like Wicklow were about to squander a comfortable lead.
To their credit they didnt panic and continued to attack and work hard. A long-range penalty effort into the wind hit the post and came back into the arms of a waiting Carlow defender who cleared to touch.
Deep into injury time some good work by Simon Breen saw Wicklow win a lineout in the carlow 22. A series of pick and drives saw them almost over. As time ran out the referee awarded Wicklow a penalty close in. This time Byrne made no mistake and the score was 21-19. The final kick of the game and the final whistle went. Much to the delight of the Wicklow players and the large Wicklow crowd. Carlow were devastated and felt they deserved more. Wicklow used their get out of jail card and march on to the semi-finals against neighbours Gorey in Arklow RFC next Saturday at 3pm.
Wicklow: Seamus O’Brien, Stefan Nixon, Jay Byrne, Simon Norton, Stephen Swan, Niall Higgins, Ben Armstrong, Jack McGrath, Dennis Higgins, Shane Byrne, Tim Spencer, Neil Kearney, Russell Andrew, Simon Breen, Alan Byrne, Dave Quinn, Cillian Ballesty, Darren Byrne, Ross O’Toole, Aidan Kearney