Derby next for U-14 side
THE ENNISCORTHY Under-14s got the tough Leinster League Premier Division game they were expecting when, having secured the last-minute Leinster Cup win against Boyne the previous week, they travelled back to Shamrock Park on Saturday for a re-match.
It was a tough battle throughout the entire 50 minutes, with excellent displays of rucking and defensive play from both sides.
Enniscorthy were first to score, when after a sustained period of pressure over about 15 phases which saw great carries from Dylan Purcell, Pádraig Waters and Cillian Hanrahan, back row Cian Dobbs-Doyle - no stranger to try scoring - crashed through the Boyne defence from the ‘22 to touch down in the corner. Jack Hennessy hit the post with the conversion.
Five minutes later, with Enniscorthy kicking in behind Boyne and forcing mistakes, the ball was fumbled by Boyne on halfway, then kicked on firstly by Dylan Purcell and then by Jack Hennessy who was that bit faster than the Boyne defence as he gathered from his kick and went over to put Enniscorthy 10-0 ahead.
Just before half-time, Boyne applied good pressure in the right-hand corner and eventually scored despite the attentions of four defenders.
With the extras added, Boyne were only three points adrift at half-time (10-7).
Enniscorthy started the second-half well, but the Boyne defence held them out time and again. So, when Enniscorthy won a penalty about 35 metres out, they went for the posts and Jack Hennessy put them 13-7 ahead.
Just as in the cup match the previous week, Boyne came roaring back with a well-taken try which was converted to put them 14-13 ahead.
From there on it looked like Boyne would hold out for the win, but they began to flag with five minutes to go and Enniscorthy piled on the pressure, with wingers Rhyan Whelan and Luke Wheelock making great runs.
And they were rewarded when one of the previous week’s try scorers, second row Cody Denton, went over in the corner to put Enniscorthy 18-14 ahead. Hennessy was unlucky to push the conversion inches wide.
Boyne played very strongly for the last five minutes but were denied by relentless rucking and tackling from Tommy Cahill, Paul Byrne, Dylan Butler and Cillian Hanrahan, while the centres, Robbie Chapman and Jack Hennessy, held firm.
Enniscorthy held out to win by four and set up a Premier Division Leinster League semi-final against neighbours Wexford.
Enniscorthy: S. Guiney, L. Wheelock, J. Hennessy, R. Chapman, R. Whelan, Joe Doyle, T. Cahill, G. O’Connor, P. Byrne, C. Hanrahan, C. Denton, P. Waters, C. Dobbs-Doyle, D. Purcell, D. Butler. Replacements: A. Power, T.J. Moran, C. Kelly, B. Lett, Josh Doyle.