Poole kicks vital winner
Second-half penalty seals success in derby
GOREY ENNISCORTHY
IVAN POOLE has kicked some vital points for Enniscorthy through his career, and his second-half penalty eventually separated his side from a battling Gorey outfit in this teak-tough top of the table Leinster League Division 1A game played at Clonattin on Saturday.
Going into this clash, Enniscorthy topped the table with 24 points from six games played, while Gorey were a clear second in the table, two points adrift.
There was no need to stress the importance of this result, as in the end it could go a long way towards deciding the destination of the league title.
This game represented another opportunity for the sides to take not alone bragging rights from the local derby clash, but also crucial points, so it was always going to come down to a special piece of individual play to decide the outcome.
And given the strength of the respective defences, it was always likely to go right down to the wire.
It wasn’t exactly attractive from a spectator’s viewpoint, given that it was a dour forward battle, but the exchanges up front were of such a physical nature that it somewhat made up for the lack of open, attacking rugby.
It was the biggest test for the Enniscorthy eight, but they came through it with a commanding display, especially in the second-half as they pinned the home side back inside their own half for most of the 40 minutes.
The experience of Enniscorthy proved so crucial. There’s no doubt that they possess one of the finest packs in the league, as they have also demonstrated in cup competition, and they seem determined to make up for the disappointment of last season when they lost out in the league stakes to Ashbourne.
What makes them so good? Their ability to stay calm and stick to the processes and not panic. Play good territory, hit people on the break, play at speed, while all players are comfortable on the ball.
Nobody gets missed out, since they are all good attacking players. Even their front rowers have got a good feel for time and space, while team captain and second row Tom Ryan led by example with his carries and tackling.
While Enniscorthy have been playing their system for some time, Gorey struggled once they moved the ball out in the back line.
While second row Stevie Gardiner was inspirational with his line-out play and huge carries, they needed to take so much more from this game.
Their defence, even under sustained second-half pressure, was superb, but their inability to get out of their own half for much of that period always left them with a struggle.
The confidence level in the pack is high, but one could not say the same of the back line where they failed to utilise hard won possession, while some of their kicking was also wayward, allowing the opposition to attack from deep.
Gorey will need to take lessons from this game, but while they secured a bonus losing point, they are now five adrift of their opponents, so they will have to learn quickly and immediately return to winning ways.
From the kick-off Gorey camped inside the visitors’ ’22 for the opening five minutes, forcing two scrums, but a penalty saw the home side relieve their lines.
As Gorey continued to press, a Stevie Gardiner off-load saw outhalf Stephen Duke cut through the centre, but from the resulting ruck the home side were penalised and Enniscorthy were off the hook.
The game was beginning to open up and, after 15 minutes, Enniscorthy showed superb handling in a move started inside their own half as Angelo Todisco made considerable ground before off-loading to Arthur Dunne.
He showed quick hands to release to Ivan Jacob on the right wing, and he somehow managed to elude several tackles to get over for the game’s opening try. Ivan Poole was wide with the conversion attempt but Enniscorthy, having dealt with the Gorey pressure, were deservedly in front.
However, the lead was shortlived as, straight from the restart, Gorey drove into the visitors’ ‘22 and created a ruck close to the line, with Stevie Gardiner showing his power to drive over for a try.
James Nolan was wide with the conversion attempt, leaving the teams deadlocked at 5-5.
Ten minutes before the break, Poole was successful with a penalty after Gorey had been penalised for offside which left the league leaders ahead 8-5 at the interval.
Enniscorthy stepped up to the challenge in the second-half, applying pressure on Gorey.
After David O’Dwyer was yellow carded on 48 minutes, 14-man Enniscorthy still continued to play most of their game inside the home side’s half, but Gorey forced a penalty on a quick counter-attack, leaving Stephen Duke to make it 8-8.
The game was turned into a tremendous forward battle, and it took an Ivan Poole 63rd-minute penalty to separate the sides and decide the destination of the points.
Gorey: David Shannon; Clement Power, Jason Rothwell, James Nolan, Joe Naughton; Stephen Duke, Stephen Horan; Ciarán Allen, Ethan Badham, Kevin Browne; Tom Jameson, Stevie Gardiner; Killian Breen, Stanley Hadden, Eddie Horan. Replacements - Barry O’Connor, Darragh Bellanova, Darragh O’Leary, Ben Mason, Gareth Bater.
Enniscorthy: Richard Dunne; Ivan Jacob, Daniel Pim, Killian Lett, David O’Dwyer; Arthur Dunne, Ivan Poole; Angelo Todisco, Davy Murphy, Paddy Waters; Tomás Stamp, Tom Ryan; Nick Doyle, Timmy Morrissey, Brian Bolger. Replacements - Hughie O’Neill, Jack Kelly, Luke Cummins, Murt Kehoe, James Doyle. TALENTED GOREY sportsman Conor Levingston has returned home after five years with Wolves, and he will be part of the Bohemians squad for the 2019 Airtricity League season.
The 20-year-old has represented his country at youth level all the way up to Under-19, and he will be a significant addition to Keith Long’s ever-improving squad at Dalymount Park.
‘Bohs is a massive club and I’m looking forward to getting going. This is a club with a great fanbase and the potential here is brilliant,’ Levingston told the Bohs’ website.
‘I like to see myself as a boxto-box midfielder, hopefully I can score a few goals too.’
Levingston’s return home is also a big boost for his local G.A.A. club, Naomh Eanna, and he was an unused substitute with their Senior hurlers in Sunday’s Leinster Club loss to Ballyhale Shamrocks.