Sligo secure third win of their AIL campaign
Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B – Round Seven Sligo RFC First XV 17 Enniscorthy RFC First XV 10
SLIGO RFC’s first XV earned a valuable 17-10 home win last Saturday – only their third victory in seven Energia All-Ireland Division 2B outings – when bottom of the table Enniscorthy were beaten at Hamilton Park. Daire Byrne’s first-half try, which came just before half-time, and Calum Goddard’s five-pointer early in the second-half were the key scores for Sligo.
Kicker Euan Brown, whose lengthy pass released Goddard into open territory for his score, converted both tries and also landed a penalty.
Sligo, who’ve built on their previous result, an away defeat of Wanderers on the Saturday before last, were 10-0 up at half-time.
Euan Brown’s 30th minute penalty got Sligo on the scoreboard and then Daire Byrne’s try, which stemmed from a scrum that Sligo controlled, gave the home side a good platform. When Euan Brown converted Sligo’s second try the difference was 17-3, and a late converted try from Enniscorthy made the scoreline closer, although Sligo played fluently at various stages. This result added to the day’s celebratory mood. Members of the club’s first XV squad from 1982, who were Connacht Senior Cup runners-up, were present, having been honoured for their contribution to a chapter in the club’s history 40 years ago.
Next up for Sligo is this Saturday’s away fixture against third-placed Dungannon (Stevenson Park, 2.30pm). Meanwhile, Sligo RFC’s Hubert Gilvarry has been picked on the Ireland Men’s Sevens Development squad for an invitational tournament in Dubai this weekend.
Sligo RFC First XV (v Enniscorthy):
Jack Keegan, Darragh Feehily, Calum Goddard (1 try), Daire Byrne (1 try), Finn Bamber, Euan Brown (1 pen, 2 cons), Brendan Cunningham, Kuba Wojtkowicz, Shane O’Hehir, Jason East (c), Eoin Ryan, Rob Holian, Ross Hickey, James O’Hehir, Donnacha Byrne
Replacements: Ben Hynes, Matthew Earley, Brian West, Adrian Cummins, David Keyes
LINEOUT: Action from last Saturday’s Energia AllIreland League Division 2B fixture between Sligo and Enniscorthy at Hamilton Park, Strandhill.