Enniscorthy began life in their new surrounds of the AIL Div 2B with a long trip to Gibson Park Malone in East Belfast on Saturday. They produced a scintillating 1st half but were pulled back in the final 10 minutes with a late surge from the home team who have played in the AIL since its inception in 2001.

Enniscorthy could not have asked for a better start when fullback Ben Kidd kicked a beautiful ball down the left wing in behind the cover for Ivan Jacob to touch down for an opening 5 pointer. Kidd missed the difficult conversion and all of this happened in the opening 3 minutes. It was obvious from early in this game that Enniscorthy were prepared to move the ball at will whilst the opposition were prepared to kick for territory and use the power of their forwards, it was that power that pinned Enniscorthy back on their own line and the scrumhalf Darragh Gaskill darted through the cover to score the equalising try after 8 minutes. Out half Matty Rea added the conversion for a 7-5 lead.

10 minutes later Conall Kervick kicked a beautiful ball into the corner which Ben Kidd appeared to touch down but the officials ruled that he knocked the ball on. 2 minutes later the full back made an amends from almost the same situation this time he did touch the ball down to put the visitors 12-7 lead. The conversion from the sideline was missed.

Enniscorthy continued to move the ball and with Tony Ryan leading the charge they scored the 3rd try and again it was a superb kick from Kervick to set up Ivan Jacob for his 2nd try and a half time lead of 17-7 and looking comfortable.

It was a tight affair in the 2nd 40 minutes Enniscorthy had a few scares but they defended very well and when Tony Ryan made a suburb break 40 meters out, he looked like score in but his subsequent past was knocked on by Lee Traecy. There was torrential rain all morning in Belfast and it made ball handling very difficult.

The home teams’ superior power up front began to tell and fullback Ben Gibson got inside the cover to touch down and put them 19-17 Infront with Rea adding the conversion. Enniscorthy were a little unlucky not to hold out for at least a losing bonus point. Enniscorthy’s line out had been brilliant all match but alas one went astray and with  time was almost up Sam Green pounced and drove over for Malones 3rd try to rob Enniscorthy of a losing bonus point. 

Enniscorthy’s Head Coach Brett Igoe was full of praise for his team “We were down a few experienced bodies today the likes of Timmy Morrissey and Tom Ryan through injury and other sports commitments but I have to praise some of our younger guys who were making them AIL debut. Lawrence Power, Marco Byrne, Conal Kervick, Ryan Bailey and Senan Fallon”. He continued “We were a little unlucky not to get a result but their massive pack of forwards eventually wore us down”

There were some outstanding performances with Captain Tony Ryan leading the charge and Conal Kervick made an excellent debut in the 10 shirt. Lawrence Power Lee Tracy Orri Lasisi, Ivan Jacob and Ben Kidd were also to the fore, although they lost it was by and large an excellent team performance who were unlucky to get  pipped at the post.

Team: Orri Lassie (Andrew Redmond), Davie Murphy, MJ Doyle, Marco Byrne, Tomas Stamp, Lee Tracey (Richard Bailey), Lawrence Power, Tony Ryan, Graham Barry, Conal Kervick, Miguel Byrne, Jack Kelly (Mikie Nolan), Shane McGuire, Ivan Jacob, Ben Kidd.

Next Fixture Saturday 4th October Alcast Park Enniscorthy vs Navan 2.30pm