Enniscorthy won their 3rd AIL League match on the bounce when they produce an outstanding performance of near perfection last Saturday. They scored some of the best tries seen at Ross Road for a long number of years. Skerries just could not live with the relentless pressure and running of the Enniscorthy backs particularly in the opening 30 minutes as the home team ran amuck.
They ran in 4 tries in that opening half and added 4 more in the 2nd with 6 of them scored by their back division who rolled back the years with some vintage displays. There was 3 minutes on the clock when the first try was scored. Ivan Jacob burst through the middle 40 meters out and was hauled down illegally by Rob McKey who was subsequently issued a yellow card by referee John Purcell. Enniscorthy ran the penalty from 5 meters and Lee Treacy was on the end of the maul to touch down under the posts. Conal Kervick had an easy conversion.
5 minutes later a strong break from Ryan Whelan down the left fed scrumhalf Fiacre Hourihane who was on his shoulder and the Oylegate man scored. Kervick added the conversion for a 14 point lead. 10 minutes later Nick Doyle surged into the Skerries half of the pitch had Jack Kelly in support who fed Fiacre Hourihane and Lee Treacy was on his shoulder to touch down. It was one of the finest scores seen in Enniscorthy for a long time and with the conversion added the home team were now leading 21 nil.
Skerries eventually got inside the Enniscorthy 22 and made it count scoring in the corner with Taidgh Keane-Boylan touching down. Fullback Jack Litchfield added the extra points. That score didn’t ruffle Enniscorthy and they responded appropriately and as the half time whistle approached Enniscorthy got in for the 4th and bonus point try. Ryhan Whelan kicked a loose ball through the cover and raced onto the bouncing ball to touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed but as the half time whistle sounded the players and the home spectators need to draw a breath after witnessing one of the finest performances by their team. The big question asked was could they sustain that effort in the 2nd 40 minutes. When they did return they started sluggishly mostly because Skerries decided to give it a lash and were rewarded with 2 excellent early tries after some really tardy defending. The visitors were back in the game and after just 10 minutes of the 2nd half and now there was just 7 points between the teams. The tries were scored by Sam Deering and Kevin McGrath with fullback Jack Litchfield adding the conversions.
The home side were determined to win this one and responded brilliantly. A failed effort to find touch by the Skerries No 10 Paul O’Loghlen was seized by Ryhan Whelan who put on the afterburners down the left towards the Belfield end and when he was eventually held up he produced an excellent one hand off load to Fiacre Hourihane in support and the number 9 scored the try. Although the conversion was missed Enniscorthy were now humming again and 5 minutes later Ivan Jacob rolled back the years with a vintage 40 meter run he moved the ball onto Mickey McVeigh who had Rhyan Whelan in support and he touched down to certainly put the game now beyond the reach of the visitors as Ben
Kidd added the conversion for a 38-19 lead. They were not finished yet as fullback Jack Kelly ran 80 meters weaving his way through the traffic to score another try. Ben Kidd added the conversion from a difficult angle. It was Rhyan Whelan who finished off the try scoring blitz on the day with another superb break for a terrific solo try.
It capped off an excellent home team display and with the other results on the day going their way they jumped 2 positions in the league. Enniscorthy are in terrific form at the moment and whilst they have had a tough season they have been very close in matches but they have really turned on the tap in the last month. This performance reminded the supporters and players alike of how good they are and with 2 games remaining they will certainly want to finish off the season with 2 wins against Navan away next Saturday and their final match at home to Malone on April 4th’. Rhyan Whelan scoring 3 tries was man of the match but in reality, all 15 and substitutes deserved all the accolades thrown at them at the final whistle. It was simply an outrageous display of running rugby that would do justice to any level of the game.
Team: Scott O’Connor ( Isack Kearney 70min), Davy Murphy, Ore Lasisi, Timmy Morrissey ,Tomas Stamp (Marco Byrne) 65min), Lee Tracy ( Mickey McVeigh 65min), , Tony Ryan, James Doyle, Fiacre Hourihane, Conal Kervick ( Ben Kidd 65min), Shane McGuire, (Graham Barry 60min) , Nick Doyle, Rhyan Whelan, Ivan Jacob , Jack Kelly.
Next game Saturday 28th away to Navan 2.30pm KO.
They ran in 4 tries in that opening half and added 4 more in the 2nd with 6 of them scored by their back division who rolled back the years with some vintage displays. There was 3 minutes on the clock when the first try was scored. Ivan Jacob burst through the middle 40 meters out and was hauled down illegally by Rob McKey who was subsequently issued a yellow card by referee John Purcell. Enniscorthy ran the penalty from 5 meters and Lee Treacy was on the end of the maul to touch down under the posts. Conal Kervick had an easy conversion.
5 minutes later a strong break from Ryan Whelan down the left fed scrumhalf Fiacre Hourihane who was on his shoulder and the Oylegate man scored. Kervick added the conversion for a 14 point lead. 10 minutes later Nick Doyle surged into the Skerries half of the pitch had Jack Kelly in support who fed Fiacre Hourihane and Lee Treacy was on his shoulder to touch down. It was one of the finest scores seen in Enniscorthy for a long time and with the conversion added the home team were now leading 21 nil.
Skerries eventually got inside the Enniscorthy 22 and made it count scoring in the corner with Taidgh Keane-Boylan touching down. Fullback Jack Litchfield added the extra points. That score didn’t ruffle Enniscorthy and they responded appropriately and as the half time whistle approached Enniscorthy got in for the 4th and bonus point try. Ryhan Whelan kicked a loose ball through the cover and raced onto the bouncing ball to touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed but as the half time whistle sounded the players and the home spectators need to draw a breath after witnessing one of the finest performances by their team. The big question asked was could they sustain that effort in the 2nd 40 minutes. When they did return they started sluggishly mostly because Skerries decided to give it a lash and were rewarded with 2 excellent early tries after some really tardy defending. The visitors were back in the game and after just 10 minutes of the 2nd half and now there was just 7 points between the teams. The tries were scored by Sam Deering and Kevin McGrath with fullback Jack Litchfield adding the conversions.
The home side were determined to win this one and responded brilliantly. A failed effort to find touch by the Skerries No 10 Paul O’Loghlen was seized by Ryhan Whelan who put on the afterburners down the left towards the Belfield end and when he was eventually held up he produced an excellent one hand off load to Fiacre Hourihane in support and the number 9 scored the try. Although the conversion was missed Enniscorthy were now humming again and 5 minutes later Ivan Jacob rolled back the years with a vintage 40 meter run he moved the ball onto Mickey McVeigh who had Rhyan Whelan in support and he touched down to certainly put the game now beyond the reach of the visitors as Ben
Kidd added the conversion for a 38-19 lead. They were not finished yet as fullback Jack Kelly ran 80 meters weaving his way through the traffic to score another try. Ben Kidd added the conversion from a difficult angle. It was Rhyan Whelan who finished off the try scoring blitz on the day with another superb break for a terrific solo try.
It capped off an excellent home team display and with the other results on the day going their way they jumped 2 positions in the league. Enniscorthy are in terrific form at the moment and whilst they have had a tough season they have been very close in matches but they have really turned on the tap in the last month. This performance reminded the supporters and players alike of how good they are and with 2 games remaining they will certainly want to finish off the season with 2 wins against Navan away next Saturday and their final match at home to Malone on April 4th’. Rhyan Whelan scoring 3 tries was man of the match but in reality, all 15 and substitutes deserved all the accolades thrown at them at the final whistle. It was simply an outrageous display of running rugby that would do justice to any level of the game.
Team: Scott O’Connor ( Isack Kearney 70min), Davy Murphy, Ore Lasisi, Timmy Morrissey ,Tomas Stamp (Marco Byrne) 65min), Lee Tracy ( Mickey McVeigh 65min), , Tony Ryan, James Doyle, Fiacre Hourihane, Conal Kervick ( Ben Kidd 65min), Shane McGuire, (Graham Barry 60min) , Nick Doyle, Rhyan Whelan, Ivan Jacob , Jack Kelly.
Next game Saturday 28th away to Navan 2.30pm KO.
