AIL DIVSION 2 SOUTH Round 1 versus Dolphin at Virgin Media Park 

Enniscorthy travelled to Cork on Saturday to play in their opening match of the new seasons AIL League.

There is a new structure to Division 2B and 2C this season with the league reformatted as 2 South and 2 North to basically cut down on travel for teams.

This season  is a new beginning for Enniscorthy with a number of their key players retiring and only 11 players with AIL experience starting on Saturday last.

The debutants were Hooker Jim Doyle, scrum half Bill Blyth and also off the bench Philip Murphy and Darragh Breen who all acquitted themselves well. Enniscorthy actually played very well but a poor opening 10 minutes when they conceded a soft try which they also  did  in the final 10 minutes conceding another soft try. Enniscorthy did start well but a careles turnover allowed Dolphin to erect camp on their line and with 6 minutes on the clock scrum half Ryan Foley scored the try and the excellent outhalf Conor Mulvihill added the conversion. 

There was 23 minute's on the clock when the home teams number 9 took a quick penalty to touch down and Mulvhill added the conversion for a 14 nil lead.

Enniscorthy responded brilliantly scoring a superb try after terrific work by MJ Doyle who set in Ryan Bailey for the try. Conal Kervick added the extra points. Enniscorthy were now well in the game and should have scored again but dropped the ball close to the line. 14-7 at half time. 

It was a tight start to the 2nd half but Enniscorthy  did concede a soft penalty to  extend  the home teams lead and 5 minutes later conceded another soft penalty which allowed the excellent Mulvihill to slot the kick to extend the lead to 20- 7. Enniscorthy continued to play forward rugby and were rewarded with an excellent try. Miguel Byrne and MJ Doyle were superb with the latter finishing off the swift move. The conversion was missed.

It was still a tight match but against the run of play Enniscorthy conceded a penalty which  Mulvihill kicked .They scored 2 late tries to secure a bonus point win. Although the scoreline suggests it was a wallopping it was far from that and the new Coach and former player Daniel Pim will have seen enough to know that Enniscorthy will be competitive despite the  retirements.

Debutant scrumhalf Bill Blyth had an excellent debut and new recruit Philip Murphy also impressed but it was one of the experienced players MJ Doyle who stole the show.

Team: Scott O'Connor, Jim Doyle,MJ Doyle,David Farrell, Tom Ryan, Marco Byrne, Ryan Bailey, Liam Stamp(Capt),Bill Blyth, Conal Kervick, Miguel Byrne, Mickey Nolan, Graham Barry, Killian Creed, Cian Hogan.

Replacements all used:Philip Murphy,Mickey McVeigh,Kevin O'Connor,Darragh Breen.

Next match Saturday 3rd Oct Alcast Park vs Thomand 2.30pm