Enniscorthy breeze into Gale final at first attempt
Enniscorthy 28 Malahide 17 IT'S ENNISCORTHY'S first season competing at Under-21 level, and so far it has gone well.
On Sunday last in difficult underfoot conditions they beat the Malcolm O'kelly-coached visitors from Malahide in the semi-final of the Gale Cup and will now play Tullow in the final in two weeks' time at a neutral venue.
It was a terrific match played with pace and commitment. The handling from both sides on such a murky day was exemplary.
Enniscorthy scored the first of their four tries on ten minutes when centre David O'dwyer made a superb run inside the visitors' '22 and, after drawing the cover, he set left wing Oisín Dunbar free to score the try. Brendan Doyle kicked the conversion.
Ten minutes later from a line-out, hooker Peadar O'mahoney improvised to a Gaelic football-style pick-up on the run to gallop in. Hugh O'neill pulled a try back for Malahide but Peadar O'mahoney scored his second try after an excellent passage of play when out-half Jack Kelly set him free.
It wasn't all roses for Peadar however when he was sin-binned for a tackle on Colm Kelly who didn't have the ball. Enniscorthy, now down to 14, had to withstand sustained pressure at the end of the half with John Bracken and Tony Ryan outstanding.
Brendan Doyle increased the lead with a penalty kick and it was 20-7 at the interval. Malahide were a different team on the re-start and scored two quick tries through Michael Hart and Mick Brennan. To make matters worse, full-back Cathal Spratt was sin-binned for a late tackle.
Enniscorthy dug deep and Jack Kelly's excellent kicking with the greasy ball kept the home team on the front foot. The crucial fourth try came when, after a series of sustained drives for the line, eventually prop forward Pat Doyle popped up on the right wing and scored in the right corner.
It was now end to end and as Spratt came back they were to lose wing-forward John Bracken to a yellow card. Brendan Doyle kicked an excellent penalty to ensure daylight and the home team played keep the ball in the last five minutes for the win.
It was an excellent team performance with all 15 outstanding.
Team: Ciarán Murphy (capt.), Peadar O'mahoney, Pat Doyle, Tomás Stamp, Willie Dunne, Ethan Dalton, John Bracken, Tony Ryan, Lee Treacy, Jack Kelly, Alan Masterson, David O'dwyer, Brendan Doyle, Oisín Dunbar, Cathal Spratt. Subs. used - James Doyle, Josh Whitehead, Stephen Maguire.
