ENNISCORTHY confirmed their pole position in the Under-17 Leinster League South, with five wins out of five, to set up a home quarter-final with fourth place qualifier Dundalk from LL North, to be played on Saturday next at 12.15 p.m. in Ross Road.

Behind this impressive statistic is the failure of Enniscorthy to put teams away and to let the opposition get back into the game after building up good leads.

This, allied to the fact that Dundalk defeated the previously-unbeaten Navan 12-0, who were favourites to win the league outright, should allay any fears of complacency from the home side.

Enniscorthy dominated the early exchanges against Gorey through the line-out dominance of Dane Fortune and Tom Ryan, with the scrum also on top through the sterling work of front rows Conor McDonald, Davy and Jack Murphy which allowed half-backs David Dunne and Brendan Kearney to control the play.

Kearney opened the scoring with another sublime drop goal, to add to the effort against Tullow the previous week.

The back row of Jamie Barron, Shane Bolger and Naoise Dunbar were rampant in the loose, providing good go forward ball which was spread through the centres, Mel Doyle and Martin Steemers, to that outstanding finisher, Richie Farrell, for a controlled chip and chase. He collected just short of the line, with his momentum carrying him over for the touchdown, and Kearney adding the conversion.

The visitors were in complete control at this stage and, after a Wally Furlong break carried on by Dermot Breen, Tom Ryan was on hand to force his way over to leave the score 15-0 at half-time.

Gorey came out after the break in determined fashion and tore into what seemed to be a now-complacent side, with many players taking the easy option by thinking their work was done, with tackles missed and ball turned over.

The only players who could be happy with their second-half displays were Jack Murphy, Tom Ryan, Jamie Barron and the impressive Conor McDonald, in only his first match back after surgery, until naturally tiring in last quarter.

Enniscorthy introduced Dean Kenny, Michael Fanning and Cathal Mernagh to shore up their defence which proved up to the task in the end to hold out for a hardfought victory.

The mentors were pleased with their first-half performance but, as John McCrea commented afterwards, the second-half would not be near good enough to win a quarter-final, so much work needs to be done by coaches Dick Harpur, Alan Smith and kicking coach Tommy James this week.

Enniscorthy were constrained in their selection and use of substitutes as the following are involved in the great run in the Under-16 Leinster Schools Cup of Enniscorthy C.B.S.: Brian Bolger, Joseph Roche, James Cooper, Murt Kehoe, Jack Flood, Liam Balfe, Ted Dempsey, Neil McCrea, James Gahan, Rob Frayne, together with club Under-15 players Leon Power, Ed Doyle, Conor Ryan, Liam Ryan, Fionn Carty, Martin Breen and Gerry O'Connor, augmented by non-club players Shane Doyle, Kevin Ryan and Brian Windsor.

They have already qualified for the final of the Development Cup and by virtue of this gained a place in the Duff Cup, for established rugby-playing schools, in which they are after progressing to the quarter-finals, after their historic win over St. Conleth's (Ballsbridge) on Friday last.

They play Skerries in the quarter-final today (Wednesday), and when their run in the Duff Cup finishes, they go back to play the development final; perhaps they can be in two cup finals.

Great credit is due to their mentors, teachers Trevor Moulton, Ger Coleman and Brendan O'Sullivan, together with youth development officers, and the club wishes them the best in their quest.

Ross Road is the place to be on Saturday next if one wants to see all that is good in youths rugby, as both Enniscorthy teams take on their old rivals, Dundalk, in Premier Leinster League quarter-finals.

These fixtures have added spice in that both teams are playing the same opposition. And there is previous history in that we defeated Dundalk in the Under-14 Leinster League and Under-16 Leinster Cup two years ago, while they knocked us out at this stage of the league at Under18 level last year.

Despite an I.R.F.U. change of age regulations, many of the same players will oppose each other. Dundalk will bring huge support so we would appeal to all members, supporters, family and friends of players to turn out for both fixtures and become part of the biggest home fixtures for Enniscorthy youth rugby.