The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Waterpark 25
St Senan’s 17
The Shannon side got off to an ideal start when Dylan Sonneman intercepted a pass to run in under the posts for an easy try after five minutes, which Declan Collins had no trouble in converting.
Waterpark responded with a try before Declan Collins added a penalty for the Shannon side. The visitors went further ahead when Fernando Gallant intercepted a Waterpark pass and got in for a try under the posts and, again, Collins converted.
The Clare side led by six points at the break and had it all to do facing into a strong wind in the second half. Their cause wasn’t helped when second row, Aidan O’Callaghan, was yellow-carded and, from the resultant penalty, the home side took the lead.
The introduction of Tony O’Brien to the St Senan’s scrum saw an improvement in the Shannon side’s play and they attacked the Waterpark line in the closing stages but failed to get through.
Waterpark scored a breakaway try shortly before the final whistle to give a somewhat flattering look to the scoreboard.
St Senan’s next game will be against the current leaders Skibbereen in two weeks.
St Senan’s: D Collins, F Gallant, N McDonagh, D Sonneman, B Murphy; N Hoban, D McCoy; T Larkin, F Lawlor, P Ryan, A O’Callaghan, A Skerritt, D Horkan, J Keogh, J Fitzgerald.
Subs: J McNamara for McCoy; T O’Brien for T Larkin; B Collins for D Collin s; P O’Halloran and D Horkan.
Meanwhile, in Division 2, Scariff travel to play Ballincollig this Sunday while Ennis will have home advantage against Presentation with both games at 2.30pm. In Division 3, Kilrush will have Dungarvan as visitors at 2.30pm.
Ennis U-19s win
St Senan’s 10
Ennis 18
ENNIS U-19s recorded their first win of the season when they overcame a strong St Senan’s side in this tie. St Senan’s were first to score as their number 8 caught the Ennis back row napping, when he broke from the back of a scrum and scored under the post, which was converted by Jamie McNamara. Ennis were slow getting into the game and it took a break by full-back, Keelan O Flaherty to fire up the Ennis pack.
From a ruck on the right Ennis number 8, Cian Nugent scored in the corner. O’Flaherty was wide with the conversion. McNamara converted a penalty after Ennis were penalised for offside. St Senan’s led 10-5 at half-time. Ennis made some changes at half-time and started the second half at speed and were unlucky not to score when Stephen Horgan was grounded in the 22. St Senan’s turned the ball over and launched a counter-attack, which would have resulted in a certain score only for a brilliant cover tackle by O’Flaherty. Senan’s were penalised for holding on when Ennis centre, Mark Taylor was first to the break down and challenged for the ball. At this point, Ennis started to put some phases together and put pressure on the Senan’s defence and it wasn’t long before O’Flaherty scored but was off target again with the conversion. Ennis had got on top in the pack with great work from prop, Philip Molloy who broke the gain line time after time. The Ennis pack set up ruck after ruck and when Ultan Shields released the ball, Manus Malone scored in the corner after the ball was moved across the back line at speed. St Senan’s came back into the game and came close to scoring again when Ruan Rooker was tackled into touch by Conor Dolan, who converted an Ennis penalty shortly afterwards and he was unlucky to see another penalty effort hit the post.
Ennis 42
Thomond 17
ENNIS U-13s had a hard-fought league victory against a very determined Thomond team on Sunday last in front of a very vocal home crowd. Ennis opened their account after seven minutes through a Niall O’Brien try and David Mescall converted for maximum points. Thomond replied almost immediately but were unable to convert ,leaving Ennis two ahead. Within five minutes, they doubled their score after some poor defending by the Ennis forwards. The home team finally got a foothold and retained some good possession midway through the first half and it resulted in Luke Carmody making a great run around the Thomond back line to run in under the posts, making an easy conversion for Mescall. This left the score at 14-10 at half-time.
Possession was even throughout the second half but it was Ennis who defended the better and more importantly, they took their chances with two more converted tries coming from O’Brien and Carmody. Thomond had a small glimmer of hope with 12 minutes to go when their number 8 made a good catch at the front of the lineout and crashed over in the corner. The resulting conversion made a score of 26-17, putting them right back into contention. However, following some wayward kicking, Ennis put the game out of reach when Ikem Ugwueru gathered the ball to speed past a regrouping defence. Just before the final whistle, scrum-half, Darragh Ó Sé put himself into a great position to score the final try.
Although the score line reflected a comprehensive win for Ennis, it was not the case in the overall run of play. The Ennis backs showed that when they passed out wide, it troubled a less experienced defensive line.
Ennis Super Mini Blitz
ENNIS RFC hosted its largest ever single rugby mini event with nearly 350 children participating. The club hosted teams from UL Bohs, Kilrush. Ballinasloe and Old Crescent in age groups from U-9 to U-12.
Split between the Ennis Rugby Club grounds in the Showgrounds and Lees Road, 25 teams participated. A total of 170 Ennis members represented the home club which represents a major endeavour by all the coaches.
U-12
ENNIS fielded four teams playing a total of 15 games in Lees Road. Kilrush and Old Crescent provided stiff competition throughout the morning. The four sides remained unbeaten against the guests.
Ennis Team 1: Darragh Slattery, Stephen Dolan, Barry Neylon, Ross O’Flaherty, James Baker, Michael Reid, David McNamara, Luke Moriarty, Sean Dolan, Stephen Talty, Joe Spellessy, David Kelly.
Ennis Team 2: James Nugent, Martin McCormack, Eoin Clancy, Aidan Jordan, Conall Bolger, Eoin Martin, Conall Kellgher, Tom O Brien, Morgan Garry, Ben Ryan, Philip Talty, Sean Andreassen, Zak McDonagh, Luke Griffey.
Ennis Team 3: Eldon Nolan, Aaron Hennessy, Elias Kunz, Edward Purcell, Oisín Mangan, Joseph Connaughton, Frank Roache, Gerard Kavanagh, Conor Grogan, Evan Twoomey, Turlough Barrett, Gavin Cosgrove, Gavin Carr.
Ennis Team 4: Liam Wall, Paul Tuohy, Harry Talty, Eoin Wallace, Lorchan Clancy, Ian Malone, JP Neville, Ronan Lannigan, Shane Brennan, Caiman Whelan, Mark Barry, Gavin Flynn, Sam Hynes, Ben Leyden.
U-11
THE Ennis RFC U-11s had a great turn out with 42 players in attendance. This allowed the coaches to field three evenly balanced teams against two UL Bohs teams and a strong team from Ballinasloe. Each team played three matches where they earned some hard-fought victories. The next outing is on Saturday in Buccaneers of Athlone.
U-10
ENNIS fielded two teams on Sunday, playing six games in total. They came up against strong opposition from visiting clubs Ballinasloe, UL Bohemians and Kilrush. With weather conditions almost perfect, some exciting games took place.
U-9
ENNIS U-9s had a great turnout for the first home blitz of the season, 28 players in total reported for the games against Kilrush and Ballinasloe.
The opening games were both played against Kilrush who fielded two teams. The standard of rugby in all of the games was excellent.
After the two Ennis teams had played, the home side took on Ballinasloe and this turned out to be a great game where players were using the lineouts and scrums for the first time.
Ennis U-9s: Calum Barrett, Colin Rynne, Conor Boyle, Colm Hynes, Ronan Crosse, Keith Barry, Fionn Kelleher, Eoin Guilfoyle, Peadar McNeils, Cillian Brennan, Rory O’Connell, Oisín Power, Stephen McSherry, Roan O’Flaherty, Jason Considine, Jarleth Collins, Oliver Cassidy, Joseph Rafferty, Dara Nagle, Ronan Mescall, Adrian Baker, Saul Young, Cathal Dwyer, Matthew McNamara, Liam Keating, Darragh Keogh, Cian Maloney, Charlie McGuinness.
U-8 blitz in Limerick
ENNIS were well represented in Annacotty Limerick on Sunday morning last when the U-8s competed in a blitz at UL Bohs. In what was the first blitz of the season and in ideal weather conditions, Ennis played five games against stiff opposition namely Shannon, UL Bohs and Garryowen. Ennis played superbly, winning four games and drawing one against Shannon. Ennis players involved were:
Daire Corey, Conor Cleland, Jack McNamara, Dylan Casey, Conan Brodie, James Doherty, Oscar O’Gorman, Justin McGrath, Oisín McMahon and Matthew McGrath.
