Ennis maintain winning form

Ennis 17   Waterford City 3

ENNIS RFC carried their recent good league form into Sunday’s first-round Junior Cup tie when they proved too strong for Waterford City at the Showgrounds.

Ennis dominated throughout the first half and deservingly lead 7-0 at the break with Enda Galvin finishing off a great all-round team try converted by Conor Dolan.
In the second half, Ennis worked hard in the sticky conditions to defend their line. Waterford got on the scoresheet with a penalty mid way through the half to leave the score 7-3 to Ennis.
From that point on, Ennis stepped up a gear and they were awarded a penalty in the Waterford 22. Ennis elected to go for the post and David Murphy converted to leave the score 10-3.
The Clare side maintained good territory in the Waterford half for the remainder of the match and when scrum half Cian Guilfoyle made a break from the base of a ruck had one man to beat but, correctly, offloaded to the supporting player Bryan Dolan, who went over for the try. The try was converted by David Murphy to leave the final score 17-3 to the Ennis lads.
Ennis’ next game is in the league where they travel to Mallow this Sunday. Ennis are currently in fifth position with Mallow in second spot. A win for Ennis this week will move them further up the table and put them strongly into contention for promotion.

Ennis: Philip Molloy, David O’Connor, Liam Ryan; John Queally, John McInerney; Paddy Harding, Jason Considine, Keelan Flynn; Cian Guilfoyle, David Murphy; Frank Coffey, Niall Nevin, Sean O‘Flanagan, Cian Nugent; Conor Dolan.
Subs: Joe Moloney, Enda Galvin, Stephen Dunne, Brian Dolan, Dylan Tynan O’Mahoney.

 

Skibbereen 10   St Senan’s 17

ST Senan’s Shannon made the long trip to Skibbereen and got 2013 of to a perfect start when they defeated the third-placed team in the league.
They got of to a great start when straight from the kick-off, they got a scrum in the opposition 22 and the ball was moved wide and full-back Davy Dunne joined the line and fed Jake Egan to send him over for the opening score.
Skibberenen fought back with a try and a conversion themselves but early in the second half, Aaron Skerrit fought his way over for a second try. The match was tied 10 all after a Skibbereen penalty with 12 minutes to play.
The decisive score came when Stephen Ryan fed Diarmuid McMahon off the back of a scrum on the Skibbereen 22 for the centre to scuttle over for a great try, which out-half Phillip Noone converted to seal the victory.
This win still leaves Senan’s with a mountain to climb to avoid relegation and they have two vital league matches coming up against Galbally at home this Sunday and away to Clanwilliam the following Sunday.
They also have a huge task in the Junior Cup when they welcome reigning champions Cork Con to Jimmy Slattery Park for the first time ever and this should focus the minds for the month of January.

St Senan’s: Davy Dunne; Barry Murphy, Jake Egan, Neil McDonagh, Diarmuid McMahon; Philip Noone, Daragh McCoy; Tony O’Brien, Pa Ryan (captain), Fergal Lawlor; M J McDonagh, Aaron Skerritt; Eamonn O’Donoghue, Robbie Phelan, Jamie Keogh. 
Subs: Stephen Ryan, David Webb, Brian Collins, Declan Collins and Mick Lynch. 

Thomond 23   Ennis 20

ENNIS U-16s travelled to Thomond last Sunday to complete their final game in the group stages of the league. There has been very little between these two teams over the last few seasons and this game once again reflected the close rivalry between the two.
Ennis had the better start when after only two minutes of play, they won a line-out on the Thomond 10m line. Hooker Oisín Kelly picked up a loose ball from the tap down and forced his way over the line to give Ennis their first try of the game. The conversion was just short of the posts. Thomond continued to pose a threat but with minutes of play gone, Ennis secured a penalty in the Thomond half and opted to kick for the corner. Once again, Oisín Kelly popped up to carry the ball towards the line and his lay-off was picked up by Sam Skerritt who pushed over close to the posts for Ennis’ second try. This was converted by Michael Lyons.
Thomond restarted with renewed conviction and five minutes later, they were rewarded with a try. Three minutes later, they crossed the whitewash again but failed to convert either try. In the last minute of the half, Ennis secured a penalty straight in front of the posts and this was converted by Lyons leaving the half-time score at 15-10 in favour of the visitors.
Thomond posed the greater threat in the second half and poor Ennis tackling and rucking conceded territory for most of the half. Two infringements at the breakdown gave the home team two kickable penalties, which were easily converted leaving the score 16-15 in their favour with thirteen minutes remaining.
The Ennis pack started to reassert pressure and forced a lineout on the Thomond 22. Although Thomond won the set piece, their full-back chose to try and kick the ball clear from within their in-goal area but this was blocked by Alan Britchfield who then grounded the loose ball. The conversion was missed and Ennis held on to their tight lead going into the last few minutes of the game.
With barely one minute left on the clock, Thomond mounted one final attack and following a load of missed Ennis tackles, their out-half found space to go over in the corner and break Ennis hearts. This try was converted and Thomond ran out winners by three points. Ennis will still qualify for the play-offs with opposition to be determined at a later date.

Ennis: Demyd Yatsenko, Oisín Kelly, Jason Smith, Liam Halpin, Sam Skerrit, Stephen Burke, David Flynn, Alan Britchfield, Mikey Clinton, Michael Lyons, Lorcan Casey, Darragh Ryan, David Reynolds, Brian Malone, Cillian O’Gorman, Jordan Ryan, Caolain Meaney and Conall Curtin.

UL Bohs 0   Ennis 41

THIS final U-13 League game transpired to be a very one-sided affair with the visiting team running in a total of seven unanswered tries in a dominant display. From the outset, Ennis carried the ball well and ensured their opponents got no time on the ball.
Morgan Garry showed real sharpness in scoring the first three tries within the opening 15 minutes. Full-back Sean Dolan followed up with a brace before half-time with Tom O’Brien converting two of these. Ennis led 29 – 0 at the break and made seven changes for the second half. Tries were from Oisín Mangan and Jack Hanrahan with Morgan converting the latter.
Ennis are now qualified in second position for a home semi-final and their likely opponents are Newcastle West.

Ennis: Aaron Hennessey; Martin McCormack, Eldon Nolan, Eoin Clancy, Liam Wall; David McNamara, James Nugent, Stephen Dolan, Tom O’Brien, Oisín Mangan, Elias Kunz, Shane Brennan, Morgan Garry, Sean Dolan and Frank Roche.
Subs: Barry Neylon, Paul Tuohy, Jack Hanrahan, Eoin Wallace, Shane Brennan, Joseph Connaughton, Zack Whelehan and Shane Vaughan.