The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Ennis travelled to Dooradoyle last Sunday to take on Garryowen in the semi-final of the U-17 North Munster Cup. When these teams met in the league earlier in the season, there was very little between them and this week’s contest proved to be equally absorbing.
The home team had the better of the opening exchanges but resolute defence from Ennis and some nervous decisions by the Garryowen backs contrived to keep them from opening their account in the early stages of the game.
Ennis gradually gained a foothold in the game and superb performances in the loose from David Flynn and James Crowley-Hayes helped them to start gaining ground and create a few opportunities within the Garryowen half.
However, on the 10-minute mark, just as Ennis were beginning to create some momentum, the Garryowen number 11 intercepted the ball from a back-line move and was able to race through unopposed to down the ball under the post, leaving his out-half with the easiest of conversions.
Ennis continued to press and were orchestrated well by the half-back pairing of Mikey Clinton and Eimhin Courtney and some superb breaks by James Woods and Cian O’Ceallaigh reflected Ennis’ growing belief that they could seize victory on this occasion.
On the 20-minute mark however, Garryowen moved the ball out quickly from a ruck on the Ennis 22, setting up an overlap for their winger to go over in the corner. The resulting conversion was missed. Ennis restarted with renewed vigour and concentrated their efforts down the centre with a series of pick-and-go moves from Ciarán O’Connor and prop Elle Mundu, eventually helping to propel Mundu over the line with three minutes remaining in the half. Eimhin Courtney was very unlucky with the conversion that came back off the post.
As the second half started, Ennis began to dominate at the breakdown and Seamus Quigley, Liam Halpin and Ronan McLernon all put in notable performances to carry the fight to the opposition. Five minutes from the restart, Ennis were camped on the Garryowen line for six successive phases but could not breach the home defence. Garryowen weathered the storm and eventually managed to clear their lines.
Twelve minutes into the half, Ennis broke swiftly from the back of a ruck in the Garryowen 22 and a swift passing movement along the back line saw an audacious chip from full-back Michael Lyons bounce up perfectly for Ellie Mundu to go over for his second try of the game. The resulting conversion went agonisingly wide of the posts. Despite great efforts from Hugh Butler, Lorcan Casey and David Reynolds Ennis could not create that last all-important scoring opportunity that would have seen them pip the home team. Ennis players can once again be very proud of their performance and will now prepare for the play-off stages of the U-17 league.
Ennis: Elle Mundu, Ciarán O’Connor, James Crowley-Hayes, Hugh Butler, Liam Halpin, Seamus Quigley, Ronan McLernon, David Flynn, Mikey Clinton, Eimhin Courtney, Cian O’Ceallaigh, James Woods, David Reynolds, Lorcan Casey, Michael Lyons, Jason Smith, Alan Birtchfield, Cathal Kelly, Paudie Carmody, Conor Somers, Jordan Ryan, Conall Curtin, David Carmody, Caolain Meaney.
