Senan’s keep Division 1 hopes alive

St Senan’s   16
Tralee             5
St Senan’s went into this league match needing a win to take them a step closer to maintaining Division 1 status next season.

The pressure associated with this need to win was evident as Senan’s made a number of unforced errors in the early stages of the first half, one of these resulting in a third-minute penalty for the visitors, which, fortunately for the Shannon side, wasn’t converted.
Senan’s had an opportunity to take the lead themselves after 13 minutes when Tralee conceded a penalty for an infringement in the ruck but the kick drifted just right of the target.
The first half continued with both sides making territorial gains only to hand possession back to the other side, with dubious infringements being punished by a fastidious referee.
Senan’s best scoring opportunity of the half came following some good play with the ball moving across field and finding Fernando Gallant, who with space on the wing was bearing down on Tralee’s try line, only to be halted by the referee’s whistle.
The official had spotted an infringement by one of the Tralee players and deemed it was of a serious enough nature to halt play. He red-carded the player but had denied Senan’s an opportunity of an opening try and a first-half lead.
Senan’s started the second half in a more composed manner and in the seventh minute put their first points on the board with a converted penalty by Declan Collins.
The lead however, was shortlived as Tralee counter-attacked immediately from the restart and drove their maul over for a try. The conversion kick missed the target but the visitors were 5-3 in front.
Senan’s pushed hard at Tralee, winning and converting a second penalty to regain the lead in the 13th minute of the half. A third penalty on 23 minutes saw Senan’s consolidate their lead and give them confidence to be more aggressive in attack.
They came close to adding a try on 30 minutes but were adjudged to have knocked on in the process, returning possession to the visitors. However, Tralee could not clear their lines fully and Senan’s continued to pressurise their try line.
The game-winning score came for Senan’s on 35 minutes when another strong scrum saw the ball come back on Senan’s side, allowing them to move it across the line. The final pass found Hugh Murphy with enough space to run in a try. Declan Collins was on target with the conversion kick to add the extra points, allowing Senan’s to run out 16-5 winners.
Senan’s now have a three-week wait until the final match of the league season but in the meantime they will be in Junior Challenge Cup action against Richmond on Sunday with a 2.30pm kick-off in Jimmy Slattery Park.
St Senan’s: Pa Ryan, Fergal Lawlor, Tony O’Brien, Aaron Skerritt, Eamonn O’Donoghue, Ian Fitzgerald, Duane Horkin, Mike O’Connell, Darragh McCoy, Noel Hoban, Fernando Gallant, Neil McDonagh, Dylan Sonneman, Barry Murphy, Declan Collins.
Replacements: Michael Cusack, David Webb, Gary Crowe, Hugh Murphy, Brian Collins, Eoin McNeil.

Ennis v Scariff… again
Ennis and Scariff clash for the second time in a few weeks at Ennis this Sunday when a place in round three of the junior cup will be the prize on offer to the winners.
In the league meeting of the sides a few weeks back, the greater experience of Ennis proved decisive and they will carry the favourite’s tag into Sunday’s game.
Neither side had a competitive outing at the weekend.

Ennis U-15s in command
Scariff         0
Ennis         46
Ennis U-15s resumed their winning ways when they played Scariff in Killaloe last Sunday. The Ennis pack dominated from the start and after winning two successive scrums and the subsequent rucks, they created an overlap that allowed winger David Reynolds go over for the first try of the game. Michael Lyons converted.
This early score settled the visitors and further strong breaks by forwards Darragh Ryan and Jason Smith brought them back into Scariff’s 22 again. Powerful drives by Oisín Kelly and David Flynn led to Flynn going over for the second try. The forwards continued to create the platform that allowed the backs exploit gaps in the Scariff defence and two plays directed by scrum-half Mikey Clinton led to Paudie Carmody getting a further brace of tries before the half-time whistle.
After the turnaround, the tireless Liam Halpin was replaced by Liam McCarthy, who carried on the great work of Halpin. Oisín Kelly continued to pick and probe the home defence and was rewarded for his persistence when he burrowed over for Ennis’ fifth try. A fine break by centre Lorcan Casey saw him being held up just short of the try line but the re-cycled ball found its way out to David Reynolds to score his second and Ennis’ sixth try. Further breaks from Alan Birchfield and Sam Skeritt, helped by David Flynn, saw Flynn rewarded with another try.
The final try in this game was created when Tiernan McDermot and Lee Regan pounced on an error by the defence and created an opportunity for Michael Lyons to cross the line for the last try, which he subsequently converted. All the replacements made valuable contributions when they came on.
Ennis must now wait to see whom they will face in the semi-final play-offs.
Ennis: Darragh Ryan, Cillian O’Gorman, Jason Smith, Liam Halpin, Sam Skerrit, David Flynn, Oisín Kelly, Alan Birchfield, Mikey Clinton, Michael Lyons, Lorcan Casey, Paudie Carmody, Karl Cullinane, David Reynolds, Conall Curtin.
Replacements: Tiernan McDermott, Liam McCarthy, Aidan Raymen, Barry Heagney, David Buggy, Lee Flynn, Rob Austin, Demyd Yatsenko.