St Mary’s knock Ennis out of Transfield Cup

St Mary’s 22 
Ennis  18

Ennis hosted St Mary’s in the Transfield Cup on Sunday and came out the wrong end of a 22-18 scoreline.
The home side started well and took the game to last year’s Division 2 champions. With St Mary’s stuck in their 22, they tried to clear their lines but a wayward kick upfield was gathered by Damien Forde, who carried very well to set up a ruck. A swift passing movement followed and ended with Brandon Grant going over for an unconverted try in the corner.
Ennis continued to dominate proceedings but with a rare foray into the Ennis half, St Mary’s were awarded a penalty, which was converted to make the score 5-3.
Ennis responded and forced a penalty as the visitors struggled to stay onside. David Murphy converted to make it 8-3.
With both teams settling into the match, the intensity increased and with that, there were more errors. When St Mary’s got into the Ennis half again, the home side lost their shape and were caught for numbers out wide and St Mary’s got in for a good try that they also converted to leave the score at 10-8.
Ennis then responded in the best possible manner and after recycling the ball through a number of phases, with both backs and forwards involved, they got over for a try under the posts by back-row player Alan Brandon, who was well supported by Conor Guilfoyle, leaving the score at 15-10.
Ennis maintained their dominance up front but errors were costing them points. They did however force another kickable penalty and David Murphy duly kicked the points to make it 18-10 at half-time.
On the resumption, St Mary’s upped the tempo and started taking the game to Ennis. The home side defended well and turned over possession but in trying to play their way out of their half, conceded a penalty, which the eventual winners duly converted. As time wore on, Ennis were dealt a massive blow when influential number eight Damien Forde picked up a knee injury.
Ten minutes from the end, Ennis again turned over possession and St Mary’s went on the attack and got in for a vital try.
David Murphy put in a commanding display at full-back. Brandon Grant at centre and Cian Nugent on the wing played well, while the front row were in dominant form, with David O’Connor doing very well when introduced. Dara Killeen got through a lot of good work in the second row.
Training continues this week on Wednesday and Fridays at 7pm and all former and new players are welcome.

U-13s win

Ennis 7
Newport 5

Ennis U-13 Conference Side started their league campaign on Sunday against Newport in Newport. It was a very entertaining, open free-flowing match on a fine day, with Ennis eventually winning a tight contest with a score of seven points to five.
Ennis started strongly with forwards Jack O’Reilly and Jack Hanrahan doing well. The ball was being swung wide by scrum-half Zack Whelehan and out-half Joe Connaughton. Both sides were evenly matched but eventually winger Gavin Carr broke through and after running half the length of the pitch, scored under the posts, with the try converted by Joe Connaughton.
Ennis kept up the pressure, with Eoin Martin being held up over the line on the stroke of half-time.
In the second half, Newport fought back and eventually scored in the corner following a speculative kick. Ennis responded with Conall Bolger also being held up over the line.
Those who played well included Jack O’Reilly, Jack Hanrahan, Gavin Carr, Zack Whelehan, Joe Connaughton and Philip Talty.
Training continues on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Fixtures
In the McInerney Cup this Saturday, St Senan’s will travel to play Bruff at 2.30pm. At 3.30pm in Kilrush the West Clare side will entertain Garryowen in the Westcliff Cup.
On Sunday, St Senan’s travel to play Crosshaven in the junior club’s Challenge Cup at 2.30pm.
On Sunday in the U-14 league, Ballina-Killaloe will have Bruff as visitors to Killaloe while Ennis will be in Dooradoyle to play Garryowen. In the U-14 Conference, Kilrush will travel to play Garryowen while St Senan’s will entertain UL Bohs.
In the U-16 league, Scariff is the venue for the meeting of Ballina-Killaloe and Kilrush while St Senan’s will entertain Thomond at Shannon.
In the U-18 league, Ballina-Killaloe will have Bruff as visitors to Scariff while Kilrush will travel to Dooradoyle to play Garryowen.