St Senan’s claim the points against Old Christians

Old Christians 12 St Senan’s 15

ST Senan’s travelled to Cork to face a team that, like themselves, had been victorious in their first game of the season.
The strong crosswind favoured Senan’s in the first half, who started the game with a long kick which the home side fumbled and knocked on. A strong Senan’s scrum resulted in them being awarded a penalty and a kick for touch set up a Senan’s line-out that was too strong for Christians. When the maul got moving, it was Fernando Gallant who broke away to score Senan’s first try. The strong wind pushed Declan Collins’ conversion attempt just wide, leaving Senans 5-0 up after just two minutes.
Senan’s continued to use the wind to their advantage and after some good strong forward play, they were rewarded with a penalty. Declan Collins converted, this time judging the wind perfectly, to open up an 8-0 lead. This was to be the last score of the half as both teams attacked and counter-attacked but neither could create any clear opportunities.
Old Christians’ start to the second half mirrored that of St Senan’s in the first, when a long kick resulted in them gaining possession to set up a try, which reduces Senan’s lead to 5-8.
The next 20 minutes saw both teams struggle to break down defences. On 25 minutes, Senan’s broke the deadlock following a strong scrum and Fergal Lawlor was driven over the line to score. A good kick by Collins added the extra points, giving Senan’s a 15-5 lead.
This lead was reduced five minutes later when Christians used the wind advantage to break away to score their second try. The conversion reduced the deficit to 12-15. This was to be the last score of the game.

St Senan’s: Pa Ryan, Fergal Lawlor, Timmy Larkin, Aaron Skerritt, Aidan O’Callaghan, Dwayne Horkin, Jamie Keogh, Ian Fitzgerald, Darragh McCoy, Noel Hoban, Barry Murphy, Brian Collins, Neil McDonagh, Fernando Gallant, Declan Collins.
Replacements: Dylan Sonneman, Gerard McNamara, David Webb, Tony O’Brien, Paul O’Halloran.

IN Division 2, there was no joy for Clare sides Ennis and Scariff. Mallow were 13-6 winners over Ennis, while Scariff, winners of Division 3 last year, went down 31-5 to Youghal. Killorglin had an easy 52-3 win over Kilrush in Division 3.

Fixtures
THIS Sunday, St Senan’s will be away to Waterpark in Division 1, Ennis will be away to Bandon in Division 2, while Scariff will have their first home game in when they entertain Killarney. In Division 3, Kilrush will be away to Bantry Bay and all games kick off at 2.30pm.

U-11
ENNIS U-11s travelled to their first Blitz of the 2011/2012 season in UL-Bohs last Sunday. Thirty eight Ennis players travelled to play Old Crescent and the home side. Just as things were kicking off, the day took a turn for the worst but the players give it their all. Because of the very bad weather, the blitz was cut short with each team getting to play two games.
U-11 training continues every Friday night at 6pm and Sunday morning at 11am in Lees Road.

U-13
ENNIS U-13s entertained Galwegians RFC in a friendly fixture at the Showgrounds last Saturday. Both teams had in excess of 30 players so there was an opportunity for all players to interchange and get some 15-a-side match experience.
Ennis started four new players in their first ever game of rugby with another four playing in only their second.
Galwegians had the better of exchanges in the first quarter and ran in three tries. After some changes, Ennis came back in the second quarter with a penalty by David Mescall, along with a brace of converted tries from Luke Carmody.
Ennis maintained the upperhand in the third quarter by scoring two more but it was Galwegians that retained control in the last 10 minutes with two more touchdowns. Credit is due to Munster branch referee Dermot Hallahan, who helped all players understand the laws of the game.
Cormac McGann impressed in only his third game while Ikem Ugwueru and Ciaran Keane, in their very first games, made some great tackles.
Of the more experienced players Eoin O’Ceallaigh and Jack Connolly are showing to be very competent scrum halves with other standout performances on the day from Darragh Ó Sé, Niall O’Brien, Stephen Maher, Aidan McCleland and Tim Hannon. This coming weekend, Ennis will host Thomond in the North Munster U-13 League.