Double joy for Juniors
- Nov 07,2018
A good weekend for the Junior teams as both record league victories
MJL Division 3
Ennis 45 8 Douglas
Ennis got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 45-8 win over Douglas. The home team ran in 7 tries with the game being decided in the opening half.
The home team got off to a great start with a try inside 2 minutes. Having blocked down a clearing kick, Ennis worked through the phases and Cian Guilfoyle sniped from a ruck to dot down.
The home team then made a hames of the restart and a concerted period of pressure yielded a try for Douglas to level the game. Ennis reacted well and Guilfoyle went over for his second try after spotting a gap in the back field and kicking through. Ronan O'Halloran converted to leave Ennis up by seven points after ten minutes, 12-5.
Indiscipline from Ennis after another botched restart presented a kickable penalty to Douglas to reduce the gap by 3.
Ennis regained momentum and a lovely move from the scrum sent Eoin O'Ceallaigh through a gap and Stephen Dolan was on hand to maintain continuity and score his first of the day under the posts leaving the score 19-8 after 20 minutes.
Trouble at the restart again led to a sustained period of pressure from the visitors. The home team defended manfully and the siege was eventually lifted when Cian Guilfoyle intercepted to run the length of the field for his hat trick and break the resistance of the visitors. It pushed Ennis out to a 26-8 lead and effectively ended the game as a contest. Ennis pushed home their advantage just before half time when mauling Stephen Dolan over the line for his second try. 31-8 at the half.
The second half was a lacklustre affair notable only for Stephen Dolan receiving a yellow card and his third try of the game. His brother Conor played about 400 games for us and didn't score that many so we're delighted to have finally found the best strike runner in that family. Conor Collins also powered over after good play from the backs sent him galloping free down the wing. It should also be noted that The Bull came out of retirement for the 5th time to put manners on an increasingly messy scrum. 45-8 was the final score.
15 Cian Guilfoyle 14 Eoin O'Ceallaigh 13 Mark Taylor 12 Frank Coffey 11 Niall O'Loughlin 10 Ronan O'Halloran 9 Sean Hayes 8 Keelan Butler 7 Stephen Dolan 6 Werner Hefer 5 John Queally 4 Enda Galvin 3 Adam Ryan 2 Alan O'Shea 1 Brian Farrell
Subs; Tony White for Farrell, Bryan Murphy for Coffey, Conor Collins for O'Ceallaigh, The Bull for White
Gleeson League
Ennis 12 11 Presentation
Ennis edged a tight encounter in Lees Road on Saturday afternoon. Pres took an early 5-0 lead but the home team responded well and equalised with a John O'Neill try. The half time score was 5 apiece.
Ennis upped the tempo after half time and spent extended periods of time in the Pres 22 without scoring. The visitors were more clinical, converting 2 penalty chances to take an 11-5 lead midway through the half.
Ennis came again and after strong carrying by the forwards, Niall O'Brien was released by his inside backs to score in the corner. Late season transfer from Doora Barefield, Jack Hannan, stood over the difficult conversion. As it sailed through the posts many on the sideline were left to wonder how the same man couldn't manage to kick the round ball out of his way all summer. Ennis duly defended their one point lead with grit and determination for the final ten minutes.
15 Mike McCarthy 14 Mike Clinton 13 David Reynolds 12 Tom Lernihan 11 Ronan Corey 10 Joe Connaughton 9 Michael Lyons 8 Ruairi Quinlan 7 Brian Lennon 6 Alan Rynne 5 Simon Crawford 4 Colin Fitzgerald 3 John O'Neill 2 Mark Slattery 1 Sean Conry
Subs; Hugh Butler for Rynne, Noel Kelly for Lennon, Niall O'Brien for Connaughton, Jack Hannan for Lernihan
