Enniscorthy reach round three
ENNISCORTHY UNDER-17 team proceeded to the third round of the Leinster Cup and a home meeting with Portlaoise on Saturday next at Ross Road with an 11.30 a.m. kick-off.
The home side, in a mediocre performance, managed to squeeze into next round with tries from man of the match David Dunne, lock Cathal Mernagh and captain Naoise Dunbar, with a penalty added by Brendan Kearney.
It took them quite a while to settle and, while the front row of Conor McDonald, Jack and Davy Murphy were solid in the tight, it took the new locks, Mernagh and Michael Fanning, a while to adjust to scrum requirements to complement a good line-out.
With their set-pieces going well, they had quite an amount of primary possession, although some of it was of poor quality which necessitated a varied and shrewd game from Dunne to unlock a tight defence.
On limited go forward ball, full-back Wally Furlong, winger Dermot Breen and centre Martin Steemers made some good forays into the Naas half which eventually led to Dunne's touchdown.
In the second-half the home pack started exerting more power and drive in rucks, with some good attacking moves putting the Ross Roaders on the front foot for long periods. However, Naas never gave up and the defensive qualities of Jonnie Squance, Joey Roche, Brian Bolger and the ever-improving open side, Shane Bolger, were tested to the limits, with the home team hanging on for victory.
Enniscorthy 57, Kilkenny 7: Enniscorthy were always on top in this one-sided Under-19 South East League match, scoring nine tries in total.
The marksmen were Brendan Perkins (two), Daniel Pim, Shane Maguire (two), Brendan Doyle, Tony Ryan, Cathal Spratt and David O'Dwyer who also kicked the rest of the points in a comprehensive win for the Premier Division outfit.
