Saturday 30^th September 2017

GOREY U18.5s KICK OFF THEIR SEASON WITH A CONVINCING WIN

Saturday morning say beautiful conditions welcome Gorey’s U18.5s and their visitors Carlow to Clonattin for their opening game in the South East League.

Gorey came out of the blocks at speed and started the game very strongly against a physically big Carlow squad. But it didn’t take long for this talented Carlow side to find their stride and they soon had Gorey defending in their own half for most of the quarter of the game.

Carlow hard work was eventually paid off with a penalty within kicking distance of the Gorey posts, but the weather conditions had deteriorated with a steady spray of rain and a little wind that had kicked up. The kick fell just short of its target.

Gorey’s Prop, Jack Ryan made some good line breaks, but Carlow’s defence held out.

Gorey’s kick for touch were proving difficult to make, but when they did their Second Row Tadhg O’Neill stole ball every time and gave Gorey a good platform to build on.

Both sides tackled ferociously, with Gorey’s Frank Kavanagh in particular making some big hits to stop attack after attack from the big Carlow pack. And scrum-half Cillian Tomkins taking down opponents twice his size.

However, it was Carlow who were first to break the deadlock after 28 minutes when they kicked though a clever grubber that bobbled over the Gorey tryline pursued frantically by Carlow’s Centre and Gorey’s Greg Bolger trying to defend. Although the ball wasn’t clearly grounded, the referee judged that the attacker had been interfered with prior to making contact with the ball and Carlow were deservedly awarded the try. Once again, the wind played havoc with the attempted conversion, which sailed just wide of the posts.

Gorey 0  Carlow 5

A mere five minutes later Gorey found themselves with lineout just outside the Carlow 22 metre line and they gathered well and marched a well-controlled maul all the way over the Carlow tryline for Cormac Walsh to score. A super kick by Mikey Duke to convert gave Gorey the lead on the stroke of half time.

Gorey 7  Carlow 5

It was Gorey once again who started the second half the strongest. And with just three minutes gone Gorey founds themselves camped on the Carlow tryline. Carlow repelled attack after attack as Gorey spread the ball from side to side, but quick thinking by Gorey’s Ryan Gibney saw him pop over the top of a ruck for a well-earned try.

Gorey 12  Carlow 5

A few moves by coaches Tommy Martin and Ben Mason saw Gorey’s front row strengthened, with Dylan Sawyer playing out of his skin both in the set-piece and in the loose. It was from one of these early scrums, just ten minutes into the second half that saw the ball kicked long into the Carlow half, but as their full-back tried to gather the ball he knocked it one for yet another scrum. Once again, Gorey dominated the scrum and the ball was fed out to Centre Mark Kehoe who ran a great line before releasing oncoming Flynn Donnelly, whose lightning speed not only carried him over the line by right under the posts to ensure the conversion.

Gorey 19  Carlow 5

To their credit Carlow never gave up and they fought hard to try to get back into the game, but Gorey’s defence was resolute and every last man tackled like their lives depended on it.

The game finished Gorey 19 Carlow 5.

Gorey welcome old rivals Wicklow to Clonattin next Sunday, which promises to be a great game.