Gorey 30  Portlaoise 10

Portlaoise traveled to Clonlattin on Good Friday last for the first Semi Final of the Seconds Towns Plate Competition knowing that they had a though battle on their hands, because these two side met at the start of the season in the League in Portlaoise and Gorey came away comprehensive winners and when they were to play the return fixture in Gorey, Portlaoise did not field a team. So with that history in mind it was quite easy for Gorey to be complacent about this fixture, but Semi Finals of any competition bring out the the competitive nature in most sides and Portlaoise turned up a much strong and a much more competitive side and were certainly up for this Semi Final.

The game was played under clear sunny skies and such was the brightness of the evening that the flood lights only had to be turned on for the last ten minutes of this game.

The game kicked off with a sizeable crowd in attendance. The opening contest was in the midfield with both sides in contention at the break down and it was not long before Paul Wafer picked off the back of a ruck and with Killian Breen taking up and running a super line the ball was pop to him to crash over for the opening score of the game, and with Clinton Furney converting Gorey were 7pts to the good. The next phase of the game consisted of tough collisions and set pieces in between both teams 22 metre lines. There was some great line breaks from John Fanning, Killian Breen and Jack Cleary but all without reward and it was only when the ball started to fined it's way out to the Gorey back line that the real treat appeared. The next Gorey try came from some such play, when the ball was passed through the hands from one side of the field to the other with a rucked ball in between for Tommy Martin to dive over in the corner to bring the scores to 12 pts to nil.

Right from the restart Portlaoise showed what they were made of and attacked the Gorey try line with there forwards, continuously using there bulky players to pick and go and test Gorey's defence. To there credit Gorey held out for a long period of time only to give way just on the stroke of half time and with the scores at 12pts to 5pts Portlaoise had kepted themselves in the game.

The contest resumed after the break and again it was a forwards battle in the midfield. However at one of these set pieces Robert Harrington was picking off the back of a ruck and was about to release it across the back line but spotted a gap and raced through to touch down right under the posts. Clinton Furney converted once again and Gorey had opened a 19pts to 5pts lead. Portlaoise however never gave up and when a mixed up occurred in Gorey's 22 when breaking out of defence, Portlaoise latched onto a stay ball and went over the white wash to bring the game to within 9pts.

From this point on Gorey took control of the game and seemed to be the fitter side finishing the stronger. Portlaoise were penalized on two occasions and Clinton Furney obliged with two well struck penalties and the last try of the game was as a result of a quick tap penalty and Fregal Bolger went over for a well deserved try, bringing the scores at the final whistle Gorey 30pts Portlaoise 10pts.

This now leaves the J2's in the Towns Plate Final against the winners of Cill Dara and Mullingar and joining their compatriots the J1's who are in the Final against Portarlington in Carlow on Sunday the 27th of April and considering that Gorey Rugby Club has had to change their Annual Dinner Dance from Sat 26th of April to Sat 3rd of May because agreement could not be reached on a alternative date for this fixture brings an extra edge to it and it is one not to be missed. Also not forgetting Gorey's U20's who are in the Semi Final of the Harry Gale Cup against Tullow on Friday evening 25th in Clonlattin. So as you can see there is still an awful lot of silverware to be won and would be lovely in the rugby club along with the Division 2A title to have for the Dinner Dance and to look at on the long winter evenings of next season.

See pictures in J2 PHOTO GALLERY

Team:  Richard Deering, Fergal Bolger, Conor Owley, John Fanning, Colin French, Kenneth Rothwell, Killian Breen, Paul Wafer, Robert Harrington, Adain O'Brien, Tommy Martin, Shane Rafferty, Paul Clince, Clinton Furney, Sean O'Connor, Adain Kelly, Nigel Rothwell, Donnahadh Carroll, Glen Glesson, Jack Cleary.