GOREY U14S WIN SOUTH EAST PLATE FINAL

Gorey & New Ross have played multiple times in the past season with every game being very tight with no more than a score in it. This was no exception. Gorey pressed early through their forwards, ably lead by their powerful front row of Kyle McLoughlin, JJ O’Neil and Gavin Murray, however, the first score went to New Ross, which was a break away try scored by their captain, Sean Kinsella. But Gorey’s heads never went down and with great passing from the backs got the ball out to their full back, Kevin Budeanu, to score in the corner. As play went on, New Ross got a scrum in the middle of the park. Gorey hadn’t learnt their lesson and like before, Sean Kinsella broke again running half the length of the pitch scoring under the posts, with Daniel Behan converting. Again Gorey came back strong and with some good work from their forwards after several phases of play, Kyle McLoughlin managed to go over the line for Gorey’s second try of the match. Coming close to half time Gorey attacked again through excellent forward play. When the ball came back to their scrumhalf, George Slattery saw a gap and went for it. With some excellent side steps and a dummy pass, he was clean through and went in for Gorey’s third try of the match. A good conversion from Seainí Quirke left Gorey 17-12 up at half time.

Gorey made some changes at the break, with Paddy Darcy, Cian Molloy and Chris Montague joining the back line and Oisín O’Hagan and Donnacha Cooke joining the pack.  The second-half was a very tight affair with pressure being applied by both teams. With Hugh O’Brien’s excellent distribution and Gorey’s outside centre, Jack Colclough, carrying strongly with ball in hand, the New Ross  defense held firm. With New Ross pressing in the Gorey 22, the New Ross full back, Kevin Wall, fielded a relieving kick by Gorey. He ran an excellent line and offloaded well to his winger, Jamie Power, who ran in a try under the posts, with Daniel Behan again converting, making the score 19-17 to New Ross.

Nearing the end of the match with tensions rising, Gorey had to score. They kept it tight making meter by meter until they were within striking distance of the New Ross try-line. With time running out, Gorey’s captain, Alex Simpson, went low and got over the line in the corner to put Gorey three points ahead. From the kick off, Gorey held onto the ball and went through phase after phase until the referee finally blew the whistle to end a very pulsating game. Two very good teams had given both sets of coaches and parents not just an entertaining game but one where the lead had changes on several occasions and ended with an extremely nervous finish.

Gorey’s squad: Kyle McLoughlin, JJ O’Neil,  Gavin Murray, Owen Austin, Liam Bates, Pat Doyle, Joe Tallon, Alex Simpson, George Slattery, Seainí Quirke, Eoin Coleman, Hugh O’Brien, Jack Colclough, Beau Willis, Kevin Budeanu, Donnacha Cooke, Oisin O’Hagan, Sean Timmons, Michael O’Connor, Paddy Darcy, Chris Montague, Jake Kinsella, Cian Molloy, Callum Popplewell