Gorey RFC Under 14's beat Kilkenny to win The South East League

Gorey RFC Under 14's welcomed Kilkenny RFC to Clonattin for a much anticipated South East League Final. This was the very last game of the season for this young Gorey squad after a long and tough season stretching back to last August. Having already competed this season in the Leinster League final and The Leinster Cup semi final this young tem had seen a bounce of the ball twice deprive then of silverware. On home ground they were determined to finish the season on a high with the added incentive of having the opportunity to showcase their expansive brand of open attacking rugby in front of a very large appreciative home crowd. As with any Final the pressure was on and Kilkenny arrived determined to spoil the party. Gorey captain Shane Stokes won the toss and opted to receive from the kick off. The Gorey starting 15 looked calm and confident in their game plan from the off with Cameron Reynolds cleanly taking the kick off and carrying aggressively into the heart of the Kilkenny defence. Liam Molloy, Dylan Slator, Lloyd Stephens and P.J. Barnes arrived in support at the breakdown and showed the Kilkenny forwards that they were in for a very tough afternoon. Gorey went through the phases with Charlie McGuckin distributing fast clean ball to his backs as Gorey surged deep into Kilkenny's 22. An infringment by Kilkenny saw Gorey awarded a scrum just inside the 22. Gorey held the push with ease with Lloyd Stephens at 8 carrying strongly from the back to gain 10 metres. From the ruck loose head Tom Cleary punched through the Kilkenny cover offloading superbly to Liam Molloy in close support. Molloy had only one thing on his mind as he ripped through the desperate Kilkenny cover to crash over Gorey's first try of the game 5m left of the posts. Up stepped full back Killian Pierce to sweetly slot the conversion. 7-0 to Gorey with 6 minutes on the clock. This was a very important score as it settled the Gorey nerves. From the restart taken on this occasion by 2nd row P.J. Barnes, Gorey drove through the phases with flanker Eoin Molloy and prop Dylan Slator showing fantastic work rates as they carried phase after phase deep into Kilkenny territory. Such was the intensity of the Gorey play that Kilkenny were pinned in their own half for much of the first period. The Gorey backline defence was textbook with Eoin Buckley at 10, Mikey Duke at centre and Joseph Naughton at 13 allowing the Kilkenny backs no opportunity to develop any threatening attacking options. Each time Kilkenny tried to use their backline to ease the relentless Gorey pressure they were hit so early that they spent more time at the base of defensive rucks than they probably have all season. Out wide Gorey posed a huge threat with wingers Cathal O'Reilly and Conor O'Toole showing blistering pace when the opportunity arose. On 17 minutes Gorey were poised on the Kilkenny 10m line rucking fiercly with Cameron Reynolds blowing out the Kilkenny cover at the breakdown allowing scrum half Charlie McGuckin the time he needed to feed clean ball to his storming backline. Eoin Buckley planted the opposition, attacking the inside shoulder of the Kilkenny 12 before offloading to Mickey Duke who went trough the gap to score a superb backline try. 12-0 Gorey with 17 minutes on the clock.  From the restart Gorey carried and rucked fiercly using their backline to switch the point of attack on numerous occasions as they poured forward. Kilkenny for their part stuck to their job well ensuring that Gorey had to fight for every inch of ground they won. With 20 minutes on the clock Gorey won a scrum on the Kilkenny 22. Strong carrying from Stephens with Shane Stokes and Eoin Molly in support set up a perfect driving maul. P.J. Barnes took it on driving over a superb try to the delight of the home supporters. Killian Pierce who kicked superbly all afternoon added the points 19-0 Gorey. From the restart Killian Pierce gathered and launched a superb kick behind the Kilkenny cover. Gorey won the chase turning over possession through Cathal O'Reilly. Scrum half Charlie McGuckin saw space out wide on the left and released clean ball to his out half Eoin Buckley. Handling of the highest calibre from the Gorey centres released Conor O'Toole inside the Kilkenny 22 crossing in the corner for a textbook backline try. Cathal O'Reilly shaved the upright with his conversion attempt from wide on the touchline to bring an end to the first half Gorey RFC 24 - 0 Kilkenny RFC.
 
Gorey restarted with Killian Pierce hanging up a high floating ball for his forwards to chase.
Kilkenny gathered with their stand out number 7 taking the attack hard into the Gorey cover. Kilkenny had their best 10 minute spell of the match and tested the Gorey forwards with phase after phase of excellent well controlled rucking. Spreading the ball wide to their left Kilkenny made ground to the Gorey 22 for the first time in the game. Excellent back line speed and drift defence dealt with all Kilkenny could muster. Time and again the Gorey backs put Kilkenny in touch conceding very little ground in the process.  Finally the boot of Pierce cleared the Gorey lines finding touch out left on half way. The Gorey lineout dominated as Lloyd Stephens excelled throughout. Training ground lineout moves were
perfectly executed with shortened lines being particularly effective as attacking platforms.
 
Securing the lineout on half way Gorey flashed the ball wide through backline hands changing the attack point superbly and running kilkenny ragged. On 35 minutes Eoin Molloy who was superb throughout set off on a magnificent carry. Gaining 30 metres he stormed through the opposition cover. From the resulting ruck the ball was worked wide to O'Toole on the left wing. A pop pass inside saw Lloyd Stephens gather and cross for a superb try with the handling skills in the build-up being justly rewarded. Gorey were unlucky with their conversion attempt from a very difficult angle. 29-0 Gorey.
 
From the restart Gorey drove forward with the pack rucking as well as they have all season.
The backline stretched the Kilkenny defence switching play at will and probing every weakness that presented itself. Hitting the Kilkenny 10 metre line and looking certain to score Gorey made a rare handling error losing out on this occasion with Kilkenny awarded scrum in front of their posts. Kilkenny secured the scrum and passed back to their out half to relieve the pressure. On this occasion however Eoin Molloy blocked down the kick and Charlie McGuckin gathered to cross for a superb opportunist try. 33-0. The final score of the afternoon came soon after with P.J Barnes crossing to settle proceedings. The last 20 minutes saw a number of changes to the Gorey side although it was hard to see any change in the quality of the Gorey performance. Fionn O'Loughlin , Jack Minogue, Jack O'Mahony and Alan Kelly joined the backline with Sean Dunne and Jack Cullen slotting into the pack.

The strength of the squad and the competition for starting places has posed headaches for the 14's Coaching Team all season. Such is the depth of talent in this young group of players that Kilkenny were stunned by the consistency of play in all replacement positions. Any of these players could easily have started and this alone bodes well for the future of Youth Rugby in Gorey RFC.
 
The rousing applause for both teams at the end of this superb match showed just how much the supporters appreciated the quality of play and the commitment of both teams. Kilkenny will be back with the scoreline on this occasion hardly doing justice to their fantastic contribution over the 50 minutes.
 
A jubilant Gorey Squad celebrated the victory with captain Shane Stokes speech drawing much applause as he raised the silverware. Congratulations to all the lads on a fantastic season and The South East League Championship.
 
Final Score Gorey RFC 38 - 0 Kilkenny RFC

Well done to the entire Gorey squad on a magnificent display, enjoy the summer break lads and we look forward to next season when we will strive to add a Leinster title to our haul of silverware.

Many thanks to Kilkenny RFC, Leinster match officials and to all our supporters on the day.

A special thanks to the Gorey clubhouse team for the refreshments enjoyed by all after the match.

Gorey Squad; Eoin Molloy, Dylan Slator, Liam Molloy, Lloyd Stephens, Cameron Reynolds, Tom Cleary, Carl Clarke, Tom Higgins, Jack Minogue, Shane Stokes, Killian Pierce, Joseph Naughton, Sean Bardon, Andy Kinsella, P.J. Barnes, Fionn O' Loughlin, Michael Duke, Eoin Buckley, Jack Cullen, Sean Dunne, Aaron Donnelly, Charlie McGuckin, Conor O'Toole, Jack O' Mahony, Cathal O'Reilly, Rory Heffernan, Daragh Brooks,
Alan Kelly.