Enniscorthy 25 Galwegians 20

A hard-fought 25-20 home win against second-placed Galwegians saw Enniscorthy solidify their position in the top four ahead of next week’s game against fifth-placed Tullamore.

A game dominated by the elements yielded a seventh straight home win for Enniscorthy in Alcast Park on Saturday.

A slow start to the match from the home side did little to brighten the mood of their supporters. A series of penalties and errors led to the opening try for Galwegians.

Centre Cian Brady was allowed cut through the defence and run over off a first phase move. Wexford man Tiarnan Neville, playing out-half for Galwegians, added the extras.

An excellent defensive set helped Enniscorthy grow into the game, and a scrambled clearing kick allowed them to march up the field.

A line-out maul was held up and from the resultant drop-out Enniscorthy looked to be through again but were thwarted. A contest befitting the table standings had emerged.

Enniscorthy would soon have their try. An excellent line-out move in the elements saw Timmy Morrissey charge through the Galwegians defence, and Tomás Stamp was on hand to pick from the resultant ruck and crash over the line. Ben Kidd nudged over the conversion, leaving the game at 7-7.

From the kick-off, Enniscorthy conceded a penalty. Neville added a long-range kick to leave the men from the west 10-7 ahead.

The away side dominated the remaining minutes and, but for some handling errors, may have extended their half-time advantage beyond three points.

Enniscorthy showed great maturity in their second-half play and used the elements to keep Galwegians pinned in their own half for the majority of the second period.

Kidd was instrumental in this and soon had the teams level from a close-range penalty. Kidd was again on target a few minutes later, after an offside infringement, to put Enniscorthy ahead for the first time (13-10).

An excellent 50-22 from Kidd gave the forwards a great platform to flex their muscle. A well-oiled line-out drive saw them just short.

They bashed away until Lee Treacy eventually crashed over. Kidd added the extras to leave the scores at 20-10.

Enniscorthy kept the pressure on and another raking kick from Kidd provided the catalyst for the third try. A great line chase from said kick had Galwegians under intense pressure in their own ‘22.

Kidd was then able to follow up his own kick and get in a passing channel to intercept. A quick off-load allowed Fiachra Hourihane to streak in to the corner.

Kidd was narrowly wide with the conversion, leaving the game at 25-10 and seemingly beyond Galwegians.

A flash point on 70 minutes left both teams down to 14 and Galwegians with a penalty on the Enniscorthy five-metre line.

The home side were soon down to 13 for killing the ball and the margin was back to ten when Galwegians rumbled over from a line-out maul.

The visitors were back over the whitewash minutes later, after an error from the restart had given them a midfield scrum and then a penalty.

They worked the ball down the line and again were able to roll another maul over. The score now sat at 25-20 with five minutes to go and Enniscorthy were at a numerical disadvantage. Thankfully the restart was sent long this time and the hosts held out for a crucial victory.

On a dreary day in Alcast Park, Enniscorthy’s pack stood tall and were helped around the pitch by their half-back pairing of Kidd and Hourihane.

The returning Morrissey bolstered the back row alongside Nick Doyle, who was deployed at the base of the scrum. Scott O’Connor backed up the previous week’s sterling debut with a man of the match performance.

Next up will be an away trip to Tullamore on Saturday, February 17.

Enniscorthy: Scott O’Connor, Davy Murphy (Ryan Cahill, 70), M.J. Doyle (Andy Redmond, 60), Tom Ryan, Tomás Stamp, Timmy Morrissey, Lee Treacy, Nick Doyle, Fiachra Hourihane, Ben Kidd, Killian Creed, Daniel Pim (Mikey McVeigh, 65), Dave O’Dwyer, Mel Doyle (Miguel Byrne, 55), Jack Kelly, Aaron Doyle.

The full article is available to read in this week's Enniscorthy Guardian. Photo credit - Enniscorthy Guardian