Storm Darragh unleashed its full fury over Alcast Park on Friday night and we were greeted with no power on Saturday morning, however with great work from people within the club and the ESB we were able to have a full schedule of activities on Saturday last. Enniscorthy secured a hard-fought 12-5 win over Dolphin, to keep the recent winning streak going. Both teams battled the elements and each other in a gripping contest, with the match swinging in momentum as conditions worsened throughout the game.
The match kicked off with Dolphin striking first, taking an early 5-0 lead following a well-executed try. The visitors looked to take control early on, but Enniscorthy quickly responded with some solid defensive work and determination.
After 20 minutes, Enniscorthy found their rhythm. Davie Murphy was the man of the moment, touching down for an important try from the back of a line out following great work by the forward pack. However, the difficult conditions proved challenging for the kickers, and the conversion was missed, leaving the score at 5-5 as both teams headed to the break.
The second half saw a marked improvement in Enniscorthy’s play, as the squad's intensity and physicality picked up. The introduction of key players from the bench proved crucial, with James Doyle, Scott O’Connor, and Tomas Stamp all adding fresh energy. Mikey McVeigh also made an impact after coming on, with some strong carries and a willingness to tackle everything that moved.
The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Jim White powered over for a crucial try, putting Enniscorthy ahead for the first time in the match. Fiachra Hourihane kicked an unbelievable conversion into a gale from the touch line to make it 12-5. Despite the increasingly stormy weather, Enniscorthy remained resolute, holding onto their lead.
However, the final 10 minutes of the match saw some discipline issues. Tony Ryan received a yellow card in the 75th minute, leaving Enniscorthy to play the final five minutes with just 14 players. Things took a further turn for the worse when Mikey McVeigh was shown a red card shortly after. Down to 13 men the Enniscorthy lads were in no mood to let this one slip away.
Despite being reduced to 13 men for the final moments of the match, Enniscorthy stood firm, defending their 12-5 lead to the final whistle with some heroic defending. The last defensive set from the home side came to over 25 phases before Dolphin knocked it on and Enniscorthy secured a valuable win. The weather may have been treacherous, but Enniscorthy’s resolve was stronger than ever, making sure they stayed on top in this tough, physically demanding battle. The AIL squad are back in action on Saturday (14/12/24) at 2.30pm in Sydney Parade against Monkstown. It would be great to see a big turnout of supporters for the final game before the Xmas break.
Prior to the game, President Gerald Dunne held a pre-match lunch with Ed Murphy, from Greentech HQ and Mick Kearney, former Ireland Senior Men's Manager as Key Speakers. The event was a fantastic success and we will look to host similar events in the future.
Team: Angelo Todisco, Davie Murphy, MJ Doyle, Tom Ryan, Timmy Morrissey, Liam Stamp, Lee Tracey, Tony Ryan, Fiachra Hourihane, Daniel Pim, Ivan Jacob, Jim White, Dave O'Dwyer, Miguel Byrne, Jack Kelly Subs: Scott O'Connor, Mikey McVeigh, Tomás Stamp, James Doyle, Aaron Doyle.
