Enniscorthy bounced back from a high-scoring loss against Dolphin with a hard-earned success against Clonmel in Alcast Park on Saturday, lifting themselves back up to third in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2C table in the process.

The hosts scored five tries on their way to another bonus point success, leapfrogging the visitors and the Dolphin side that had jumped ahead of them last time out, to finish the weekend in sole possession of third.

’Scorthy sit just five points behind Midleton at the top of the table with six league games to play.

However, just 13 points separate the Cork club and Monkstown down in seventh, meaning the four play-off spots will be hotly contested right down to the wire.

This was an interesting battle, markedly different from the physical forwards-first contest against Monkstown last time out at Alcast Park.

The stall was set out from the early stages, as the visitors looked to turn their hosts far more and relied on a strong kicking game to keep them competitive.

The Tipperary side did some good things with the boot and their decision-making on penalties was crisp and clear. They took the points almost always when they were on offer and that was probably the difference between them leaving with their losing bonus point or nothing.

Enniscorthy looked sharp throughout the game. They were able to break through the visitors five times for scores and they did it with strong running.

There was some resistance but Clonmel’s strengths didn’t really lie in their goal-line defence, certainly not against the forceful ’Scorthy. There were errors aplenty early on, while referee Eddie Hogan-O’Connell was getting involved often as both sides struggled to stay within the laws of the game.

With twelve minutes on the clock, Enniscorthy went in for the opening score. It was a nice flowing move down the left that saw Nick Doyle and Daniel Pim link up before Rhyan Whelan went over in the corner. Unfortunately for the young man, he missed the extras in a tricky wind to leave it at 5-0.

Within two minutes Clonmel were on the scoresheet. Unlike Monkstown, the last visitors to Alcast Park, the Tipp lads took most good kicking chances when they materialised, and why wouldn’t they when Joe O’Connor was kicking as flush as he was here? His first penalty cut the gap to two.

In the 19th minute an outstanding run by Whelan opened the whole defence up for ’Scorthy. While they didn’t get in when Ivan Jacob attacked the line, they worked it across the right and Liam Stamp touched down to make it 10-3.

Yet Clonmel chipped away, first with a 24th-minute O’Connor penalty, then with another five minutes later.

When O’Connor kicked his fourth six minutes before the break, the visitors had an interval advantage (12-10).

Then three minutes after the restart they raced away down the left, Freddie Davies fed Michael Connellan and he finished the job in the corner. O’Connor was unable to add the tough extras in the wind but Clonmel now led 17-10.

With it all to do, Enniscorthy upped the ante. Within two minutes, with the rain falling, they moved level when Ivan Jacob scored his try and Whelan tapped over the extras. With the wind again in their sails, Enniscothy took just five more minutes to go ahead, with Nick Doyle powering in and Whelan converting.

Now down 24-17, Clonmel were in need of a response. They got in shortly after Enniscorthy had M.J. Doyle sin-binned, with Luke Hogan scoring the try but, crucially, O’Connor missed the tricky extras to leave the hosts two up.

The score-fest of a third quarter finished in the 60th minute when Tony Ryan added his side’s fifth try, with Whelan nailing a hell of a kick to make it 31-22.

That left 20 minutes of battling, with Clonmel able to add a last-kick-of-the-game O’Connor penalty to take a losing bonus point.

Enniscorthy have a chance to put a couple of feet forward in their next two games in the battle for a play-off spot.

They face Omagh next on February 8 in Ulster and if they can navigate the tough journey they will be hopeful of taking the points home against the side bottom of the table.

The next home game for Enniscorthy will follow a week later, and it’s against another of the three teams not in contention for a play-off spot.

Bruff will come to Alcast Park on February 15, another game with good potential for a home success.

Enniscorthy: Jack Kelly, Rhyan Whelan (try, three conversions), Daniel Pim, Dave O’Dwyer, Ivan Jacob (try), Nick Doyle (try), Fiachra Hourihane; Ore Lasisi, Davie Murphy, M.J. Doyle, Tom Ryan, Tomás Stamp, Liam Stamp (try), Lee Treacy, Tony Ryan (try). Replacements: Scott O’Connor for Lasisi (41), Lasisi for Treacy (54-64, YC), Shane McGuire for Pim (60), Miguel Byrne for Jacob (70), Mikey McVeigh for Treacy (72), Aaron Doyle for Murphy (76).

Clonmel: Michael Connellan (try), Luke Hogan (try), Henry Buttimer, Joe O’Connor (five penalties), Freddie Davies, Dylan Cadogan, Alex Sheehan; Tim Nugent, Jason Monua, Ben Everard, Tony Cantwell, Diarmuid Brannock, Tom O’Dea, Andrew Daly, Bobby Doherty. Replacements: Diarmuid Devaney for Brannock (39), Jack Walsh for Cantwell (50), Albert Fronek for Buttimer (63), Brandon Delicato for Nugent (70), Nugent for Everard (73).

Referee: Eddie Hogan-O’Connell.

The full article can also be read in this week’s Enniscorthy Guardian - https://m.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/sport/othersports/enniscorthy-rfc-bounce-back-with-hard-earned-win-over-clonmel/a751447777.html?errorCode=0
Photo credit: John Walsh Photography