GOREY U17s CONTINUE THEIR WINNING START
Goreyâs U17s team took the opportunity to arrange a friendly fixture against Carlow, because their South East League game was cancelled as Wexford couldnât field a team.
New Head Coach Philip Doyle took the opportunity to see a few more of his players from this very strong 2016/17 panel.
This game would be a good test for this new team, as Carlow always produce strong opposition.
Gorey started very well, dominating the opening phases and newly drafted-in flanker, Frank Kavanagh showed that he was up for the game making a great tackle off an early scrum and he fed the ball to Sean Wafer who ran along the touchline, dodgy several tackles, to score the first try of the game in the corner after just 7 minutes.
Carlow didnât have a chance to regroup, as only two minutes later Prop Jack Ryan make a storming carry into the Carlow 22 and in almost a replica of the first try, Sean Wafer once again gathered the ball and ran along the try line, however on this occasion he was able to continue his run to place the ball under the post and therefore ensure the conversion.
Carlow made some good moves after this and they showed the great speed that they had in their backs, but Gorey kept their composure and their defence was ultimately too strong for Carlow to break.
On the half-hour mark Gorey put together some beautiful team play, as they put together over 12 passes, patiently working until finally Robert Murphy got over the line for his try, which Henry Kennedy converted.
Carlow were still in this game though and they exerted huge pressure on Goreyâs line, as they attacked time and again, but Goreyâs defence was outstanding and they managed to repel wave after wave of Carlow attacks.
The referee sounded the whistle for the half-time break, just as Gorey were threatening to breach Carlowâs tryline again.
Half-Time : Carlow 0 - Gorey 19
Gorey started out the second-half with the same high-tempo intensity from the first half. But an error from their lineout-maul cost them dearly, when Carlow gathered a loose ball and sprinted for the line for their opening score after 5 minutes of the second half.
Doyle made a few changes and brought on some fresh legs. Just five minutes later newly introduced Centre, Mark Boyle made a strong run, handing-off several tacklers in time for him to deliver a pass and then make his way across the pitch to receive the ball again and finally put second-row Martin OâLoughlin in for a try in the corner.
Goreyâs lineout worked well throughout the game it was from one of these that Second-Row, Tadhg OâNeill gathered the ball and popped a quick pass out to the backs, who worked the ball beautifully across the pitch, where Mark Boyle made a high looping pass to Sean Wafer for his third try of the day.
Just six minutes later Boyle again gathered the ball and tried a cheeky chip over Carlowâs defensive line for Wafer, but he couldnât gather it cleanly and Full-Back Oisin Fortune quickly scooped the ball and went over in the corner for another Gorey try.
Fortune then made a superb kick to convert his own try.
To Carlowâs credit they never gave up fighting and the game continued to played at a blistering pace. Carlow were deservedly rewarded with their second try with just minutes remaining in the game, to leave the final score