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GOREY U18s INTO QUARTER-FINALS OF D’ARCY CUP

Gorey’s U18s took to the field on Saturday for their Second Round game in the Leinster U18s D’Arcy Cup after a three-week lay-off. Their opponents on the day was the combined team from Carlow RFC and Tullow RFC.

A bright dry day greeted both teams with a strong south easterly wind. Knockout rugby always lends itself to exciting competition and the sizeable crowd of supporters eagerly awaited the meeting of these two sides. Gorey had beaten Carlow earlier in the season in their South East League clash, but now facing the combination of the best of both Tullow & Carlow clubs no one really knew what to expect.

It was Carlow-Tullow who started the strongest as they set out their stall for the day bursting through the centre with the large pack picking and going. Gorey struggled to contain the onslaught and it wasn’t long before the visitors got on the scoresheet with a bruising try with the opening minutes of the game. (Gorey 0 – Carlow-Tullow 7)

Gorey were showing their ring-rustiness from the last few weeks, but they resorted to their trusted lineout and Cathal Stokes sent a long ball into the opponents 22’ which bounced out for touch. From the lineout, the ball was delivered out to Gorey’s strong No.8, Mark Boyle, who went over for a try to even things up a minute later. (Gorey 7 – Carlow-Tullow 7)

Carlow-Tullow came right back at Gorey and only resolute defence, and a few handling errors for the visitors, prevented them from adding to their tally. The game turned into a real arm-wrestle as the visitors pounded their way up the centre, whilst brave Gorey players threw their bodies on the line in last-ditch defence.

The deadlock was broken 15 minutes later when Gorey Hooker, Cormac Walsh, made a storming run, sitting-down several Carlow-Tullow players on his way, before passing out to Gorey’s stand-in scrum-half, Oran Fitzpatrick who made great ground to place the ball under the posts. (Gorey 14 – Carlow-Tullow 7)

That’s how the half finished, with Gorey counting themselves lucky to be going in with a lead after a sometimes lethargic first-half performance.

As the second half started it was still anyone’s game and you got the feeling that whoever scored first would be favourites to go on and win the game.

Carlow-Tullow continued as they left off, pummelling their way up the middle of the park with their large forwards taking the ball into contact for phase after phase. But it was Gorey who now seemed most rejuvenated after the break, as they began to impose themselves and match the visitors for brute strength. Recently returned flanker, Robert Murphy, made some great breaks imposing himself on the game and showing the eagerness that a long injury-forced absence had instilled. Now it was Carlow-Tullow’s forwards who found themselves being driven back on their heels.

The visitors found themselves pinned on their own line desperately defending, as Gorey patiently went through phase after phase - twice being held-up over the line. But it was only a matter of time before Gorey’s Martin O’Loughlin topped-off a stellar performance by getting over for Gorey’s third try of the day. (Gorey 21 – Carlow-Tullow 7)

Carlow-Tullow were reduced to 14 men when their Hooker was red-carded and Gorey took advantage soon afterwards. A good lineout just outside the Carlow-Tullow 22’ allowed Gorey to roll a strong maul all the way over to the tryline for Gorey captain, Tadhg O’Neill to put the ball down for Gorey’s fourth try of the day on the hour mark. (Gorey 26 – Carlow-Tullow 7)

Gorey were cruising now and began to put together some lovely flowing play that had been absent for most of this game. Oran Fitzpatrick made a perfectly-timed pass out to Gorey’s Adam Byrne who made some good ground before delivering to Oisín Fortune who ran half the pitch past three would-be defenders before placing the ball directly under the posts to make his own conversion a little easier. (Gorey 33 – Carlow-Tullow 7)

As the clocked ticked toward full-time, Carlow-Tullow to their credit kept Gorey honest and continued to press forward. They were rewarded with a try on the stroke of full-time to close the margin slightly after a spirited performance. The final score: Gorey 33 Carlow-Tullow 14.

Gorey have a full schedule of games coming up and this will work in their favour, as the long lay-off exposed some weaknesses, as well as a lack of fitness for some players.

There were some outstanding performances across the match-day squad, notably from Cathal Stokes who tackled relentlessly as well as kicking cleverly; also strong performances from two returning injured players in the shape of Martin O’Loughlin and Robert Murphy; plus a staunch defence from the ever-reliable Joe Butler. But for his all-round team-lifting performance, the Man of the Match goes to Mark Boyle, who led from the front and put in some try-saving tackles at crucial moments in the game.

Gorey will meet Naas RFC on March 9^th, but next week will resume their Leinster League campaign when the travel to Portlaoise RFC.

GOREY

01. Niall Kenny

02. Cormac Walsh

03. Jack Ryan

04. Joe Butler

05. Tadhg O’Neill (Capt.)

06. Frank Kavanagh

07. Martin O’Loughlin

08. Mark Boyle

09. Oran Fitzpatrick

10. Cathal Stokes