Gorey almost there 

Gorey travelled to league leaders Seapoint last Saturday and after a hard fought battle and twenty minutes of the second half with 14 men will consider themselves unlucky not to have come away with a win. 

It was the visitors who started the brighter and shaded the opening exchanges in the set piece. But a solid Seapoint defence kept the Gorey attack at bay. 

A superb kick by fullback Mikey Duke pushed the home team deep inside their 22. A lineout later and superb maul saw Gorey open the scoring  when Kevin Browne touched down for Fionn O Loughlin to add the conversion.

Gorey continue to control the exchanges for the remainder of that quarter but could not add to their score.

The next 10 minutes was mainly played out between the 22’s with neither team able to capitalize, with the visitors looking the more comfortable.

Gorey’s run of bad look with injuries was to continue and in the space of a few minutes outhalf Fionn O Loughlin & full back Mikey Duke were forced off. Seapoint we’re starting to put some good phases together and eventually found a gap for Zack Jungmann to go in for their opening try.  Seapoint were now shading the exchanges and when Gorey failed to clear their 22 Seapoint’s Eoghan O Reilly struck for their second try 10 7 and that was how it stayed until the break. 

From the restart both sides up their ante with some big carries and equally big tackles from both. 

Both sides tried  to move the ball but space was at a premium until on the 60th minute Seapoint finally found a gap and their number eight Zack Jurgmann finished off a fine move for Mick McKenna to add the conversion 17 7. 

The final quarter belonged to Gorey who despite playing with 14 men with two yellow cards for the remainder of the game took the game to the home team. Some massive carries from Steven Gardiner and co was punching holes in the home defence and taking them deep into the home 22. 

It finally paid off when phase after phase saw Gorey move the ball wide for Jack Willoughby to touch down. John Milne added the conversion. 17 14.

With eight minutes left Gorey kept the pressure on but the whistle finally put paid to a brave effort which just fell short in the end. 

Next week,  Gorey travel to Ballyclare RFC for the first round of the All Ireland Cup. 

Gorey will look back on this group of games and recognise that they  need to turn possession into scores as they are creating the chances but unfortunately are not taking them. 

Next home game for Gorey is Bective Rangers on Saturday 30th 

E Walsh L Molloy K  Brown 

D O Leary S Gardiner J  Ahern 

K Breen S Hadden D McGrath  F O’loughlin J  Milne C Power  A Walsh  J  Willoughby D  Gregan T Jameson  G McGonagle  F  Bolger G Slattery