GOREY BRING HOME THE TOWNS PLATE

Gorey 24  -  Portarlington 15

Division 2A Champions Gorey and their band of travelling loyal supporters, made the trip to Carlow on Sunday last for the last rugby match of this current rugby season and what a match to finish the season with, a Plate Final against Portarlington and a fighting chance to bring home another piece of Silver to top off what has been a fantastic season for the J1's and for the Club overall with almost every team laying claim to or winning silverware.

Between these two sides the Plate Competition has been won three times with Portarlington winning it on two occasions in 2009 and 2012, while Gorey won it once in 1988, beating Kilkenny in the Final. Gorey were taking on a Portarlington side of unknown quantity, and had not played each other in competitive rugby for a long-time.

Portarlington's season to-date had been a rather mixed one having been demoted to Division 2A in a play-off  against Carlow, which was expected to have be a one sided affair, but they brought the game to within one point of staying up after loosing 9pts to 8pts and the word was that they were finishing their season much stronger than their results, as the League suggested.

Gorey on the other hand were entering this game with only one defeat this season and that was in the Towns' Cup to the eventual winners, Ashbourne 22pts to 16pts. On their way to this Final, Gorey disposed of Tullow, Nass, and Carlow in clinical fashon with high scoring games and were eager to bring home the Plate to have at the top table for their dinner dance (which had to be moved to next Saturday to facilitate this game) to top off a super season for coach, Phil Horan.

Phil started most of the team that had been loyal to him throughout the season and brought in a few of the up and coming young players to fill the bench and give them the experience of  J1 competitive rugby.

What a nail biter this one turned out to be. Gorey kicked off under a very hot sun and straightaway Portarlington knocked on the ball. From the scrum and resulting play Gorey were awarded a penalty and were ready to take the kick when the Linesman called the Referee over and the penalty was reversed for foul play. This seemed to give Portarlington a boost and knocked Gorey back because Portarlington piled on the pressure with pick and goes and forward inter play and were 12pts up on Gorey in no time with two tries scored by their nippy forwards from around the break-down area.  Gorey were looking a bit shell shocked and knew they were in a game and had to regroup.  They soon responded when after winning a couple of set pieces and breakdowns the ball went through the backs hands to Darragh O'Leary, who scored in the corner.  When the conversion was put just wide Portarlington came straight back at them with a penalty and brought the score to 12pts to 5pts.  Portarlington again turned the screws on Gorey with some fine attacking physical play and were awarded another penalty, which brought the score to 15pts to 5pts. Soon after Gorey, themselves were awarded a penalty which James Nolan kicked but it was the next score that was vital for Gorey as it was just before the halftime break when Darren Dunne went over the try line after some fine backline attacking play to go into the break 15pts to 13pts with all to play for in the second half.

Portarlington returned from the break and try as they did they were unable to add to their tally despite many an intrusions into Gorey's 22, they were unable to break down a strong Gorey defense who had worked hard throughout the game. Gorey made many a break into Portarlington's 22 themselves, but it was Stephen Duke who had a hand in the next score when making a break out of Portarlington's 22 kicked a inch perfect ball to the corner flag and from the resulting lineout Micheal Woods went over the white wash and brought the score to 18pts to 15pts. At this stage in the game Portarlington had nothing more to give as Gorey took control of the game which seemed a fry cry from the opening 15 minutes, but it is a credit to the lads that they picked themselves up and dragged themselves back into this game. Gorey added two more penalties from James Nolan for infringements around the breakdown to bring the final score to 24pts to 15pts and this brought to an end a very exciting game,and brought great pleasure to some of the team of 1988 who attended the game.

Now next up are the J2's who have their own Towns Plate Final again in Carlow on Friday night coming were they will play Cill Dara and the U20'S who will face Mullingar in the CupFinal time and venue TBC

Team: 1. Ciaran Allen 2. Barry O'Connor 3. Tom Tomkins 4. Adrian Copeland 5. Darragh O'Leary 6. Micheal Woods 7. Jordan Ahern  8. J.P. Redmond  9. Adian O'Brien  10. Stephen Dukes 11. Darren Dunne 12. James Nolan 13. Colm Peavoy 14. John Condren 15. Neville Copeland 16. Richard Deering  17. Fergal Bolger 18. Jason Emery 19. Robert Harrington 20. Sean O'Connor 21. Killian Breen. 22. James Mulligan.