Gorey J1s beat Longford in Leinster League Div 1B
Last weeks narrow defeat away to Wicklow saw the long time Division 1B leaders Gorey drop down to second place. Despite that loss, Gorey are still very much in contention and know that they can still win this league, but cannot afford any more slip ups. With Longford providing Sunday's opposition an injury ravished home team took to the field in what was going to be a through test of the strength in depth of this Gorey panel.
The game kicked off with a strong wind blowing down the pitch and it was the home team who set their stall out early and put pressure on the visitors. The young Gorey pack which featured the under 19 front row, of two years ago of James Mulligan, Fergal Bolger and Richard Deering, that won the Culliton Cup, were to the fore and worked their way into the visitors 22. Quick hands through the backs saw Killian Breen finish off a good move to put the first, of his three tries, on the board for the home team. From the kick off Longford took the game to Gorey and could have put a score on the board but found a stout home defence in a defiant mood. Gorey continued to soak up the pressure and finally Longford gave away a penalty to the relief of the Gorey players. With 5 minutes left in the half Gorey again worked their way deep into the Longford 22 and sustained pressure saw Geoff Dunne go over, for Brendon Spears to convert, to take the score to 12 - 0 at halftime.
The second half started with Gorey again applying pressure on the visitors as their halfbacks of Garrett Bater and Shane Luby probed the Longford defence as the Gorey pack began to shade the exchanges. The third try came when quick hands through the backs saw Killian Breen round off another good Gorey move. Gorey began to throw caution to the wind as they went in search of the bonus point. Some excellent handling, from both the backs and forwards, saw the home team push deep into the Longford 22. Again some excellent handling saw Killian Breen score his third try to secure the all important bonus point, for Brendon Spears to convert, to take the score to 24 - 0. Despite the scoreline Longford never gave up and their scramble defence denied Gorey a number of other scores. After last weeks loss Gorey needed this result to keep in contention as they travel to Kilkenny next week for a top of the table clash that could have a big say in the destination of the league title.
Gorey had some big performances in the pack with Geoff Dunne, JP Redmond, Eddie Horan and Killian Breen showing well. The halfbacks of Garrett Bater, Shane Luby and Brendon Spears controlled the game well to keep Gorey on the front foot.
Team - J Mulligan F Bolger R Deering A Copeland JP Redmond E Horan K Breen G Dunne G Bater S Luby A Walsh M Bater G Rynhart S Byrne B Spears T Tomkins
B O Connor M Woods PJ Clince S O'Leary
The game kicked off with a strong wind blowing down the pitch and it was the home team who set their stall out early and put pressure on the visitors. The young Gorey pack which featured the under 19 front row, of two years ago of James Mulligan, Fergal Bolger and Richard Deering, that won the Culliton Cup, were to the fore and worked their way into the visitors 22. Quick hands through the backs saw Killian Breen finish off a good move to put the first, of his three tries, on the board for the home team. From the kick off Longford took the game to Gorey and could have put a score on the board but found a stout home defence in a defiant mood. Gorey continued to soak up the pressure and finally Longford gave away a penalty to the relief of the Gorey players. With 5 minutes left in the half Gorey again worked their way deep into the Longford 22 and sustained pressure saw Geoff Dunne go over, for Brendon Spears to convert, to take the score to 12 - 0 at halftime.
The second half started with Gorey again applying pressure on the visitors as their halfbacks of Garrett Bater and Shane Luby probed the Longford defence as the Gorey pack began to shade the exchanges. The third try came when quick hands through the backs saw Killian Breen round off another good Gorey move. Gorey began to throw caution to the wind as they went in search of the bonus point. Some excellent handling, from both the backs and forwards, saw the home team push deep into the Longford 22. Again some excellent handling saw Killian Breen score his third try to secure the all important bonus point, for Brendon Spears to convert, to take the score to 24 - 0. Despite the scoreline Longford never gave up and their scramble defence denied Gorey a number of other scores. After last weeks loss Gorey needed this result to keep in contention as they travel to Kilkenny next week for a top of the table clash that could have a big say in the destination of the league title.
Gorey had some big performances in the pack with Geoff Dunne, JP Redmond, Eddie Horan and Killian Breen showing well. The halfbacks of Garrett Bater, Shane Luby and Brendon Spears controlled the game well to keep Gorey on the front foot.
Team - J Mulligan F Bolger R Deering A Copeland JP Redmond E Horan K Breen G Dunne G Bater S Luby A Walsh M Bater G Rynhart S Byrne B Spears T Tomkins
B O Connor M Woods PJ Clince S O'Leary
