GOREY UNDER 19s LEINSTER CHAMPIONS 

Gorey 19    Roscrea-Birr Rebels 10

Gorey U19s lifted the coveted provincial crown after a classic cup final at Naas RFC on Saturday. It was an immense achievement for a team which failed to reach the knockout stages of this competition, when this age group was last together two seasons ago.

The game was played in excellent spirit in front of a large crowd. The breeze and "hill" acting in the same direction ensured a game of two halves. Mixed with the contrasting styles of play it ensured an enthralling contest. One look at the size of the Rebels pack, featuring an Ireland Schools No 8, suggested this was a team which would cause problems in the forward exchanges. Gorey on the other hand seemed keener to put width on the ball and involve their back 3.

Gorey won the toss and elected to play with the advantages in the first half. In the first quarter they seemed to settle quicker than the Rebels but errors hampered their progress. It was Rebels who opened the scoring, somewhat against the run of play after 11 minutes, with a superbly taken drop goal by their out-half.

But it was the second quarter that won the game for Gorey. Despite the size difference Gorey enjoyed parity in the scrums. Gorey also had the better of the line-outs with Dean Redmond taking one fantastic clean catch off a Rebels throw. Conor Hatton settled the nerves with a penalty from almost the 10 metre line. He followed it up with an incredible effort from just inside the Rebels half. Rebels were still recovering when Gorey crossed for their only try. It followed an excellent kick for field position by out-half Niall O Brien to test the Rebels back 3. Superb follow up pressure from Andrew Walsh and Conor Hatton forced a spilled ball near the left touchline. Deft kicking ahead by both players from close in allowed Andrew Walsh to touch down. Conor Hatton added the touchline conversion and Gorey were 13-3 ahead. The Rebels appeared on the ropes and surely another score would kill the game for Gorey? But full marks to the Rebels, they re-grouped and upped their intensity. A rare midfield break by their Leinster Outside Centre was just thwarted by Robert Harrington's tap tackle.They gained field position and gave Gorey a flavour of what might come in the second half with a series of "pick and go"s in the Gorey half. Full marks to the Gorey defence They maintained shape and discipline through perhaps ten phases, to force the vital turnover and clear their lines, leaving them 13-3 up at the break.

Gorey started the second half very positively achieving field position with the kick off. But the Rebels out-half pinned them back with some excellent positional kicking. Despite conceding territory, Gorey kept their shape excellently forcing the lions share of errors, turnovers and penalty concessions. A further stunning touchline penalty kick from Conor Hatton extended the lead. And he added a fifth kick from five with a further penalty, after Eddie Earle's blindside break almost yielded a try.

The hill in Naas is steep, especially when you are into the wind and defending a lead 19-3. The final ten minutes belonged to the Rebels. Gorey legs were tired after the huge physical effort of keeping out a bigger team. Subs Paraic Maher and Richard Deering were needed to freshen the pack and Stephen Hughes for a time at full back. The Rebels pack assault on the Gorey line was relentless and after a try attempt was deemed "held up" they subsequently crossed from close-in with minutes to go, bringing the score to 19-10. But Gorey had done enough in the first half, and dug deep to close out a memorable win.

Gorey Men of the Match? The back three Stephen Duke, Andrew Walsh or Sean Carty for consistent pressure on receiver when Gorey kicked for position? The centres Sean Byrne and Clement Power for solid defence and gainline attack all match? The positional kicking of out-half Niall O Brien or the slick passing of scrum half Robert Harrington? The heroic work of the front five James Sinnott, Dominic Surace, William O Morchoe, Dean Redmond and Frank Bellanova in containing a bigger scrum and dominating the line-outs? Or the immense backrow of Jordan Ahearne, Eddie Earle and Conor Hatton who bossed the breakdown for much of the match?

Gorey non-playing Subs: Conor Cousins, Niall Brohan, Danny Hughes, Stephen Scallan.

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