Gorey Under 14's  Victorious at Old Wesley 

Gorey under 14’s squad travelled to Old Wesley RFC’s Junior Ballycorus grounds on Sunday last to continue their pre-season preparations. In excellent rugby conditions Gorey took a well deserved lead in a scrappy opening 10 minutes when No 8 Lloyd Stephens crashed over for the visitors first try.

Wesley responded immediately with a well worked passage of forward play to shock the visitors and post 7 points to take the lead.

Gorey however went in at half time with a lead restored by newcomer P.J. Barnes who powered through the Wesley defence to score under the posts, registering his first score for Gorey on his debut. P.J. ran in his second try of the afternoon within 5 minutes after a storming pick and go by Lloyd Stephens was recycled quickly from the ensuing ruck allowing Charlie McGuckan to break and deliver fast clean ball for P.J. to drive over.

Wesley were now under enormous pressure in defence and were soon opened up by the class and powerful running of stand out second row Sean Bardan who went in in under the posts.

Liam Molloy added the points to leave Gorey in total control at 33-7.

That man again, P.J. Barnes capped off a dream debut performance with his third try of the afternoon after being released by the quick hands and awareness of out half Fionn O’Loughlan splitting the Wesley defence for P.J. to score under the posts. Well done P.J on what was a performance to remember by all those in attendance...watch out Sean O’Brien!

Gorey were really fired up now showing superb backline handling in attack and vastly improved defensive tackling throughout with Mikey Duke at 12 providing good communication, options and distribution across the line. This was the best backline display by this group for quite a while and Wesley just couldn’t live with our attacking lines and clinical handling under pressure. Outside centre Joseph Naughton was the stand out performance, creating two late tries for debut winger Cathal O’Reilly. Cathal showed his class and strength handing off two Wesley defenders with ease to score both tries under the posts while the entire crowd showed their appreciation for this very exciting young Gorey prospect. A big welcome to Gorey RFC and congratulations to both Cathal and P.J. from all the squad and coaches.

Finishing in style the Gorey backline worked a slick ‘set piece’ from a scrum on the Wesley 22 with centres Mikey Duke at 12 and Joseph Naughton opening up the Wesley defence for full back Killian Pierce to score with ease and better still...with options on his outside shoulder.

Our pack was fired up all afternoon and showed great intensity throughout with Andy Kinsella, Cameron Reynolds, Dylan Slator, Lloyd Stephens and Tom Cleary rucking fiercely and scrapping equally hard in the loose. The work rate of our forwards was the key to this victory, their lineout play was excellent with accurate delivery to the line by hooker Liam Molloy while scrummaging and rucking was solid and controlled. On any other day, debut players P.J. Barnes and Cathal O’Reilly could lay claim to the man of the match award but this was such an immense squad effort with so many individuals putting in outstanding performances that any number of players could be singled out for the honour.

Our full squad played their equal part in victory, with options in every position now emerging for a very encouraged coaching team.

A big thank you on behalf of Gorey RFC to the Wesley officials and a spirited hard working home team.

Final score Old Wesley RFC 7 - Gorey RFC 61

A special thanks to our large group of parents who continue their travels to support the squad.

We play our first South East League match of the new season away to Carlow next Saturday, time TBC.