Gorey RFC U19 Premier Leinster League 1st rd win v Wicklow RFC

21st Oct 2012

Gorey RFC U19 started their Premier Leinster League campaign away to Wicklow with a fantastic hard fought win. It is never easy to take points when travelling to Wicklow and this year was no exception. The game saw a return to the Gorey team for the first time this year of five players missing through their Leinster duties, injury and GAA commitments. It was the strongest team so far this season to put on the Gorey Jersey. The Wicklow forwards were a very strong and well drilled pack turning Gorey over at the break down time and time again. Gorey had the support in numbers and were hitting the breakdown hard but Wicklow were also their in force driving low up and over the ball. However where Gorey excelled was in defence of the turnover driving the ball carrier back time and time again gaining the advantage in yards. A special mention goes to Donnchadh Carroll and Fergal Bolger who attacked the Wicklow ball carriers relentlessly all day long. Two new impressive additions to the team.  
Wicklow got the first chance to put points on the board with a penalty on the 22 for a high tackle and narrowly missed the posts with the kick. Wicklow were deemed to infringe most in the first quarter giving Gorey huge ground advantage from the spectacular boot of James Nolan. James returning to the Gorey set up from his Leinster duties where he captains the Leinster U18 youths squad. Conor Hatton and his ever reliable boot put Gorey in to a three point lead from a penalty just outside the Wicklow 22. The game did not flow as the whistle interrupted play continuously for infringements. At half time the score stood at 3 - 0 to Gorey.
The second half started and after 3 minutes Conor Hatton slotted another penalty outside the 22 left of the posts putting Gorey in to a 6 point lead . However both teams were clearly aware the next score could seal the game and Wicklow were by no means out of this confrontation. Wicklow choose to go for field position rather than points on their penalties but could not break the Gorey defence when attacking the try line. This Gorey front eight put huge hits in causing spilled ball and turn over's just as Wicklow could see the white of the Gorey try line. Like wise when Wicklow choose to spread the ball the back line defence was magnificent with the ball never venturing past midfield. The Gorey try came from sustained pressure inside the Wicklow 22. Gorey's line out was not functioning and there were too many lost opportunities. However off the base of the scrum Rob Harrington delivered a lovely pass to out half  Brian Brooks who went blind side passing to James Nolan who as always broke the gain line taking two defenders out. A ruck ensued and with quick ball Rob passed to his captain Danny Hughes who beat off three tackles down the touch line to go in the corner for a well deserved try. There was a sense of relief for the Gorey support as this try brought the score to 11 - 0 which would require two scores from Wicklow with only 10 mins remaining. However with injury time added this game would not actually end for a further 20 minutes. The majority if not all of the remainder of the game was played inside the Gorey 22. The referee blew no fewer than ten penalties against the away team eventually awarding a yellow card against a Gorey Player. Gorey now down to 14 men had to defend their line for an agonising 10 minutes. However with magnificent discipline and integrity the Gorey players finally turned over a crucial ruck in the dying seconds and cleared to touch to hear the relieving sound of the final whistle. Congratulation to both Wicklow and Gorey for a very hard fought game played in true games man like spirit.
Team: Sean Mahon, Danny Hughes (Capt), JJ Earle, Rory O'Toole, Harry Woods, Donnchadh Carroll, Fergal Bolger, Josh White, Robert Harrington, Brian Brookes, Jack Cleary, James Nolan, Sean Byrne, Sean O'Connor, Conor Hatton, Eric Lacey, David Condron, David Eirkem, Kallum O'Donoghue, Paddy Chapman,