9th Feb 2013 

Leinster Premier League Semi-final U19 

Athy 13   Gorey 6

The Gorey underage juggernaut finally came off the road at Kilkenny RFC on Saturday. Having delivered Leinster championships at U17 and U19 for the past two years, Gorey's campaign for three-in-a row ended at the penultimate stage. Perhaps these two sides know each other too well having played four times this season between schools, friendlies and competitions. But cup matches are about hunger, taking your chances and defending a lead. On all three fronts, Gorey were outdone by an organised well drilled Athy outfit who maximised their potential.

The game was scoreless for eighteen minutes, before James Nolan opened the with a penalty kick. The territory up to this point was evenly contested. Gorey's line-out was in the ascendency. The scrum was evenly contested , Gorey even getting a free-kick for a crooked feed. But the penalty count was very much in favour of Athy as Gorey struggled to get quick re-cycling of their ruck ball. 

The penalty failed to settle Gorey and Athy were soon level with an equalising penalty. The concession of ten metres for dissent allowed Athy an opportunity to extend their lead shortly after, their excellent kicker duly obliging. Gorey re-gained field position from the kick-off and got a line-out deep in the Athy 22 following a penalty concession. But the caught line-out ball went loose allowing an Athy breakout that almost produced a score at the other end. 

Gorey upped the tempo considerably in the second half. An excellent Brian Brookes tackle gave Gorey a foothold in the Athy half. A superb long range penalty from James Nolan leveled the score as the third quarter approached. Gorey had more urgency now. It was a cruel irony that their best passage of play, retaining the ball through multiple phases was undone by an interception near the halfway, the Athy left wing racing clear to score a converted try. Gorey owned territory over the final 15 minutes and forced the concession of penalties. But they failed to penetrate an Athy defence that harried and scrambled to defend their line til the end. All the best  to Athy in their Leinster final in two weeks. But first these two sides will meet again in the first round of the cup next Saturday.This young Gorey team, containing eight underage starters, will rise again.

Gorey: Conor Hatton, Jack Cleary, Sean Byrne, James Nolan, Rory O Toole, Sean O Connor, Robert Harrington, James Mulligan,  JJ Earle,  Richard Deering, David Condren, Harry Woods, Fergal Bolger [Capt], Donnchadh Carroll, Josh White. 

Subs: Danny Hughes, Brian Brookes, Peter Spencer, Kallum O Donoghue, Deasun Griffin, David Eirkem, Conor Savage.