Leinster U19 Darcy Cup Semi Final: Gorey 25 Tullamore 0

Gorey U19s reached the final of the Leinster [Darcy] Cup with an emphatic win over Tullamore at Carlow RFC on Saturday.

On a day when tactics would be decided by the strong wind  and showers Gorey got off to the perfect start.

Kicking off with the wind Stephen Duke's length and excellent forward pressure forced a line-out 7 metres from the Tullamore line. Gorey opted for a 5 man line-out and used their excellent line-out maul to force their way over the Tullamore line, No 8 Josh White credited with the touchdown. Conor Hatton landed the difficult touchline conversion for Gorey to lead 7-0.

Gorey knew they had to build their lead and made full use of the wind to maintain territorial advantage. Pressure yielded penalties and Conor Hatton attempted two to no avail in the swirling wind. Gorey at this stage looked comfortable.Their scrum was on top. The line-out was comfortable except for balls near the tail which were hard to keep straight. Tullamore were useful in the loose especially if Gorey allowed them to get onto the front foot but in truth they made limited in-roads in attack.

Gorey's wind assisted dominance had only produced that single score until the 20th minute when a piece of James Nolan magic unlocked the Tullamore defence. Off a solid scrum in the centre of the pitch, No 8 Josh White broke right popping to the looping Gorey scrum half Robert Harrington on the gain-line.  Taking an out to in line James Nolan sprinted through a midfield gap and shrugged off a number of tackle attempts eventually coming to a halt 7 metres short of the Tullamore posts. Under pressure, Tullamore were happy to concede a penalty at the subsequent ruck. Second row Stephen Gardiner then took one of his trademark quick taps to barge over between the posts. Conor Hatton added the conversion and later a penalty to leave Gorey 17-0 up at the break.

Gorey faced the wind in the second half and were instantly under pressure when the kick off was spilt allowing Tullamore a territorial platform. Now it was Gorey's turn to defend against the onslaught of the heavier Tullamore pack.They stuck manfully to their task, keeping shape and refusing to concede penalties but losing some territory. A clever Tullamore kick forced a 5 metre attacking scrum but in the game's defining moment the hooker J.J. Earle got his foot to the strike, the Gorey front five lifted and drove forcing a fantastic heel against the head and allowing Stephen Duke to clear to touch. Gorey were on the front foot again and were not going to be denied in this game. Winning the line-out on the left they launched an attack out right, maintained speed through the phases and came left again with some lovely handling in the backs. Rory O Toole on the left wing still had much to do but backed his strength in a one on one to touch down near the corner flag. It was one of Gorey's finest tries of the season and Tullamore knew there was no way back. Conor Hatton failed with the conversion but later added a penalty kick, the game's final score.

Gorey once again played the entire match day 22 without losing shape or conceding a score, even when harshly reduced to 14 players for persistent infringing. The action finished shortly after the day's best tackle when David Eirkem, now on the left wing, chopped down Tullamore's talented winger after he had completed an arcing run from the opposing wing and evaded 4 pairs of Gorey hands.

For this Gorey team, the final hurdle will be a very different match in a fortnight against a talented Mullingar outfit who dismissed Wexford 35-5 in the other semi-final. Nothing won yet for this Gorey team. And a tough final in prospect.

Gorey: Conor Hatton, Rory O Toole, Sean Byrne, James Nolan, Jack Cleary, Stephen Duke, Robert Harrington, Richard Deering, J.J. Earle, James Mulligan, Stephen Gardiner, Harry Woods, Fergal Bolger [Capt], Donnachada Carroll, Josh White.    Subs:  David Condren, Callum O Donoghue, Sean Mahon, Conor Savage, Brian Brooks, David Eirkem, Patrick Chapman.