Ashbourne U19s deliver against a strong Enniscorthy/Wexford in the Leinster League. Enniscorthy 7 – 11 Ashbourne Ashbourne travelled to Enniscorthy for this Leinster League fixture on what proved to be the coldest morning of the year. Conditions were grim and the scheduled mid-day kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes to allow the watery winter sun work its magic on a hard frozen playing surface. When the action finally got under way the early exchanges were fairly even and big hits by Conall McGrath, Peter Anderson and the two Conors, Meehan and Creaby, amongst others meant Ashbourne held their own against a big strong team that boasted a number of representative players in their ranks. Ashbourne got the decisive first score after 8 minutes from the trusty boot of Jack O’Donnell after the home side were pinged for offside just outside their own 22. Ashbourne had two further chances to put points on the board but fluffed their lines when they were twice held up in the tackle. On 35 minutes Andrew Gibson after some fine defending in the Ashbourne 22 turned the Enniscorthy attack with a well judged clearing kick downfield that sent the home side scampering back into their own half. Conall McGrath and Adam Carberry following up won the penalty when the Enniscorthy player failed to release in the tackle and Jack O’Donnell found touch inside the home 22. Enniscorthy were penalised in the ensuing line-out and O’Donnell again found touch inside their 22. Adam Casey, whose line-out throwing was of the highest order all day found Conall McGrath who redirected the ball to Shane Bass, Jack O’Brien received the pass from his scrum half but he was stopped dead in his tracks by a high tackle. O’Donnell had no hesitation this time in calling for the kicking tee. Ashbourne ahead by 6 points. Ashbourne were playing with real belief and had the home team on the back foot. A nasty challenge on Scott Crowley by the Enniscorthy no. 7 saw the flanker take the long walk to the sin bin. Twice in a matter of minutes before half-time Ashbourne were unlucky not to breach the home defence when they piled on the pressure in the corner. Ben McConnell was injured in a tackle on the Enniscorthy line when it looked like he got in for the try and he had to leave the field. He was unable to return for the second half. Half-Time: Enniscorthy 0 – 6 Ashbourne Enniscorthy exploited their home advantage in the second half. They kicked long and pinned the visitors (who were now facing that watery winter sun low in the sky) in their own half whenever they got the chance and despite losing their loose-head prop to another yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Kevin Keys they managed to breach Ashbourne’s defence and scored a try that was converted leaving them ahead by a solitary point. They narrowly failed to build on that lead when their kicker was just wide with a penalty attempt. But Ashbourne were by no means finished and they showed that those punishing Tuesday and Thursday night training sessions have not been in vain. When Enniscorthy were penalised on half way for a crooked throw to the line-out Adam Carberry took a quick tap and carried the ball into contact just outside the Enniscorthy 22 before offloading to Conor Meehan ably supported by Conor Creaby and Adam Casey. Jack O’Brien running the perfect line took the ball at speed and a jinking run took him over the line for the all-important try. O’Donnell was just wide with the conversion. Ashbourne saw out the game and fully deserved their victory over a team that will make life very difficult for the other teams in this league. Team: Luke Bailey, Garrett Kelly, Ben McConnell, Andrew Gibson, Jack O’Brien, Jack O’Donnell, Robert Grall, Eoghan Griffin, Scott Crowley, Gavin Monnolly, Éireann Mulvihill, Shane Bass, Dean McDermott, Conor Cunningham, Adam Casey, Marcus Duff, Kaan Matthews, Noel Stewart, Craig Mahon, Sam Kenna, Conor Meehan, Conall McGrath, Adam Carberry, Charlie Staunton, Connor Creaby, Peter Anderson, Christopher Coates, Nathan Kavanagh, Luke Lehane, Kevin Keys
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 22:42:14 +0000
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