*PICTURED: U18 Girls player Emma Keane holding the ball
By Dearbhla Parry
U14 Boys League
Ennis U14 Boys travelled to Kilrush and scored a dominant 11-try victory.
Tries were scored by Steven O’Neill (x2), Jake O’Donoghue (x2), Alex Pelczar (x2), Thomas Connolly (x2), Niall Burke and Reece Yeung. The try of the day was scored by Cillian Dinan, and there were 7 conversions between O’Neill and O’Donoghue.
The pack leader, Conor Quinn led the way up front, with standout performances by Reece Yeung, Colm Griffin, Jamie Culleton, Christopher Rynne and Josh Flynn; and half-back Steven O’Neill and Captain Jake O’Donoghue.
Ennis: Conor Quinn, Jamie Culleton, Reece Yeung, Ronan Donlan, Dan Holly, Cormac Dinan, Chris Rynne, Josh Flynn, Steven O’Neill, Jake O’Donoghue, Connor Owens, Alex Pelczar, Ronan O’Leary, Harry Daniels, Sam Kelly, Luke O’Connor, Colm Griffin, Niall Burke, Thomas Connolly, DD Corry, Josh Cotter and Eoin Keane.
U14 Girls: Ennis RFC v Richmond RFC
It was a tough day for the Ennis girls, who played the top team in the league.
They had three debutants: Emma, Amy and Niamh. Richmond ran in a couple of early tries, but Ennis rallied back with a try from Lauren Reidy. Ennis managed a team try, going through a lot of phases to get it out to the winger. At half time, Ennis were down but not disheartened. In the second half, Ennis managed another try with Biborka getting over the line, but Richmond proved too strong.
U15 Boys: Ennis RFC 17 – 30 Ballina/Killaloe
A tough first half saw Ennis go into the break 5 – 15 down. Scorers for Ennis were Tadhg Bane with a brace, one in each half. The returning Lewis O’Dwyer made his customary sweeping run to score in each corner. Ennis competed well, turning over 3 lineouts, although in the end late tries blew the scoreline out.
U16 Girls Munster League: Ennis RFC 44 – 5 Old Crescent/Richmond RFC
Ennis U16 Girls maintained their winning run with a victory in their first league game of the season against Old Crescent/Richmond. Ennis dominated from the start. Good carries were seen from Lucy Kelly and Eimear Meaney and great work was seen at the breakdown from Kiera Hanrahan and Kate Howard. The front row of Fia Doody, Aoife Martin and Kathy Stapleton dominated the scrums, providing space for the backline to take advantage.
Sarah Keavey and Aoife Martin scored early tries which were converted by Nicole Clark. This ensured that Ennis were in front from the start. They continued to dominate through the first half of the match with further tries from Abbie Kelly in the centre.
At half time, Ennis brought on a strong bench owith Rachel Hayes and Lilith Kearney stepping into the front row, Maebh McCarthy coming into the back row, and Holly Murphy coming on to the wing. The Ennis half backs of Grace Hoyne and Emma McGann kept the backline moving. This paid off with a well worked try from Laura Kate Ryan in the corner. Further hard running from Eileen Keating and Siofra kept Old Crescent/ Richmond on the backfoot, and continued pressure saw Maebh McCarthy go over for Ennis’ final try of the day.
Ennis: Fia Doody, Kathy Slattery, Aoife Martin, Lucy Kelly, EimearMeaney, Kiera Hanrahan, Kate Howard, Nicole Clarke, Grace Hoyne, Emma McGann, Siofra Enright, Sarah Keavey, Abbie Kelly, Eileen Keating, Laura Kate Ryan, Lilith Kearney, Rachel Hayes, Meabh McCarthy and Holly Murphy.
U18 Boys Pan Munster Round Robin Phase 1: Ennis RFC v Cashel RFC
In Lees Road on Sunday, Ennis started strongly and were off the mark with their first try in the first 10 minutes of the game. Ennis soon took control with 2 quick tries in succession from Luke Kennedy, Luca Cleary and Marco Cleary.
In the second half of the game, Ennis made wholesale changes and they proved too strong. Scores were made from David Moses, Adrian Moloney, John O’Donoghue and Sean Quelly. The 3 out of 4 conversions by Marco finally completed the scoring.
Luca Cleary and his younger brother, Marco Cleary, made a return from their exploits with Munster U19s and U18s during the Summer.
U18 Girls Munster League: Ennis RFC 44 – 21 Ballina/Killaloe RFC
Ennis RFC U18 girls played their first league game of the season at home against Ballina/Killaloe on Saturday.
From an early stage, the Ennis girls were camped on the Ballina/Killaloe line only to be held up on two occasions. Against the run of play on the 7th minute, Ballina/ Killaloe scored a great try from a quick tap penalty on the half-way line. The conversion was good and the Ennis girls found themselves 7 – 0 down.
This was a wakeup call for the girls and on the 9th minute, Sally Kelly crossed the line to score after great handling from the backs. After 14 minutes, Ellis Flaherty collected a ball inside her own 22 following a kick through and ran the length of the pitch evading three tackles and scored in the corner. This, however, was her last play in the match as she had to leave the game due to an injury. This try put the Ennis girls 10 – 7 ahead. The next three tries of the match were all scored by Nell Walsh, after great fast handling skills from a combination of forwards and backs to give Walsh the little space she needed to score. By half time, the score was 27-7 to Ennis.
In the second half, Sally Kelly crossed twice more for her hat-trick while the final score of the game was created by great footwork by Emma Keane to put her twin sister Eillen in for a try in the town end.
Ennis: Annie Lynch, Aine Morrisey, Alana Foudy, Jenifer Weston, Caoilinn Cahill, Aisling Heapes, Maggie Murphy, Emily Kelly, Eillen Keane, Emma Keane (Joint Captain), Ellis Flaherty, Sally Kelly, Tara Phillips, Nelly Walsh, Niamh Mc Manus, Kiera O’Neill, Ciara Reidy, Saoirse Downes, Ava Walsh and Imogen Reynolds.
Senior Men Munster Junior League Round 1: Ennis RFC 25 – 13 Waterford RFC
Ennis won the first round of the Munster Junior League with a score of 25 – 13.
Tries were scored by Dylan Kenny and Colm Kearney (x2). Dylan Kenny also managed 2 conversions and 2 penalties.
Senior Women Munster Cup Semi-Final: Ennis/Kilrush RFC 29 – 15 Tralee RFC
The Ennis/Kilrush Senior women travelled to Tralee for the Munster Cup Semi Final and came out victorious with a score of 29 – 15.
Having been promoted to Division 1 this year, it was the first time they faced this strong side who made up the winners of Division 1 League and Cup last season.
Senior Women Munster Cup Semi-Final: Ennis/Kilrush RFC 29 – 15 Tralee RFC
The Ennis/Kilrush Senior women travelled to Tralee for the Munster Cup Semi Final and came out victorious with a score of 29 – 15.
Having been promoted to Division 1 this year, it was the first time they faced this strong side who made up the winners of Division 1 League and Cup last season.
Ennis/Kilrush managed to get the first score after a break from Grainne Burke and a pass sent Caolifhionn Morrissey over the line, which Burke then converted. This was followed closely by a well worked team effort and a run and score by Grainne Burke bringing the score to 12 – 0.
However, Tralee fought back and their strength in the scrum paid off. They scored and their number 10 put a tricky conversion over the bar, putting the score at 12- 7.
The tag team of Aoibheann Hahessy and Grainne Burke made an excellent run from inside the 22 to get Grainne over the line. Another try from Tralee and a well-placed penalty kick brought the half time score to Ennis/Kilrush 12 – 15 Tralee.
Early in the second half of the game, a penalty tap-and-go and great footwork by Burke earned her the hat trick, and she converted bringing the score to 19 – 15. Afterward, Miceala Glynn scored again from a penalty tap-and-go, making the score 4 – 15.
When Caolifhionn Morrissey made a run from the half-way, she was supported by Patricia Coote when tackled. She passed back to Morrissey who scored, bringing the final score to 29 – 15.
The teamwork from the Ennis/Kilrush side was phenomenal. All 15 players on the pitch displayed great performance, as well as great strength on the bench when they came on. Sarah Coote (9) and Patricia Coote (10) proved to be a formidable combination.
New players Niamh Doyle and Eleana Anastasia made their debut in a competitive game, and Leah Culligan who moved up from youths along with returning player Lucy Guilfoyle made great impact on their Senior debut.
The team are now in the Munster Senior Womens Cup Final in the New Year, but next up is the first League game against Shannon RFC on November 12th.
Fixtures:
U12 Blitz: Ennis v Kanturk
Saturday 28th October
Kick-off at 10:30 in Drumbiggle
U14 Boys: Ennis v Kanturk
Saturday 28th October
Kick-off at 11:30 in Drumbiggle
U14 Girls: Ennis v Shannon
Saturday 28th October
Kick-off at 11:00 in Shannon
U16 Girls: Ennis v Shannon
Saturday 28th October
Kick-off at 11:00 in Shannon
U9 Blitz: Ennis v Garryowen
Sunday 29th October
Venue: Garryowen
U11 Blitz
Sunday 29th October
Kick-off at 10:30 in Drumbiggle
U13 Boys: Ennis v Old Crescent
Sunday 29th October
Venue: Old Crescent
U15 Boys: Ennis v Nenagh
Sunday 29th October
Kick-off at 10:30 in Lee’s Road
