PICTURED: Cian O’Connor touches down for Ennis U16s vs St Senans
ENNIS’ U14 girls recorded an impressive win over Ballina/Killaloe/Scariff while in another Clare derby, the club’s U16 boys prevailed over St Senan’s RFC.
By Dearbhla Parry
U14 Girls: Ennis RFC 49-17 Ballina/Killaloe/Scariff RFC
Drumbiggle was the scene of the Ennis and Ballina/Killaloe/Scariff girls’ match. The game was overall a good day out for the Ennis girls and made up for their previous defeat with a great team effort by winning 49-17.
Ballina/Killaloe/Scariff started off well and scored the first try in the opening minutes of the game. Ennis rallied back to even up the try count with winger Eve Tiernan running in a try in the corner, converted by Biborka Benko. The opponents scored the next try, and soon Ennis ran in two more tries just before halftime, making the halftime score 21-10.
Ennis started off the second half by running in three great team tries. Killaloe/Ballina/Scariff came back with another try and fought a brave battle before Ennis ran in another try, putting the game beyond 30 points and making the referee enforce the 30-point rule.
The Ennis team on the day were Sadbh McMahon, Sophie Hanrahan, Rebecca Toone, Addison Kelly, Emma Hanrahan, Emma Browne, Sally Crowe, Rachel Clarke, Lauren Reidy, Biborka Benko, Eve Tiernan, Niamh Browne, Rachel Hanrahan, Lily Richardson, and Eadaoin McNamara.
U15 Boys Competition Bowl: Ennis RFC 5-20 Newcastle West RFC
Newcastle West came out winners against Ennis with 20-5 after three second half tries.
Ennis took control of the game in the first half, but were unable to break down their opponent’s stubborn defence. Ennis led by five nil after twenty minutes and Newcastle West broke up the field and scored, leaving the score at 5-5 at halftime.
Unfortunately, Ennis could not get the scores needed in the second half to stop the final score.
U16 Girls Munster League:
Ennis RFC 20-17 Kilrush RFC
The Ennis U16 girls were away to Kilrush in the penultimate group game of the Munster league on Saturday and came out victorious with 20-17.
Ennis lost out-half Sarah Keavey through injury after 25 minutes, causing captain Laura Kate Ryan to move from full-back to number ten and Faye Ryan to come on at the second centre.
With four wins from four leaving them top of the table, Ennis went into the game knowing a win would put them into the quarter finals.
After an early try for Ennis by Aoife Martin, Kilrush came back with two tries within 10 minutes from Maeve Downes and Emma Geary, with a conversion by Geary. Kilrush maintained dominance, but Ennis were able to bring the game back to within one score with a try from Kate Howard. Despite good work in the tight from Lilith Kearney, Lucy Kelly, Kiera Hanrahan, and Eimear Meaney, Kilrush kept control of the game up to the break. Ennis scrum-half Grace Hoyne kept good pressure on the back of the Kilrush scrum, but Kilrush proved the more aggressive at the breakdown and kept their lead up to the half time break, leading by 10-12.
After ten minutes into the second half, Kilrush stretched their lead to seven points, with a well taken try by Holly Manning. Dogged tackling from Siofra Enright and Manning on the wings, combined with great running from Abbie Kelly and Eileen Keating, brought Ennis up to the Kilrush line. A strong break from Maeve McCarthy saw her going over for a try with 10 minutes left. Ennis saw Martin go for her second try in the corner for the last play of the game, to finish three points ahead of Kilrush.
Ennis: Lilith Kearney, Kate Howard, Aoife Martin, Lucy Kelly, Eimear Meaney, Maebh McCarthy, Kiera Hanrahan, Nicole Clarke, Grace Hoyne, Sarah Keavey, Holly Murphy, Eileen Keating, Abi Kelly, Siofra Enright, Laura Kate Ryan, and Faye Ryan.
U16 Boys League:
Ennis RFC 17-8 St. Senan’s RFC
Ennis played a great game in difficult conditions against St. Senan’s, resulting in a 17-8 derby victory.
St. Senan’s took a 0-3 lead at the beginning of the game, putting early pressure on Ennis. Luckily, Ennis were able to work their way into the game and took over the lead through Cian O’Connor’s try.
In the second half, Ennis dominated territory and possession, which was rewarded by another try from O’Connor. After another score off the restart with strong running and support play, Oran Considine was given space to crash over and push the score to 17-3. St. Senan’s responded with a consolation try, but the final score was still in favour of Ennis RFC.
Additional Results:
U18 Boys: Ennis 15-14 Shannon
U14 Boys: Ennis 22-29 Nenagh
