GLEESON LEAGUE : SECTION A

ENNIS v UL Bohemians in Lees Road, Ennis

10th January 2015 @ 2.30pm

Ennis 13 UL Bohemians 6

Ennis finished off their league campaign with another win over strong opponents ULBohs. Conditions were stormy and favored Ul Bohs in the first half. They did not have the game plan to utilize the conditions and were content to try to run the ball at the Ennis defensive line. As many other teams have discovered to their dismay this year, the Ennis defense is one of the best in the league and they again stood up to the task. Despite the majority of possession, the Bohs team were limited to just two penalty attempts in the first half. They were both converted to leave the visitors ahead 6­0 at half­time. Ennis have had their backs to the wall in previous games and were very confidant that they could now execute their game plan with a huge wind at their backs. They settled early and soon out- half, Kealan Flaherty, was pulling the strings in midfield and kicking the ball deep into opposition territory. The Ennis pack were dominant but Ul Bohs defended strongly in their own 22. An inspired substitution was eventually required to capitalize on the Ennis dominance. Peter Johnston was only on the field for one minute when he took control of the ball and drove over for his first try of the season. The try went unconverted but it was back to the grindstone for the players and Ennis went in front for the first time in the game when O'Flaherty successfully kicked a penalty from 30 meters out. They final 20 minutes were an all­out siege on the UL Bohs try line but they held firm until the final minute of the game. A line­out throw to Ennis was secured and John Queally peeled away from the resultant maul to dot down over the line. Again, the try went unconverted but the final whistle blew for full­time and it was time to celebrate a successful season for the Ennis team which are only in their second year of existence. Coach Donal McMahon was full of
praise for his charges " These lads have shown huge commitment and a great attitude all year. They reached a cup final last year in their first season and have now improved on their league form from last year. We still have another cup campaign to face this year so
hopefully we can go one step better and bring some silverware back to the club ".

Ennis : Philip Molloy, Tony White, Ruairi Quinlan, Damien O'Halloran, John Queally,Adam Ryan, Conor Mahony, Alan Brandon, David Ryan, Kealan O'Flaherty, Tola Coote, Tom Lernihan, Mark O'Halloran, Peter Hanna, Sean Lynch.
Subs : Peter Johnston, Donal McMahon

Seconds: 

Ennis V UL Bohs, Saturday January 10th 14:30 Showgrounds 

Firsts:

Ennis V Bandon, Sunday January 11th 14:30 Showgrounds

Presentation V Ennis
Sunday 4/1/15

Ennis started 2015 with an away trip in Limerick against Presentation. Ennis winning the last 3 games in a row were upbeat and confident and started well with a 7-5 lead after 10mins. Another penalty saw them extend the lead to 10-5 and with the Ennis Pack playing well in the first half enjoyed the benefits with Ciaran Reid scoring off a maul to make it 17-5 at the break with Sean Hayes Converting the kicks.

The second half saw Presentation get into the game, with an early Penalty try and an Ennis Yellow Card for coming in from the side off a rolling maul to make it 17-12. 
Pres took the advantage of Ennis's 14 men to score again to take the lead 19-17 after 10mins into the second half. The Ennis Backline added some pressure and Niall Nevin reaped the rewards of an Intercept to score a try for Ennis to retake the lead 24-19. Ennis then were reduced to 10 men with a second yellow, turning to a red for being at the wrong side of a ruck.
Presentation added the pressure again and from a block down clearance kick scored but missed the conversion. 

Full Time and it was a draw between the sides but Presentation getting the all important bonus point for the 4 tries to Ennis's 3. Pres receiving 3 points and Ennis 2 Points. 

Ennis next game is against league leaders Bandon next Sunday January 11th : 14:30 in the Showgrounds. All Support Welcome.

Ennis Under 15’s v Galwegians

Lees Rd, 11/1/15

Ennis 63 – Galwegians 12

At this level it can be difficult to explain how one team can amass such a comprehensive scoreline result v opposition of relative equal strengths. Both sides had rugby in them, both were physically strong, both had decent set pieces. Also both has to deal with blustery conditions.

However as the Ennis coaches noted in training the group were working hard to incorporate patterns of play into the team and working through phases to create space. This was the major difference, the Ennis teams ability to know what was happening next and to be in position to make something happen. It was a joy to watch and the large crowd got real entertainment.

Ennis scored 9 tries and all nine were converted by the excellent boot of Joe Connaughton. There was real style with most of the scores having come from strong phase building, runners taking strong lines into space and lots of support runners running at various angles. On a number of occasions Ennis were able to give two or three additional passes as they cantered over the line as was the level of support. This was epitomised midway through the second half when the excellent Harry Talty broke through, fended off a would be tackle and gave a ten meter pass to the support runner on his left, who in turn passed back in field, but instead of going for the line scrum half Zack Whelehan passed again to Morgan Garry who in turn passed again to Joe Connaughton to touch down under the posts. The Galwegians defence could not deal with this and were left flat footed and unsure of where and who to tackle.

Playing into the strong wind in the first half the Ennis pack continued to make hard yards, off load and change the point of attack. Carries from the second row partnership of Jack Wall O Reilly and David Sexton gave real momentum to the Ennis backs. The first two scores came from Stephen Sheehan, the second from some distance as he glided through space created by the forwards. The second score after Galwegians had levelled the game. Ennis were unperturbed by this and continued to work through phases. Strong tackles by the impervious Eoin Clancy who is playing suburb rugby at the moment and the dogged Stephen Dolan continued to repel all Galwegians had. However it was the play of Aaron Hennessey at number 8 throughout the game in arguable one of his best games of the season and the methodical Eoghan Wallace and Harry Talty as back row patterns that continued to rule the break down, tackle area and expose any weakness that were there to be exploited. It was a formidable back row performance, Eldon Nolan too at loose head had a massive game with ball carrying and off loading ability. Two further scores before half time one outstanding cut through by electric winger Kevin Considine, 2 by “Connie” in quick succession,  led to a half time score of 28-5.

With a rolling substitutes agreed for the game big contributions from Ryan Twomey, Jack Hanrahan, Eoin Martin,  Paul Tuohy were very significant. Eddie Jennings looked very hungry and made a number of excellent tackles and one great turnover. Shane Brennan, Sean Healy and Luke O Sullivan also made telling contributions. All players putting in a strong shout for the upcoming Semi Final of the North Munster League v Newcastlewest

The second half continued where the first left off albeit with some positional changes. Continuing to alter the point of attack constantly put runners into space where outstanding support lines unhinged the Galway sides porous defence. With the quick ball that was resulting the Ennis backs controlled affairs, Morgan Garry was outstanding in seeing and taking this space, through running and drawing players or sublime kicks turning the opposition. Ross O Flaherty and Joe Connaughton were teak solid in Midfield and Sean Dolan dangerous on the wing. Further scores in the second half through Joe Connaughton (2), Eldon Nolan, Jack O Reilly and the speedy Garry on the full time whistle completed a very strong performance.

Ennis; Eoin Clancy, Stephen Dolan, Eldon Nolan, Jack Wall O Reilly, David Sexton, Eoghan Wallace, Aaron Hennessey, Harry Talty, Zack Whelehan, Morgan Garry, Ross O Flaherty, Joe Connaughton, Stephen Sheehan, Kevin Considine, Sean Dolan, Paul Tuohy, Luke O Sullivan, Shane Brennan, Eoin Martin, Ryan Twomey, Eddie Jennings, Sean Healy, Jack Hanrahan

Mini Training will resume this Sunday 4th Jan.

Keep an eye out for notification from coaches. If you do not get any notification then it will the usual 10am at the Clubhouse.