Ennis RFC was founded in 1923 and has been an active and intrinsic member of the local community ever since. Located on the Drumbiggle Road, the club’s senior team currently plays its rugby in Division 2 of the Munster Junior League and we have an extremely strong youths and mini’s set up, catering for well in excess of 250 kids. Our clubhouse contains a well appointed bar and a newly re-furbished gym. In addition to the clubhouse facilities we also have two 6-a-side floodlit astroturf pitches which are available for rent to the wider community.U-14 North Munster Conference Final
Ennis 17 – Newcastle West 0
Ennis went to Thomond Park on Saturday to meet Newcastle West in the final of the North Munster U-14 Conference. Ennis had progressed unbeaten through the league and after having beaten their opposition twice already this season, were firm favourites for the final. This did not prevent Newcastle West from putting up stiff opposition on the day and putting Ennis under pressure right to the finish.
As is the norm in finals, nerves were a significant factor particularly in the opening exchanges with both teams trying not to make errors or give any advantage to the opposition. Indeed for the first 10 minutes Ennis were on the backfoot with Newcastle West dominant at the breakdown and hungrier in the exchanges. However the strong Ennis pack gradually gained a foothold in Newcastle West territory and their constant forays into the opposition 22 yielded a first kickable penalty opportunity for scrum half Fionn Langan after 10 minutes. Langan’s kicking has been improving all season and while this attempt was probably on the limit of his range, his excellent strike hit the post and caused a scare for Newcastle West as they scrambled to clear their line. Further strong running by the Ennis pack with Shane Kenny and Cormac Brown to the fore presented another kicking opportunity for Langan which he duly slotted over to get Ennis on the scoreboard. Ennis started to play to their strengths with the forwards securing their lineouts, solid in the scrum and taking the ball to Newcastle West thereby providing a solid platform for this ever improving Ennis backline. Eoin O’Brien at outhalf used the full realm of his skills and varied the gameplan as he saw fit. Evan Crowley at centre gained major territory with strong running up the middle and Matt Hanrahan at outside centre proved to be the perfect link to bring the back three of Jack Feeney, Jack Duggan and Fionn O’Brien into play to take the ball wide. The Ennis backs continued to stretch the Newcastle West defence and this eventually provided the opportunity for the super dynamic Evan Crowley to take the ball over the line for the first try of the game. With 5 minutes to go in the first half Ennis had taken control and continued to pressurise the try line. Strong defence from Newcastle West prevented any further scores in the 1st half despite strong running from Brendan Cleland, Alex O’Callaghan and Noel Shannon.
