Kilkenny lost out to their old foes Enniscorthy in Saturdays Leinster League Division 1A clash.
It Finished Kilkenny 16 points, Enniscorthy 19 points.
It was a more encouraging performance from Packie Hennebry’s side who had been rocked by injuries for large spells before the Christmas break.
Enniscorthy are one of the top teams around so although Kilkenny lost, there will be many positives to take from the performance.
There was better news for Tullow who beat Mullingar by 17-6 in Division 1B, and this means that Tullow are now second overall in the division.
While in Division 2A Carlow beat Railway Union by 36 points to 22.
John Shirley Reports
Carlow 36 Railway Union 22
Carlow welcomed Dublin side Railway Union to Oakpark on Sunday and promptly beat them to take their third place slot in the Leinster League table.
Carlow owned the first half and went in at the interval 24 nil ahead and the 4 try bonus point secured. Carlow’s first try came on 5 minutes. A Hennessey penalty attempt bounced back off the posts. RU failed to clear. Nolan and Shirley made good ground, the ball was recycled to prop Alan (Benny) Byrne who crashed over.
The next try was a team effort. Good lineout possession was secured from a penalty kicked to the corner. The ball was flashed across the backs for Seamus Curran to score in the corner. Carlow’s 3rd try had an element of good fortune. The ball seemed to be in touch in the Carlow half but this wasn’t flagged. The ball was rooted up the field.
Amid the confusion an attempted clearance was caught by Ian Atkinson, on for the injured Seamus Curran, and he had just to touch the ball down for the score. James Nolan, who was having a stormer of a game, broke through for try number 4 after good passing by the backs.
Carlow seemed to switch off in the second half. Ceding territory and possession for the first 10 minutes eventually the Dubliners broke through for a try from a quick tapped penalty. Almost immediately Carlow replied when ground was made by prop McGrath and captain Ratahi for sub Conal Slater to make the final hard yards and score. This restored Carlow’s 24 point lead at 29 -5.
Then followed a jittery period for the Oakpark side. The games most influential player Wes Shirley was sinbinned for persistent Carlow fouling. With Carlow’s lineout expert gone, RU kicked for the corner. The referee deemed that the subsequent maul was collapsed and promptly awarded a penalty try under the posts. The conversion made it 29 – 12. Within a minute the Dubliners had a third score when an attempted clearance in the 22 was blocked down. RU had their tails up and were within two scores at 29-17.
However Carlow rallied and brought the ball to the opposition 22. A good lineout catch was secured by Bermingham. The ball came to outhalf Andrew Hanley. All day Hanley had been flashing the ball wide but this time he jinked through himself and scored under the post without being touched.
The siege had been lifted and while RU got a very good wingers try in the final move of the game Carlow’s win always looked safe.
Over the past two seasons Carlow Railway Union games have always been noisy with both sets of supporters “advising” the referee during the game. However on Sunday the referee responded when he issued the RU coach with a Red Card about half way through the second half.
Next week Carlow travel to Edenderry who lie fifth in the table.
Carlow Team:
Peter Hennessey, Sam Dunne, Caomhan Brennan, Simon Walshe, Seamus Curran, Andrew Hanley, Alex Crossley, Larry McGrath, Evan Gordon, Ross Byrne, John Lyons, Wes Shirley, Niall Bermingham, Thomas Ratahi (capt), James Nolan.
Subs: Alan Byrne, Thomas Whitney, Conal Slator, Mark Slye, Ian Atkinson.
