Railway Union 6 Carlow 12
By John Shirley
It’s a long time since Carlow came away from Railway Union’s grounds in Park Avenue Sandymount Dubin with two Leinster League rugby wins but they managed it on Sunday with both Junior 1 and Junior 2 teams.
In a tightly fought encounter the Carlow firsts led 7 – 3 after the first half and were up 12 – 6 when the final whistle blew.
Carlow started strongly and their 1st score after 5 minutes was a carbon copy of last week’s opener. A penalty was kicked t the corner and from the ensuing maul number 2 Joe Gorman burrowed through for the touchdown. Unlike last week the try was converted by Rob Browne.
While there was no shortage of endeavour the only other score in this half was a home side penalty scored after the industrious Wes Shirley was yellow carded. Twice a Carlow try looked possible if the ball was swung wide but the inside option was taken and got nowhere.
Carlow also started well in the second half. A period of sustained pressure saw James Nolan getting over for an unconverted try in the corner. This put Carlow 12 – 3 ahead. A second Carlow yellow, this time to Niall on 20 minutes for tackling off the ball, saw Railway getting their second three pointer.
Then it was the home side’s turn to draw the referee’s wrath getting two yellow cards for “not rolling away”.
The home side piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes but the Carlow defence, which was good throughout, held firm. Scrumhalf David Ballon, secured a vital turnover close to his own line, when Railway looked like scoring three minutes from time.
Overall in this game Carlow eliminated many of thee errors seen against Cill Dara in the previous week. Neither side achieved lasting dominance in scrums or lineouts. An arm injury to Wes Shirley is a worry for Carlow but hopefully he will be ok for the next Leinster league game away to Edenderry in two weeks time. In the meantime Carlow former sharp shooter Harry Sothern is set to give the current crop some guidance on place kicking.
Carlow
Rob Browne, Seamus Curran, Jeff McDermott, Harry Hennessey, Johnny Murphy, John Whyte, David Barron, Larry McGrath, (Capt) Joe Gorman, Alan Byrne, Thomas Whitney, Wes Shirley, Niall Bermingham, Ross Elmes, James Nolan.
Subs; Evan Gordon, Mark Slye, Anthony Mannion, Chris Challe, Simon Walsh,
J2 Game
Railway Union 21 Carlow 27
Carlow’s Junior 2 side allowed a wind assisted Railway Union build up a 21- 0 lead in the first half but trumped the Dublin side with 27 unanswered points for the rest of the game.
The Oakpark side was totally revamped from last week but once the players clicked together they scored four good second half tries through Dillon Kehoe, Liam Slater, Fionnan Burke and Nigel Smyth.
Tim Mullins, a newcomer from New Zealand, featured at outhalf and scored seven points via a penalty and two conversions.
J2 team
Tom Bolger, Peter Hennessey, Simon Walshe, Fionan Burke, Gearoid Dunbar, Tim Mullins, Nigel Smyth, Ross Byrne, Rudi Corcoran, Zac Fitzhenry, Martin Mullins, Liam Slater, Tim O Donoghue, Dominic Rice, Ed Keating.
Subs; Michael Sheerin, Niall O Malley, Edghill Owen, Dillon Kehoe, Eoin Rea,.
Rathdrum 17 Carlow Coyotes 5
Carlow Coyotes women’s team travelled to Rathdrum minus several 1st choice starters for this Leinster League Division 1 encounter and were down 17 – 0 at half time.
However coach Justin Sharpe re jigged the team and the approach for the second half keeping the ball mainly in the pack. The outcome was that Carlow got a try while the strong Wicklow side was held scoreless.
The try was scored by number 2 Val Timmons who got over in the corner after the Coyotes had carried the ball through about 10 phases.
Carlow Coyotes
Maureen Young, Kerry Dooley, Joyce Mahon, Rebecca Mullen, Rachel Mulholland, Shorcha Fitzhenry, Emily McKeown, Erin Byrne, Val Timmons, Tanala Kehoe, Rebecca Smith, Lisa O Malley, Nollaig Lyon, Chloe Byrne, Keeva Owens.
Subs; Robin Mullen, Abigail Mullen.
