Carlow 41 Portarlington 0
Carlow will meet sterner tests in this season’s Leinster League campaign than that offered by bottom of the table Portarlington at Oakpark on Sunday whom they trounced 41 points to nil.
From the start the Carlow pack were utterly dominant especially in the set pieces.
Their 7 try rout began in the 4th minute when they mauled the Laois side fully 30 metres before getting a penalty five metres from the Port line. A kick to the corner resulted in a drive from the lineout and a touch down by powerful number 2 Joe Gorman.
On 20 minutes a repeat of this formula saw Gorman getting his second try in the corner which was converted by fullback Rob Browne. Ten minutes later Gorman completed his hat trick when he darted in beside the post after good work by Curran and Walsh.
The home side had their 4-try bonus secured before the half time interval when Ross Elmes got in for a try which came from a good break and offload by Robert Browne a graduate from last season’s all conquering under 18 side.
From the start of this season Carlow’s Wes Shirley has played some outstanding rugby and 8 minutes into the 2nd half he intercepted a ball 20 metres from his own line and galloped the length of the pitch before being hauled down within centimetres of the try line.
However the supporting David Barron got the touch down in the corner.
Not to be denied, Shirley got up and converted the try from the touchline. Does this mean that Carlow has found a valuable new place kicker for the side?
Carlow’s sixth try came from a good finish in the corner by winger Johnny Murphy another graduate of last seasons Under 18 team. And for the final try Wes Shirley was again on the ball when he ran in under the posts after a break from a maul 20 metres out.
At this stage Carlow had brought on all their subs and while the visitors began to get some traction in their pack they never looked like scoring. Among the Carlow subs was Timothy Mullins a New Zealander a half back who has recently joined the club.
After four games this win leaves Carlow top of Division 2a of the Leinster League.
Their next game, away to joint 2nd placed New Ross, will tell a lot more about Carlow’s League prospects for this season, but current signs are positive.
The biggest disappointment from last Sunday is that Carlow’s Junior 2 side didn’t get a game when Portarlington didn’t field a team.
Carlow
Rob Browne, Seamus Curran, Jeff McDermott, Simon Walshe, Johnny Murphy, John Whyte, David Barron, Larry McGrath, (Capt) Joe Gorman, Mark Slye, Thomas Whitney, John Lyons, James Nolan, Ross Elmes Wes Shirley.
Subs; Evan Gordon, Timmy O Donoghue, Michael Mannion, Harry Hennessey, Timothy Mullins.
Portarlington
Jamie Connolly, Simon Horan, Jason Moore, Eugene Nolan, Anaval Storey, John Tobin, Conor Malone, Aaron Ryan, Fintan Murphy, Brendan Meagher, Keelan Hunt, Diarmuid Kelly, Richard Dowling, Dylan Maher, Jamison Mortimor.
Adam Maher, Adrian Hanley, Sean Higgins, Conor Houlihan.
Railway Union 45 Carlow 7
The Carlow Coyotes womens’ team suffered one of their greatest ever reverses on Sunday when Dublin side Railway Union ran up a 45 – 7 score against them. This contrasts with a 67 – 0 win for Carlow when these sides last met.
For last Sunday’s game Railway Union’s panel was strengthened by not having an All Ireland League fixture and also Carlow suffered several injuries early in the game.
Carlow started well enough and had a try from Tanala Keogh which Maureen Young converted but the strong Railway Union runners then prevailed. In spite of this loss Carlow remain third in the Leinster League table.
Carlow Coyotes
Maureen Young, Kerry Doyle, Bethany Sharpe, Regina Curren, Leone Conville, Lisa Doyle, Emily McKeown, Emer Murphy, Val Timmons, Tanala Kehoe, Rebecca Smith, Nollaig Lyon, Catriona Cassidy, Rebecca Mullen, Keeva Owens.
Subs; Lisa O Malley Chloe Byrne, Valentina Kavanagh, Abigail Mullen, Jackie Costigan, Doireann Bashford.
