*Ennis captain Micaela Glynn in action. Photograph: Trea Heapes.
ENNIS RFC made history in Carlow on Saturday afternoon as they won their first ever AIL match, and they got the first ever AIL win by any club in Clare.
Tullow 26
Ennis 29
Venue: The Black Gates, Tulla
By Harry Shorthose
Gareth O’Hanlon’s young charges were impressive, and didn’t let the pressure get to them, even when their backs were against the wall, they found a way to get back into the match, never stopped believing and stuck to their gameplan.
It would have been easy for them to give up at times, especially when they were 12-0 down after 15 minutes. Aoibheann Hahessy had spoken at the league launch about development being their primary focus rather than results but they surely would have targeted this game against Tullow who were winless last season, and are lucky to still be in the AIL, having finished bottom with no points.
They were given a lifeline by Suttonians pulling out of the league. A Tullow side with a new manager and a team mixed with experience and youth looked strong in attack but struggled defensively, with Ennis being patient in attack and finding gaps in the defence.
In the early stages, it appeared as if Tullow would run riot. The hosts took the lead after ten minutes, as an interception from Roisin O’Toole in her own half of the pitch saw her sprint down the left wing and with no Tullow players with her and Ennis players in pursuit, she kept going and tapped the ball down to the left of the posts.
Tullow’s new Samoan international, France Bloomfield, sister of former club captain, Keiaho Bloomfield was on conversion duties and missed her kick from the left, falling short of the posts. Five minutes later, Alex O’Brien, one of the longest serving players on the team, and sister of British and Irish Lion Sean pushed Tullow further ahead as she went over under the posts. Bloomfield converted easily to give Tullow a 12-0 lead. With 19 minutes gone, a quick Ennis penalty was recycled to the right hand side where they were awarded another penalty. Tullow overturned the ball and cleared their lines, giving the ball back to Ennis who pushed forward but conceded a penalty to Tullow, which allowed them to clear.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Ennis registered their first score of the game. A 5m scrum saw Saher Hamden crash over right next to the posts to the right. Emma Keane converted. With two minutes until half-time, Tullow edged further ahead. A penalty was kicked into the right hand side, leading to a lineout to Tullow on the 22m line. They pushed forward and won a penalty. Kelly took it quickly and the ball was played into O’Neill who found a gap to go in right next to the posts. Bloomfield converted to give Tullow an 11 point lead going into the break.
Ennis started the second half off best and within six minutes, Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey had gone over to reduce the deficit to five points with Keane adding the extras. However, Tullow kept finding a way to get scores, Chloe Farrell finding space down the right hand side and going in around the back to touch down under the posts. Bloomfield added the conversion. Ennis refused to give up though. They put pressure on in the right hand corner, recycled the ball out to the left where they won a penalty which was taken quick and played down the left into Megan O’Connor who went over in the left hand corner. Keane missed the conversion.
Just after the hour mark, Morrissey got her second try of the day as she went over just to the left of the posts. Keane added the conversion to set up a grandstand last 20 minutes. In the final minute, Ennis won a penalty and Keane made no mistake in firing over to win the game for the visitors.
(All photographs by Trea Heapes)
Ennis: Orna Moynihan; Emma Keane, Saskia Conway Morrissey, Saher Hamdan, Megan O’Connor; Lyndsay Clarke, Clodagh McMahon; Annie Lynch, Aisling Heapes, Ciara Coughlan, Aoibheann Hahessy, Laura Cooney, Sally Kelly, Micaela Glynn (capt), Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey. Replacements: Meadbh O’Driscoll, Saoirse Reidy, Emily Anglim, Eileen Keane, Amy Flavin, Emily Murphy, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin.
Tullow: Hilary FitzGerald, Sara Rennick, Chloe Farrell, Emma Carroll, Roisin O’Toole, Catherine Dempsey, France Bloomfield; Grace Kelly, Katie Ann O’Neill, Nicola Kilcoyne, Angela Viciano, Leah Browne, Lana Brennan, Emma Byrne, Alex O’Brien. Replacements: Gabby Cuddy, Anna O’Neill, Diana Kabi, Courtney Kelly, Siobhan Kennedy, Molly O’Gorman, Lisa O’Toole.
