* Photo by Trea Heapes
Ennis RFC are making their presence felt in the Energia AIL having defeated Ballincollig to make it two wins from two at the highest level of domestic rugby.
A last-minute try for Ballincollig softened the scoreboard as it read 17-12 to the home side at the Ennis Showgrounds, in what was a composed and at times powerful display by the Clare side.
The first passage of play set the tone for the match as Ennis RFC piled on early pressure from the kick-off which led to a try in the very first minute. Lyndsay Clarke’s kick-off was received by Ballincollig however some flawless first-up tackling by Ennis in challenging conditions led to a dropped ball within three phases by the visiting Cork side on their own 22.
A skilful pick-up and leg-drive by Ennis No8 Caoilfhionn Morrissey set up the platform for a strong Micaela Glynn carry. She fell short one metre of the line and prop Ciara Coughlan was sharp to react, picking and sniping to the line for the first score of the game which was converted by winger Emma Keane.
Ennis were reminded on 12 minutes that they were in for a battle against the seasoned Ballincollig side – who have been an AIL side since 2021 and finished in seventh place last season – when the Cork side scored their first try of the game. Despite some excellent tackling from Ennis in the lead-up, Ballincollig No8 Aoife Madigan showed great athleticism to touch down off a tap-and-go free kick in front of the posts. Surprisingly the two points weren’t added on, which left Ennis leading 7-5.
There was to be no movement on the scoreboard – crucially – until the 39th minute of the first half but for the spectators, it was worth the wait as Ennis scored the try of the game. From a pre-worked scrum move from the clubhouse touchline just inside halfway, Ennis’s inside centre, new American recruit Saher Hamdan sold a dummy with a super inside step before offloading the ball for a move that would gain Ennis 25 metres and give them the platform to score their second try. What followed was six flawless phases of play where almost every Ennis player touched the ball, with particularly crucial contributions from Glynn, Clarke and fullback Megan O’Connor, before Caoilfhionn Morrissey put in the last leg drive in the right corner to score the try.
12-5 at half-time, Ennis picked up where they left off in the second half as they played into the car park end. Again it was a scrum move from just inside halfway that sparked the score, with No 8 Morrissey again proving the impetus as she bought Ennis 10 metres with a pick-and-go before being involved in the attack twice more, when she ultimately set up Lyndsay Clarke who finished well in the left corner in the 43rd minute.
That left Ennis 17-5 up which was enough of a buffer for Ennis as they maintained this lead til the very last play of the game when Ballincollig scored in the corner by second row Anna Kavanagh, which was converted by their outhalf Emma Connolly.
The only side in the history of AIL with a 100 per cent record – it’s a record the Ennis ladies will be hoping to extend on Saturday week, October 18, when they travel to Wicklow RFC.
Ennis: Megan O’Connor; Emma Keane, Saskia Morrissey, Saher Hamdan, Clodagh McMahon; Lyndsay Clarke, Emily Murphy; Annie Lynch, Meadbh O’Driscoll, Ciara Coughlan; Micaela Glynn, Laura Cooney; Sally Kelly, Aisling Heapes, Caoilfhionn Morrissey. Subs: Saoirse Reidy, Caoilinn Cahill, Aoibheann Hahessy, Eileen Keane, Amy Flavin, Patricia Coote, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin.
