PICTURED: Tom Moynihan and daughters Orna, Ciara and Emer, who all scored for Ennis/Kilrush at the weekend as Ciara made her debut. Photo by Helen McQuillan
By Dearbhla Parry
Senior Women’s League: Ennis/Kilrush RFC 27 – 8 Tralee RFC
The Moynihan sisters took the lead for Ennis/Kilrush as they secured another league win. The Ennis/Kilrush senior women’s team avenged their league opening loss to Tralee with a comprehensive home victory to leave them three points behind the league leaders UL Bohemian, albeit with the Clare team having a game in hand.
The first quarter saw numerous penalties against both sides, preventing the game from flowing and resulting in two yellow cards for Ennis/Kilrush and one for Tralee. Fullback Orna Moynihan opened the scoring with a blistering line break and soon after, her sister, winger Emer got in for the game’s second score. Neither were converted and Tralee managed to turn some good field position into a converted penalty to bring the score to 10-3. Ennis/Kilrush added to the score further when captain Michaela Glynn led by example with a powerful line break and a good offload to centre partner Ailish Dunne who passed to Orna Moynihan in space, allowing her to touch down for her second and Ennis-Kilrush’s third try, converted by Glynn, bringing the first half score to 17-3.
Ennis took a while to establish dominance in the second half and in the final quarter, Ennis second row, Laura Cooney ran in for the game’s fourth. Ennis/Kilrush added their fifth try a few moments later when substitute winger Ciara Moynihan joined her sisters on the score sheet with some great passing out the back line, allowing her to touch down in the corner. Tralee added a length of the pitch try on the game’s final play, with no conversion, bringing the final score to 27-8.
U18 Girl’s Munster League: Ennis RFC 27-7 Carrick-on-Suir RFC
Ennis U18 girls played their fifth league game of the season away to Carrick-on-Suir on Saturday morning knowing a win would finish them top of their table.
Against the run of play, Carrick-on-Suir scored first under the posts with a strong break out of their own half. However undeterred, Ennis bounced back quickly and from a line-out near Carrick’s line, Nell Walsh scored in the opposite corner. Soon after, Ennis centre Eileen Keane broke through for another try, converted by her sister, Emma Keane. Ennis scored again before halftime following a great switch in direction in attack and Ellis O’Flaherty worked hard to get to the opposite wing to receive the ball and score in the corner. By halftime, the score showed 17-7 to Ennis.
As substitutes were brought on in the second half, Ennis continued to defend and put some serious pressure on the Carrick-on-Suir defence. Lyndsay Clarke made a great break from a loop play with the two Keanes in the centre to score Ennis’ fourth try.
Ennis number 6, Sally Kelly crossed the whitewash for the final score of the game: 27-7.
Ennis: Annie Lynch, Aishling Heapes, Ciara Reidy, Ciara Frawley, Caolinn Cahill, Sally Kelly, Maggie Murphy, Emily Kelly, Niamh McManus, Lyndsay Clarke (Joint Captain), Ellis O’Flaherty, Eileen Keane, Emma Keane, Nell Walsh, Sadhbh Faughey, Kiera O’Neill, Alana Foudy, Kayla Considine, Ava Walsh, Amy Butler, Ella Courney, Saoirse Coleman, and Rachel Murphy.
Next up for the Ennis U18s is a home quarter final on the 7th of January against South Munster opponents, which has yet to be confirmed.
U16 Boy’s Munster A Cup: Ennis RFC 26 – 19 Waterpark RFC
The Ennis U16 team had a great win against Waterpark on Saturday.
Ennis started off stronger when Harry O’Donoghue scored a try, giving Ennis a 7 – 0 lead. That is, until Waterpark quickly took over the lead with 7 – 14 after two quick tries. Just before halftime and after good pressure from O’Donoghue, he scored his second try to leave the game ties 14 – 14.
Ennis started off strong again in the second half and sustained pressure to score a try from Cian MacGearailt. Ennis responded well with Oran Considine scoring in the corner after Waterpark scored. Ennis’ fantastic defence held out against Waterpark in the last few minutes, allowing a final score of 26 – 19.
Fixtures:
Senior Men: Ennis v UL Bohemians
Thursday 28th December
Kick-off at 12:00 in Drumbiggle
