Gorey stun Carlow in league opener
Gorey were strong in defence and held Carlow out several times close to the line. Photo: Aisling Hyland
Division 1B of the Leinster League got underway on Saturday evening at Oak Park, as County Carlow suffered a surprise defeat at home to Gorey.
Carlow finished one place above Gorey last season, but there was a significant chasm between the sides, with Tom Crotty's men winning by 20 points in the same fixture last year before thrashing Gorey 38-0 down in Wexford. But these were two very different teams that took the field on Saturday, with the visitors running out fully-deserved winners, leaving Oak Park with the bonus point.
Gorey produced an incredible defensive set in the opening exchanges to deny Carlow an early try, despite the home team going through almost 20 phases in the 22. The visitors exploded down to the other end of the field and won a penalty on the 22, right in front of the Carlow posts. Full back, Mark Kehoe called for the tee and nudged his side into a 3-0 lead after ten minutes.
Gorey won another central penalty a few moments later, this time just outside the 40-metre line. Kehoe pointed at the posts again, and the result was the same. 6-0.
It was all Gorey at this stage as the visitors won a lineout deep inside Carlow territory, only to be turned over five metres from the line.
Carlow produced some wonderful handling in the Gorey 22 before kicking to the corner, setting a maul and driving towards the line. The pack was stopped illegally and chose to tap the resulting penalty, but they were turned over almost immediately as Gorey cleared to halfway.
Carlow were that little bit off, while everything was clicking for the visitors. Kehoe had his third kick at goal in the 28th minute, central again and 30 metres from the posts, with the full back showing great consistency to make it 9-0.
As well as his kicking, Kehoe showed plenty of powerful running as he brought play back to the Carlow 22 and forced another penalty. Gorey kicked to the corner this time, claimed the lineout, and began taking Carlow through the phases.
More penalties followed as the visitors went back to the corner, but not before referee Ezequiel Roldan Olivera flashed a yellow card at Carlow's Paddy Rogers five minutes before half time.
Gorey thought they had finally gotten over for a try seconds later, but Carlow managed to hold them up over the line. The visitors won a scrum penalty in the aftermath and returned to the corner, only for Reece Edghill to steal the resulting lineout.
Gorey persisted, however, and eventually forced their way over the line on the stroke of half time thanks to prop, Kevin Brown. Kehoe added the extras to leave his side 16-0 up at the interval.
Gorey hit the ground running in the second half, but they could not find a way through Carlow's impressive defence. Scott Neale was probably the home side's best player in attack, and his carrying looked the most likely way for Carlow to break the Gorey line.
It was then the visitors' turn to be reduced to 14 men when Emmet Slator was sent to the bin for playing the nine. Carlow worked their way to the line, only for Neale to be held up; but they recycled, went again, and sent Paddy Rogers over for his team's first try. Ben Crotty could not find the target with his conversion and it remained 16-5 after an hour.
But Gorey replied practically from the restart, with scrum half Stephen Horan dancing over under the posts. Kehoe added the extras to make it an 18-point game.
Carlow worked their way back to the Gorey 22, but that was as far as the attack went before they found themselves back defending a lineout on their own 22 mere seconds later. Gorey fly half, Stephen Duke had been quiet throughout, but he produced a moment of magic ten minutes before full time to skip past three defenders and cross for his team's third try. Kehoe added the conversion to bring the visitors up to 30 points.
The hosts brought the play back inside Gorey's 22, with captain Dave McDermott putting his head down and driving for the line. Carlow recycled and went wide, sending winger Caomhan Brennan over in the corner.
There was time for one final score and it was Gorey who found it, with captain, John Milne going in beside the post to give his side the bonus-point win. Cian Hadden added the conversion to complete the rout.
P Rogers and C Brennan (1 try each).
K Brown, S Horan, S Duke and J Milne (1 try each), M Kehoe (3 pens, 3 cons) C Hadden (1 con).
Ben Crotty; Caomhan Brennan, Dave McDermott, Alan Owens, Josh Cope; Robbie Coleman, Noah Cope; Darragh Brennan, Scott Neale, Ross Byrne; John Lyons, Conor Moore; Danny Carpenter, Conor Tracey, Johnny Murphy.
Paddy Rogers, Reece Edghill, Shane Hanlon, Eoin Edgehil, Mick Drea.
Mark Kehoe; Brian O'Leary, Bernard Trevor, John Milne, Jack Tully; Stephen Duke, Stephen Horan; Sean Egan, Daragh Fitzpatrick, Kevin Brown; Tom Stokes, Lloyd Stephens; Cian Kenny, Harry Stacey, Ewan Stephens.
Cian Byrne, Jack Ryan, Shay Guilfoyle, Emmet Slator, Cian Hadden.
Ezequiel Roldan Olivera.
