U20 XV v Seapoint (H) by D. O’Brien – 17.11.2024
St Mary’s College RFC U20s V Seapoint RFC U20s
30 13
JP Fanagan Premier 2 Section B
Templeville Road
17th November 2024
Overall
There is an exhilaration about U20 rugby, with its youthful exuberance and adventure and the match between St Marys and Seapoint had both. The group is a happy one and particularly so as they sit top of the table and looking good. The work put in by Head Coach, Sean Healy and his colleagues, Finn Burke, Martyn Van Eeden and Dan Llanelli (S&C) and Manager Vinnie Murray and his colleagues Gary Croke and Adam McInerney, is immense and much of the reason why this group is thriving. The traditional pride, loyalty and spirit of St Marys is interwoven into this squad and they showed it today. Each year we see sons of former Marys’ men take their place in the U20s. Today, two players who shone, Captain and leader Lucca Jennings and fullback Jack Halpin are sons of former prominent senior players, Karl Jennings and Garth Halpin. They both likewise followed in their fathers’ choice of positions. Promising second row, Paddy Power, is son of former Marys’ player Paddy Power, who was a highly mobile, quality hooker, and Eoghan Pender a promising prop was on the bench, he is son of our Senior Rugby Manager Paul Pender.
Throughout the game, every one of the St Marys players committed themselves and played with élan. Although Seapoint had a heavier pack the home side’s scrum held sway, the front-rowers in particular, can be proud of their work. Both sides, in a highly competitive match, played with flair and the game was credit to them. Seapoint lost a man to a red card for a high, dangerous tackle, after only 16 minutes, but they continued to be competitive.
The mobility of the Marys pack was a feature, with second rowers Luke Polickey and Oran Reid, extremely mobile and skilled in the loose. They were frequently found in support of the fine backrow. It was good to note the ability of all these young players to off-load from the tackle. The backline showed good intent, with scrum half, Gavin Mulvihill giving smooth service to outhalf Ethan Kenny whose deft hands moved the line well, and Sam Ryan caught the eye with his determined straight running and ability to distribute.
The match was only two minutes old when Seapoint under pressure in their 22, tried a chip over the advancing Marys backline. It went straight into the arms of a Marys man who swung it wide to reach Jack Halpin, up in support, he swayed outside the defence, straightened and sprinted in for neat try, converted by Ethan Kenny; 7-0.
Seapoint responded with a strong attack and it was seven minutes gone when they were obstructed going over for a try. Seapoint got a penalty try and Marys got a yellow card. 7-7. Ethan Kenny added a penalty on 11 minutes. Seapoint drew even with a penalty of their own on 13 minutes. The game was moving a good pace and intensity now. It was nearly half time when from a scrum near the Seapoint line, impressive number 8, Joe Durkan, picked, broke hard and forced his way over for a try. 15-10.
The second half was six minutes old, when Seapoint added another penalty to make it 15-13.
Fortunes swayed over the next period when on 63 minutes Marys got penalty close to the Seapoint line. They took a short one and after a series of well controlled picks and drives, hard-working and skilled Six, Liam Flaherty, forced his way over. With 68 minutes gone, a fine multi-phase passage of play, led to the ball going wide right to left to reach left winger Callum Gibney who hit Mk2 and over in the corner. That made it 27-13 and with an added penalty, the final score was 30-13. The final ten minutes was played in a heavy shower but it did not effect play.
The squad can go forward with confidence now and will hopefully achieve promotion.
Line-up
15 J Halpin, D McNulty, 13 H Judge, 12 S Ryan, 11 C Gibney, 10 E Kenny, 9 G Mulvihill, 8 J Durkan, 7 L Jennings (Capt.), 6 L Flaherty, 5 O Reid, 3 C Scott, 2 C Enright, 1 J Molloy. 16 E Dillon, 17 R Smith, 18 P Power, 19 O Weber, 20 D Flynn, 21 Z O’Brien, 22 R Morgan. E Pender, T Keogan.
D O’Brien.