Ennis U13s Claim 10 A Side Tournament

Ennis under 13’s finished their season in great style on Sunday last in the Curragh to win the inaugural Cill Dara 10 a side tournament showing some great skill and class in the process.

Courtesy of Niall Mangan

Ennis entered two sides into the competition with Ennis Red starting off promising against a Barbarian side drawing 2 tries all in a game they could have won with scores from Stephan Dolan and Jack Hanrahan. They went on to beat Clane RFC by 4 tries to 1 with scores from Jack O Reilly, Shane Brennan and a brace from Liam Wall for a comfortable victory. Their final game resulted in a loss to hosts Cill Dara bu 4 tries to 2 with Eddie Jennings and Paul Tuohy grabbing the scores – this was however enough to put them through as runner up in the group for a Quarter Final berth.

Ennis Blacks really hit the ground running scoring 5 tries in each of their opening group games against Orsay (French visiting team), Newbridge and Cill Dara. Tremendous speed and accuracy was the key that none of the opposing teams could live with. The scorers in the group were Philip Talty 5 tries, Oisin Mangan 2, Arron Hennessey 3, Elias Kunz, Ronan Lanigan, Zack Whelehan, Darragh Slattery and Joseph Connaughton also scoring.

Ennis Red went on to play the Orsay stronger side in the quarter final of the cup to be beaten by the only score of the game after putting up a great fight with outstanding performances from James Nugent, Shane Brennan, Jack O Reilly and Jack Hanrahan.

Ennis black made light work of Carlow in their Quarter final running in 4 unanswered tries by Talty, Mangan, Whelehan and Lanigan in a game where they were always very comfortable and where they exploited the space very well. A Semi Final followed against Cill Dara Black and while the game were becoming tougher and tighter the obvious skill and class of the Ennis side was apparent. Superb angles of running and quick hands allowed Philip Talty, Ronan Lanigan and Arron Hennessey to ghost in for a final score of 3 tries to 1.

A very big and determined Newbridge side were the opponents for the final. While NEwbridge started the brighter and threatened to score early on Ennis showed how to defend repelling their opponents on a number of occasions. One of the most memorable moments of the final was a break away by a very strong Newbridge player who had though he had scored for the finals opening score only to be hit by Ronan Lanigan at the corner flag like a steam train when Ronan had no right to get close to him. This determination and resulting lineout win allowed Ennis to work their phases up the field and explode into life for quick hands to give Joe Connaughton the opening score. From the resulting kick off the ever athletic David McNamara caught the ball and returned with interest scoring an immediate second covering the length of the pitch. Ennis were now in control and with a change of play from left to right Zack Whelehan released his half back team mate Oisin Mangan to finish the contest. The Ennis lads rejoiced with this superb victory and they were fully deserved of their victory after a long season. On Thursday last great support was given to the U13 Table Quiz in Flanagans, Lahinch. A big thank you to all that attended and supported the ongoing development with the underage section of Ennis Rugby Club and the continued development of Rugby in Co Clare.