Gorey U16 girls travelled over to Portlaoise on a mild autumn day for their Leinster League clash. 

Like last week against Wexford, this was an absorbing match. Both sides were able to attack and move the ball down the pitch in a controlled fashion, and both sides were able to defend well, pressurizing their opponents into mistakes and getting turnovers.  As a result, after 20 minutes, the match was still scoreless.  The breakthrough came for Portlaoise with 2 tries before half-time leaving the score mid-way at 10-0 to Portlaoise. 

The second half continued in similar fashion with the good play by both teams, Portlaoise scored another try, and then Aoibhin got a super try under the posts, which Emer converted. In the final play of the game Portlaoise broke through to get a converted try.  The final score was 22-7 to Portlaoise.

Despite the scoreline, it was a great display by the team in terms of performance, intensity and enthusiasm.  With just a single sub today, and the usual knocks, bruises and bumps in the course of a match, for nearly half the game, the girls had to play 14 against 15; Portlaoise paid the girls a good complement by not going to 14.  Great to see some of the training work making it thru to the matches.  Are their things that can be improved? Well yes of course.

Next Friday the team are travelling over to New Ross in the South East League.

Team: Aobh Cadogan, Aisling Rooney, Niamh Shannon, Jessica Foley, Dearbhail Gregan, Ellen Dixon, Orla Doheny, Lily Nagle, Heather Considine, Emer Ivanoff, Emma Ormonde Donegan, Aoibhin Ryan, Ciara Byrne, Mia Doherty, Zara Grouse.

Subs: Amy O’Brien.