Gorey and Naas have to do it all again, after they finished all square in normal time and again after extra time on a score of 24 each in an exciting game between two evenly matched teams. In fairness to both sides they both deserve to fight another day in what was a very entertaining game from start to finish.
Gorey started the brighter with the strong breeze at their backs and it wasn’t very long until they were awarded a penalty for Cian Hadden to convert. The match ebbed and flowed with Gorey shading the exchanges as they took the game to the Kildare men. A clever chip over the Gorey defence by fullback John Shanahan saw him gather and race in under the posts for him to add the conversion. Shortly after they added a further try when Tim Courtney went down the wing avoiding a couple of Gorey would be tacklers to go over for John Shanahan to add the conversion. Both tries really were brilliant opportunist tries and were against the run of play but Naas were now 14 3 up.
Gorey never panicked and stuck to their game plan as Lloyd Stephens Sean Traynor and really the whole pack carrying deep into the Naas 22. A Cian Hadden penalty brought the score to 14 6. In the final seconds of the half Gorey got the breakthrough they needed and deserved for their efforts with phase after phase on the Naas line finally seeing Eoin Walsh over, Cian Hadden was just wide with the conversion attempt to leave just 3 points between the teams at 14 11 to Naas.
Gorey restarted the second half the way they had finished the first with Tom Stokes Cian Byrne carrying hard. 10 minutes in the sides were level when Gorey were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty for Cian Hadden to draw the sides level. From the restart Gorey grew in confidence and started to move the ball through their backs with pace with George Slattery keeping the ball and the pack on the move. It nearly paid off with Killian Tomkins realising Marcus Wallace and Ross O Loughlin down the blindside for Seamus Tomkins to be just stopped at the line.
Naas settled and a had their own purple patch and in the 63rd minute their accurate fullback John Shanahan put them ahead again. Naas began to turn the screw with some astute kicking from outhalf Ross Murphy pinning Gorey deep in their half to see the game out and hopefully add to their lead.
Gorey never panicked as they waited for their chance to break out. It eventually arrived in the 78 minute. From a lineout deep in their 22 they moved the ball wide for Ross O Loughlin to drive it deep into the Naas half and the Gorey chasers weren’t far behind to force a penalty for Cian Hadden to draw the team level with the final kick, 17 all.
Extra time and both teams had to do it all again. It was nip and tuck as both teams were cautious but it was Gorey who finished the first period of extra time the better when constant phase after phase saw Eoin Walsh go over between the posts, Cian Hadden converted to put Gorey in front and the ref to end the first period of extra time. The second period saw Naas up their efforts and with five minutes to go the sides were level again after sustain pressure on the Gorey line saw Eoin Tierney power over. John Shanahan drew the sides level,24 all. Gorey kept their discipline and in the final minute had a chance to win. They kept attacking and moved the ball at every opportunity and were finally awarded a penalty in the middle of the pitch on the 10 metre line. It was into a strong breeze and really was a difficult kick at the best of times but it was worth a shot. Cian Hadden who was fantastic off the tee all day stepped up and sent the ball hurtling for the posts for it to agonisingly shave the right hand post. It was a great effort and had the distance considering everything that was at stake.
All square and it’s back to Kilkenny next Sunday to do it all again kick off 3PM.
Gorey had some great performances with Eoin Walsh, Ewan Stephens, Cian Byrne and Cian Kenny the pick of the pack. A solid backline of Captain Killian Tomkins Marcus Wallace and Ross O Loughlin showing well but it was the halfbacks of Cian Hadden and man of the match George Slattery leading from the front was the heartbeat of the Gorey effort.
D Slator C Byrne S Guilfoyle S Traynor L Stephens H Steacy E Stephens T Stokes G Slattery C Hadden M Wallace C Tomkins Capt. J Naughton R O Loughlin R Gibney E Walsh D Hendy D Sawyer E Byrne C Reynolds S Tomkins C Kenny A Cushen J Kinsella D Griffiths K Buckley R Slator A O Gara C Kavanagh S Carey
