Gorey J2’s topped off their excellent season when they added the Provincial Towns Cup to their league win earlier in the season. All bar one of the panel of 30 came through the youth’s system to finally end 40 years of a wait.
After a thrilling game the first day Naas and Gorey’s J2’s had to do it all again on Sunday in Kilkenny.
They didn’t disappoint as both teams left everything on the pitch in a pulsating game that ebbed and flowed throughout.
Gorey’s outhalf Cian Hadden had a flawless performance scoring 18 of the 23 points with two late penalties finally ending the Naas resistance.
It was a tight game all the way through with the Wexford men starting the brighter. Gorey’s big pack carried hard with Lloyd Stephens, Shay Guilfoyle and co making the yards into the Naas 22 and within minutes Gorey opened the scoring when Cian Hadden stepped two players to score to the left of the posts he then added the conversion for a great start.
Naas weren’t long striking back and Dave Ben touched down out wide for a 7-5 score.
Both sides worked hard with defences mainly on top. On 40 mins Cian Hadden landed a penalty after good pressure by Gorey to leave the score at 10-5 at halftime.
From the restart Naas upped their game and after sustained pressure Richie Brophy crossed the line for a try with Conor Sheridan hitting the post with a difficult conversion attempt.
It was all Naas now as they laid siege to the Gorey 22 with Killian Tomkins and Joe Naughton having to work overtime to keep Naas out. 10 minutes later Gorey were back in the Naas 22 and from a lineout phase after phase of Gorey pressure finally paid off when Eoin Walshe with Harry Steacy in tow powered over under posts for Cian Hadden to tap over the conversion 17-10.
Back came Naas, a Conor Brophy penalty and a yellow card for Joe Naughton in the 65 minute looked ominous. 17-13.
Down to 14 men seemed to galvanise the Gorey effort. When a powerful surge by Naas was held up Gorey finally relieved the pressure to establish a foothold in the Naas half which they never really relinquished.
Gorey were now turning the screw and two further penalties by Man of the Match Cian Hadden gave the Gorey men the breathing space to see out the game to end 40 years of a wait and add the Towns Cup to their league win to round off the perfect season.
Gorey had gone unbeaten since November to win both trophies.
It is hard to single out any players in what was a complete team effort from 1 to 30. But special mention must go to the vociferous Cian Byrne, Cian Kenny and Eoin Walshe in the forwards with Joe Naughton, George Slattery and Man of the Match Cian Hadden who scored 18 of the 23 points.
The back room staff of Liam Hempstall, Kenny Deacon, Philip Swaine, Johnny Reynolds, Trevor Mahon, Darren McGrath and head coach Joe Duffy the unsung heroes of this team must be thanked for the long effort taking them into the middle of May to finally end the 24/25 season.
On another great week for the club Steven Hendy was voted player of the series for the Leinster Juniors with Eoin Walsh also awarded player of the 4 Nations police tournament.
Gorey girl Aoife Wafer continues her rise in women’s rugby after a very impressive 6 Nations.
After a thrilling game the first day Naas and Gorey’s J2’s had to do it all again on Sunday in Kilkenny.
They didn’t disappoint as both teams left everything on the pitch in a pulsating game that ebbed and flowed throughout.
Gorey’s outhalf Cian Hadden had a flawless performance scoring 18 of the 23 points with two late penalties finally ending the Naas resistance.
It was a tight game all the way through with the Wexford men starting the brighter. Gorey’s big pack carried hard with Lloyd Stephens, Shay Guilfoyle and co making the yards into the Naas 22 and within minutes Gorey opened the scoring when Cian Hadden stepped two players to score to the left of the posts he then added the conversion for a great start.
Naas weren’t long striking back and Dave Ben touched down out wide for a 7-5 score.
Both sides worked hard with defences mainly on top. On 40 mins Cian Hadden landed a penalty after good pressure by Gorey to leave the score at 10-5 at halftime.
From the restart Naas upped their game and after sustained pressure Richie Brophy crossed the line for a try with Conor Sheridan hitting the post with a difficult conversion attempt.
It was all Naas now as they laid siege to the Gorey 22 with Killian Tomkins and Joe Naughton having to work overtime to keep Naas out. 10 minutes later Gorey were back in the Naas 22 and from a lineout phase after phase of Gorey pressure finally paid off when Eoin Walshe with Harry Steacy in tow powered over under posts for Cian Hadden to tap over the conversion 17-10.
Back came Naas, a Conor Brophy penalty and a yellow card for Joe Naughton in the 65 minute looked ominous. 17-13.
Down to 14 men seemed to galvanise the Gorey effort. When a powerful surge by Naas was held up Gorey finally relieved the pressure to establish a foothold in the Naas half which they never really relinquished.
Gorey were now turning the screw and two further penalties by Man of the Match Cian Hadden gave the Gorey men the breathing space to see out the game to end 40 years of a wait and add the Towns Cup to their league win to round off the perfect season.
Gorey had gone unbeaten since November to win both trophies.
It is hard to single out any players in what was a complete team effort from 1 to 30. But special mention must go to the vociferous Cian Byrne, Cian Kenny and Eoin Walshe in the forwards with Joe Naughton, George Slattery and Man of the Match Cian Hadden who scored 18 of the 23 points.
The back room staff of Liam Hempstall, Kenny Deacon, Philip Swaine, Johnny Reynolds, Trevor Mahon, Darren McGrath and head coach Joe Duffy the unsung heroes of this team must be thanked for the long effort taking them into the middle of May to finally end the 24/25 season.
On another great week for the club Steven Hendy was voted player of the series for the Leinster Juniors with Eoin Walsh also awarded player of the 4 Nations police tournament.
Gorey girl Aoife Wafer continues her rise in women’s rugby after a very impressive 6 Nations.
