Portlaoise loss to Enniscorthy marred by suspected serious injury

Provincial Towns Cup Round 2

Portlaoise got off to the worst start possible when they travelled to Enniscorthy for this Provincial Towns Cup game in Enniscorthy. That said, having been 25 points in arrears at the end of the opening quarter, they battled their way back. 

The revival was sparked when the game was held up for 20 minutes after Portlaoise prop Sean Hennessey picked up what was feared to be a serious injury. While the injured player waited for an ambulance to arrive the decision was made to move the game to Enniscorthy's back pitch. It's believed that Hennessey sustained an arm injury and is not as serious as first feared.

Enniscorthy 31

Portlaoise 19

Portlaoise had conceded tries in the first, fourth, 12 and 20th minutes, one of which was converted and a 10th minute penalty left Portlaoise with what appeared to be an insurmountable mountain to climb.

However, when play resumed it was a different Portlaoise outfit. They tore into Enniscorthy and just six minutes after play resumed Ross Cooper crashed over for a try which Mark Mullally converted. 

Six minutes later Portlaoise crossed for their second try, this time Mullally rounding off an excellent move to score in the corner. Matthew Coonan was unlucky to see his effort from close to the sideline just drift wide. 

And Portlaoise would round off an astonishing second quarter display when Cooper crashed over for his second try from a five metre scrum. Mullally again added the extras and at the break Portlaoise were in a much healthier position now just six points in arrears, 25-19. 

On the restart Portlaoise were still very much in the ascendancy. They quite literally camped in the Enniscorthy half, and such was their dominance in this period that the home side did not cross into Portlaoise territory until 23 minutes into the new half. 

However, Portlaoise failed to make this dominance show on the scoreboard. Yes, they came close on numerous occasions but all too often bad decision making and indecision would cost them. 

When Enniscorthy eventually worked their way into the Portlaoise half they squandered two very kickable penalties. But when Fiacra Hourhane did get his eye in he converted two late penalties that sent Portlaoise packing from this year’s Towns Cup. 

PORTLAOISE: Matthew Coonan, Oisin Bennett, Josh Akanji, Matthew Cremin, Mark Mullally; Jack Reddin, Dylan Kelly; Paddy Coss, Craig Telford, Sean Hennessy; Ronan Donlon, Mark Sherlock; Glen Connolly, Robin Foot, Ross Cooper. 

Replacements: Dara Phelan, Harry Lalor, Shane Reilly, Jamie Holohan, Kade Rennie, Darragh Buggie, Tommy Martin