Tipperary Rugby: Home defeat to Enniskillen sees Kilfeacle bow out of All-Ireland Cup

On Saturday last Kilfeacle and District RFC welcomed Enniskillen RFC to Morrissey Park for their quarter-final meeting in the Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup. The weather was bitterly cold, with a strong breeze blowing across the pitch.

From the start Enniskillen used their immense pack to gain the advantage and in the fourth minute they scored a pushover try in the corner. Kilfeacle immediately upped the ante from the restart and two minutes later Luke Heuston kicked a penalty from just outside the Enniskillen 22.

Enniskillen contested the restart very well and regained possession and within two minutes had scored another pushover try, which was converted.

In the 11th minute Kilfeacle forced their way back into the game with their first try by Diarmuid O’Donnell, which was converted by Luke Heuston. The score was now 12-10 in favour of the visitors.

A Kilfeacle penalty from Luke Heuston then put the hosts into the slimmest of leads by 13-12.

The second half started in the manner in which the first half finished, with the two teams evenly matched. It must be stated that the level of ferocity at which the game was played was immense. However, never at any stage did the discipline from either side encroach on the atmosphere of the game.

The arm wrestle continued on the pitch and in the 5oth minute Enniskillen were awarded a long-range penalty when Kilfeacle were penalised for an illegal clear-out. Enniskillen took this opportunity to regain the lead, 15-13.

Soon came one of the turning points of the game when Kilfeacle were reduced to 14 men. Enniskillen went immediately about their task of making their numerical advantage impact the scoreboard.

Several minutes later and after numerous phases of play they breached the Kilfeacle defence for the try of the day and added the two points for a 22-13 lead.

In the 70th minute, with Kilfeacle just about to return to their full complement, Enniskillen were awarded a penalty just inside their own half to extend their advantage to 25-13.

Kilfeacle were now back to 15 players and another tactical substitution was made.

After a monstrous team effort, Gavin Heuston scored under the posts and gleefully watched as his brother Luke converted to reduce the deficit to five points, 25-20.

The referee then signalled the start of five minutes injury time. Enniskillen emptied the remainder of their bench but these fresh legs didn’t really affect the Kilfeacle onslaught. Enniskillen’s defence was immense. It became the battle of the unstoppable force versus the immovable object.

Papal honours awarded to two Tipperary sacristans for great service to Golden and Kilfeacle

On numerous occasions Kilfeacle were stopped just short of the line and then pushed back to regroup and come again. The effort from both sides was to be admired.

But despite a magnificent effort from the home forwards, Enniskillen weathered the storm and emerged winners.
Scorers: Kilfeacle and District: Tries: Diarmuid O’Donnell, Gavin Heuston; Cons: Luke Heuston 2; Pens: Luke Heuston 2.

KILFEACLE AND DISTRICT: Kevin Doyle; Killian Noonan, Keelan O’Connor, Darren Lowry, John Bourke; Luke Heuston, Gavin Heuston; Simon Barry, James Ryan, Diarmuid O’Donnell, Bryan McLaughlin, Brian Barlow, Conor O’Sullivan, Ben White, Kevin Kinane.
Replacements: Brian Barron, Brendan Barron, Rares Stoica, Darren Ryan, Keith Bourke, Darragh Kennedy, Cathal Donovan, Fiachra O’Grady and Paddy Finnan.

NEXT UP: KILFEACLE V CLANWILLIAM ON SUNDAY
Kilfeacle and District have no time to feel sorry for themselves as their next game is on Sunday, November 27 at 2.30pm. It is the highly anticipated Munster Junior League derby encounter against close neighbours Clanwilliam. The team hopes that everyone will come to support them it what is always a hugely entertaining game.