Enniskillen 63-7 Tuam  

Enniskillen progressed to the Quarter-Final of the All-Ireland Junior Cup last Saturday as they defeated Galway Club Tuam, 63-7, at Mullaghmeen. 

For this inaugural match between the two clubs, Skins had George Foster returning but on the bench. Last year’s ERGS’ loose-head prop, Cameron Smith made his first start for the first team and Nathan Cullinan showed his versatility, starting his first match at hooker at this level.

21-year-old Mattie Graham provided the experience in a very youthful front row.

The wind was mainly blowing across the pitch but was slightly in Skin’s favour when Tuam kicked off.

It did not take the home side long to launch their attacks and on five minutes, they opened the scoring when the ball went wide left to Trotter and Harte, before coming back right and a deft kick-pass from Eddie Keys was collected by Sam Balfour to touch down in the corner. Keys converted. 

Tuam had the weight advantage in the forwards and for the next 10 minutes were able to control the ball and keep play in the Skins’ half.

It took a searing break down the left-hand touchline by Henry Keys, having grabbed a loose lineout ball on the Skins’ 22 and surged into Tuam territory.

The Rutledge brothers, of Jack and Neil, carried it on to the 22 line before the ball was spun quickly to the left wing to Trotter and Harte. The ball came back right and Smith set up a ruck midway across the field, quick hands from Eddie Keys to Angus Keys, running a good line inside that sliced open the defence, before he was tackled and off-loaded to Henry Keys to steam over, for a converted try.  

Despite the persistent rain, Enniskillen maintained a high level of handling, inter-passing and carrying and it was from a fine run by Neil Rutledge that Skins were awarded a penalty after the restart.

The ball was kicked to the corner, followed by an unstoppable lineout maul with Cullinan in control as it was deliberately collapsed, resulting in a penalty try and yellow card for the visitors.

Tuam faced a very difficult task. Playing with 14 men they found themselves closed down by tigerish Skins tackling.

When they kicked the ball, it was launched back at them by Eddie Keys’ pinpoint kicking.

On 28 minutes, following carries by Rooney, Graham and both Rutledges, the ball came back to Daire Hill who picked a lovely line to run in unchallenged for the fourth score, again converted. The final score of the first half came from continuous forward pressure by Enniskillen and another maul with Cullinan again at the helm and forcing his way over. The conversion left the halftime score 35-0. 

Captain James Ferguson departed the field, with Foster coming on at 15 and Hill moving to the centre.

Timoney came on at the tighthead prop, rather than his normal back-five position and later Simon McIlveen would relieve Cullinan at hooker.

Tomás Scallon came into the second row for his first-team debut, as did Kyle Davis a little later, in the back row.

The wind had dropped but there was no letting up in the Skins’ performance. The front five continued to provide a platform for the Enniskillen back row to take control.

Time and again Rooney and the Keys brothers all made yards, from which the backs could attack.

On 48 minutes, Sam Balfour came off the right wing to make a line break, which Rooney helped on to Trotter, who carried to within 5 metres of the line.

Harte secured the ruck and Dane fed Henry Keys to get his second score, which was converted. 

Tuam then got on the score sheet, with a try by their lively centre which was converted.

Not long after the spectators applauded a fine kick from hand by Eddie Keys which gained Skins a ‘50:22’ lineout.

A penalty followed, which Smith tapped and carried. After several phases, an overlap was created on the blindside from which Foster skipped through for the penultimate try. 

There was still time for Sam Balfour to complete his hat-trick. Rooney had switched to number 8 and attacked perfectly from the base of a solid scrum to draw the defence on the blindside and let Balfour fly over. Keys kicked the conversion to bring the game to a close. 

Skins opponents in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland Junior Cup will be Cooke, who they also face this Saturday in the last group match of the Ulster Junior Cup.

With both clubs already through to the quarter-finals, this game will determine who tops the group to earn a home draw. Both the Cooke games are at Mullaghmeen.

This Saturday also sees the 2nd XV away to Ballymoney, last year’s finalists, in the Crawford Cup, and the 3rd XV at home to Belfast Harlequins in the Forster Cup.