O'Carroll penalty proves vital as Edenderry edge out Wexford

Rugby: Leinster League Division 3 Edenderry 11 Wexford 9 Edenderry opened the second phase of their league campaign with a hard fought but well deserved victory over high flying Wexford at Coolavacoose on Sunday last. With 6 teams involved, playing each other home and away, home victories are vital, and a lot more will be required to get points on the road. The top 2 teams from this section will get promoted to Leinster League Division 2. On Sunday Edenderry took the points with a much improved performance on their last outing. With Dave Keenan, Tom Mulligan & Niall McEvoy to the fore, the pack was disciplined and more cohesive as a unit than more recent matches. It was Wexford who opened the brighter, and in the first ten minutes looked like they would blow Edenderry away with their brand of attacking rugby. They went ahead with a penalty after 4 minutes and only good defence kept Edenderry from conceding more points. Edenderry then levelled after 12 minutes with their first real pressure on Wexford. Gaining in confidence, Edenderry began to control the match and missed a penalty before taking the lead with a try from Dave Keenan under the posts. This followed good work by the pack and backs combining to spread the Wexford defence. Unfortunately the conversion from under the posts was missed. Edenderry controlled the game from then on, but the kicking of the visitors repeatedly gained them field position and they looked dangerous with ball in hand. Edenderry remained ahead at the interval, 8-3. Wexford reduced arrears with a long range penalty a few minutes after the resumption. The visitors' excellent kicker put them 9-8 ahead with a penalty from outside the 10-yard line. This galvanised the home side and they upped the game from then to the end with some excellent play. They were rewarded with a penalty under the posts from Brian O'Carroll. With time left on the clock the visitors tried all they could but Edenderry held out comfortably enough to record a deserved victory. Edenderry now travel for the next 2 weeks to Rathdrum & Railway Union before the Christmas break. Edenderry Team Killian Farrell, Liam Holt, Brian O'Carroll, Ethan Cooney, Jack Kilmurray, Shane Kelly, Tom Fawcett, Stephen Potterton (captain), Brian Rushe, Derek Kearney, Dave Keenan, Frank Kennedy, Tom Mulligan, John O'Donnell, Niall McEvoy. Edenderry U-19s It has been confirmed that the Edenderry U19s will host Naas in the quarter-finals of the Leinster League. Following Edenderry's top place finish in the Northern section, they drew the Kildare side, who finished 4th in the southern section. The game will take place at Edenderry, this weekend on Saturday, December 5th. Leinster Under-17 League Round 5 Ashbourne 8 Edenderry 8 On Thursday night Edenderry's under-17s took on Ashbourne under floodlights in Ashbourne. Edenderry forwards worked as a unit and a close tight game unfolded with Edenderry taking first blood with a penalty from the boot of Peter O'Neill. The score at half-time was 3-0 to Edenderry. Edenderry's lineout was under severe pressure, but their scrum stood strong as Earl Curry peeled of on the blindside and crossed the line to make it 8-0 to 'Derry. Ashbourne came back with a penalty and started to pressure the Derry line, but the defence stood strong. Seven minutes into extra time, Ashbourne finally crossed the Derry line to make it a drawn game. Man of the match went to John McCormack and most improved player of the week was Peter Connolly. Next up is Longford at home on Saturday morning. Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursday nights from 7pm to 8:30pm. For further information contact PJ on 087/0520842. Leinster Under-17 League Round 6 Longford 21 Edenderry 16 Saturday morning and the wind and rain pelted the players from Edenderry and Longford in freezing conditions as they played out an enthralling game on the well manicured Derry front pitch. A very strong Longford team took the first score with an excellent converted try. Derry kicker O'Neill put Derry's first points on the board with a well taken penalty, leaving the score 7-3 to the visitors at half-time. Longford hit back hard with another converted try leaving an uphill battle for Edenderry. But Derry dug deep and with the pack taking ball against the head and showing their resolve at ruck time, they pulled back Longford's lead to 14-8. With their backs up Derry took another try to take them to within one point of their adversaries. The excitement grew and with time ticking away a surprise drop goal from Peter Connolly took the lead for Edenderry. This lead was lost when Longford scored deep into injury time to run out winners.