News

History was made recently when for the first time ever, Gormanston College fielded a rugby team in a game against Balbriggan. Community College (BBC) at U - 14's level.

With upwards of 200 students, teachers and parents in attendance to witness this momentous occasion and playing on a converted Gaelic football pitch then scene was set for this historic event.

The first 26 minutes of the game was nip and tuck with no quarter asked for or given by either side.

Both teams ran straight and hard at each other only to be met with equally hard and determined tackling.  Just as BCC thought they were getting the upper hand Gormanston broke away and following a series of successful drives for the line they were rewarded with a fine unconverted try by captain Andy McCaffrey. History was made, the first game the first try, scored by Gormaston.

With time running out on the clock BCC's response was swift and decisive. From the restart the BCC pack began a succession of pick and drives. With Gormanston on the back foot the ball was swung out to the BCC backs, who in turn ran two successive crash balls, this had the desired effect with the second of these breaking the Gormo defense.


Centre Glen Healy with the ball firly in both hands drove for the line and with the help of his forwards crashed over for BCC's equalising try promptly converted by Chris Hagan to leave the score 5-7 at half time.

The second half started as the first had finished with Gormo scrum half Sean O'Byrne, lock forward Mark Spellman and the back row pairing of Michael Jacob and Shane Storey all making their presence felt with incisive runs and hard tackling. BCC to their credit absorbed the early pressure.

Out half Adam Rogers centres, Glen Healy and Sean Finnegan, and full back Tony McElroy were all outstanding for the Community College. Seven minutes into the second half BCC's superior tackling and rucking began to pay dividends. A string of forward drives followed by good running from their backs led to a five meter maul. Led by Lock Kevin Kiernan BCC drove and breached the Gormo line for a well deserved unconverted try in the right hand corner.

The game then entered a critical period with both sides throwing everything they had at each other in an attempt to score the next try and gain the upper hand.

There followed a four minute period of unbroken play, some of which would have graced the recent World Cup with text book off-loads, rucking,mauling, switch plays and rock solid tackling.

In an attempt to break the deadlock BCC chipped the ball over the Gormo defense, the follow up was collected and passed through a couple of pairs of hands leaving Glen Healy thirty meters out and only the try line in front of him. This try and conversion from under the posts in the 49th minute would normally have meant the end for the opposition.

Not so for Gormanston, straight from the restart theyh encamped themselves in the BCC twenty two and again it was Captain Andy McCaffrey who smashed his way over in the 52nd minute. This left the score 10-19 with all to play for.

BCC having found their kicking game, again put the Gormo defense under pressure and were soon awarded a penalty on the right hand touch line about thirty five meters from the Gormo line. A quick penalty led to a series of driving mauls and rucks. When the ball was passed out the BCC out half Adam Rogers he cut back against the run of play and with some superb side steps and swerves he waved his way through an exhausted Gormo defense to score the best try of the game in the 10-24 in favour of BCC and putting an end to a valiant effort from the Gormo Boys.

Other players worth a mention were Batler Bodurri, Darragh O'Cuinnegan, Captain Thomas Domigan, Paul Flynn and Daniel Edwards for BCC and for Gormanston Andrew Daly, Stephen Tracey, Craig Dowling, Conor Waters and Conor O'Shea also played really well.

For a first time effort from this pioneering Gormanston team they gave a truly remarkable performance, even more remarkable considering they have had just six weeks training. All credit must go to the players and their coaches. In fact both teams and their coaches deserve great credit and praise for a throughly entertaining game of rugby played in the finest spirit on such a historic day in the proud sporting history of Gormanston.

Gormanston College: Capt. Andy McCaffrey, Colm Jones, Fionn Carroll, Mark Spellman, Enda Murphy, Shane Storey, Andrew Daly, Michael Jacob, Sean O'Byrne, Craig Doolan, Brian Finnegan, Stephen Tracey, Conor McCutcheon, Richard Keane, Owen Moore. Replacements: Sean Dunne for C. Doolan, Michael O'Shea for C. McCutcheon.

Balbriggan Community College: John Kiernan, Aaron Rogers, Chris Hagan, Darragh O'Cuinnegan, Kevin Kiernan, Paul Flynn, Daniel Edwards, Capt. Thomas Domigan, Paddy McNally, Adam Rogers, Valter Bourri, Sean Finnegan, Wayne Lamb, Glen Healy, Tony Mcilroy. Replacements: Paul Reid for P.McNally, S Staunton for W. Lamb and Adam Newe for P. Flynn.

Source: Fingal Independent.