Enniskillen under 13’s travelled away to Magherafelt on Saturday to contest the Roland Barr Shield Final against Lisburn RFC.
The boys went with high hopes of a strong performance after a recent win over Virginia RFC and it was through their hard work and determination that they qualified for this final. They were confident of giving Lisburn a close game and it was indeed a cracker.
After a rocky start when Lisburn used their pace on the wings to attack the fringes and with 5 mins gone they gained a 5 point advantage with an unconverted try.
This galvanised the young skins players with Rodney Phair (Capt.) leading by example driving down into Lisburn’s 22, from a quick tap from scrum half Darren Gallagher the pack drove over to equal the scores.
The game was being played at a tremendous pace with the skins pack in the ascendance for periods, then Lisburn using pace to put pressure down the wings.
At half time Skins held a narrow advantage but after some disappointing decisions from the officials Lisburn gain a 10-point lead.
With 15 mins to go this could have been greater but for great defending by Cormac Thompson who seeing that Lisburn’s winger was “show boating” over the try line pounced on him before he could ground the ball and held him up.
This then led to a fight back with the young skins gaining another try which young Gallagher converted. Unfortunately this was their last score and after a great game Lilburn ran out winners 42 to 29.
All fifteen players can feel very proud of the way played and how they represented themselves their parents and Enniskillen RFC.
Mr William Latimer youth representative of the Ulster Branch made a point of talking to the coaches after the game and praised both teams and Enniskillen in particular for the spirit in which they played the game, he also said it was one of the best youth finals he had seen for a long time and looks forward to seeing this group of young Fermanagh lads develop further. The club would agree with Mr Latimer we have a strong and vibrant youth set up with all age groups represented so far at quarter final, semi final and final levels of the Ulster branch cup competitions and with our under17s travelling to Carrick this coming Saturday in the Trophy Quarter-Fainal and the under 15s playing in a semi final at Mullaghmeen on Saturday 9th April. So why not come out and give support to the boys on the 9th, kick off 11am
