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Eight Try Salvo Destroys Portlaoise Skerries 51 February 7th, 2010 Skerries put Portlaoise to the sword at Balbriggan on Sunday as their back line ripped apart the bottom of the league side with a scintillating display. Billed as a relegation battle before the kick-off, this turned out to be the occasion for Skerries to put in the game that they have been threatening all season and with two more crucial games to follow, this change of form could not have come at a better time. Skerries were on the front foot right from the start and after an attacking line-out on 3 min’s, winger O’Mahony crossed in the corner after the ball was fed quickly along the line. Finding himself with still some work to do, he managed to evade the Portlaoise full-back and touch down, 5-0 to Skerries. Out-half McGahan converted a penalty in front of the posts on 15 min’s to take the score to 8-0 as Portlaoise’s discipline let them down and they were finding it difficult to get out of their own half. Patience and possession were what was called for from Skerries as they were clearly the better side, further reward coming on 20 min’s when full-back Quirke scored under the posts following another penalty against Portlaoise and some good work from McGahan saw Quirke take advantage of a loose ball to score, 15-0 to Skerries. 6 min’s later McGahan scored again as Portlaoise’s forwards, who seemed more concerned with trying to aggravate their counterparts than defend their line, were swinging punches outside the 22. The referee correctly let play continue and the Skerries out-half took full advantage as his speed took him to the corner and he then converted his own try to bring the score to 22-0 on the half-hour and the bonus point beckoned for Skerries. Portlaoise out-half (name to follow) crossed in the corner following his own clever kick through, as Skerries briefly let their guard down, 22-5. The home side quickly regained control and even though two penalties were missed, Skerries were showing no signs of allowing Portlaoise back into this game. Captain Derek Keane moved to his more accustomed position of wing with the introduction of Conal Keane in the centre at half-time, and it was this switch that gave Skerries the bonus point try 5 min’s into the half, as Conal Keane and David Quirke worked the ball well in the centre to set up Derek Keane 15 mtrs out, Portlaoise’s full-back stood no chance as he was bull-dozed aside in a typical show of Keane’s finishing ability. 27-5 to Skerries and even at this early stage it looked like the job was done. Keeping to their task, Skerries scored the try of the game after 15 min’s with a move which saw the back-line display the undoubted talent they possess to release Mark Hewitt to score under the posts. Derek Keane started the move from the scrum-half position just outside his own 22 and with support from Conal Keane and the tackle-breaking Quirke, they released O’Mahony whose run took him inside the Portlaoise defence and with Hewitt on his shoulder the centre finished in fine style. McGahan converted to bring the score to 34-5. Portlaoise crossed the Skerries line again through a mullocking forward surge as it seemed the pace was gone from the game, but just as they thought it was safe to go back in the water, Derek Keane scored two more tries on his wing as Skerries admirably kept to their task and right at the death, hooker Mark Nally jinked his way over from 5 mtrs to take the try count to eight and the final score to 51-10. Skerries now move up two positions in the league, with Cill Dara away and Monkstown at home for their last two games. If this form is maintained neither of those two sides will relish taking on this Skerries side. Skerries team versus Portlaoise: 1. Packie O’Connor
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