Dromore 1st XV 10 Enniskillen 1st XV 7

Enniskillen 1st XV had very little time to shake off the festive period as they travelled to Dromore last Saturday for a New Year’s Eve fixture.

Skins led for most of the game but the festive fatigue began to show in the latter stages, combined with a mounting penalty count which cost Skins the game, ending 10-7 after a home side score in the final five minutes.

Skins started well with the front row of Thornton, Read and Graham having success in the scrum, getting two penalties from the first efforts and seeming to have the favour of the referee.

The line-out also functioned well through jumpers Carleton, Henry Keys and Jack Rutledge. The addition of Eddie Keys and returning George Foster to the backline hugely improved Skins’ ability to gain territory through their kicking game.

Despite these early advantages Skins failed to convert their opportunities and came away with nothing from three spells on the Dromore line through the forward pack.

Credit to the home side for determined defence, but Skins came to regret not coming away with points.

The referee’s favour at the scrum began to fade in the latter first half and repeated penalties made it difficult for Skins to build pressure in wet conditions, where handling errors were frequent.

Dromore had their share of attack in the latter stages too and plenty of tenacious tackling from Timoney and Keenan kept the score 0-0 towards the end of the first half.

The second half started in the same vein with most of the play in the middle of the park, and little to give from either side.

The Skins backs finally saw some ball and Eddie Keys sent a long pass to Hylton, who broke through on the left wing with James Balfour in support to put Dromore on the back foot; the ball quickly went the width again through excellent handling from forwards and backs, seamlessly to George Foster and then to Sam Balfour from the 22’ who shrugged off the 15 and finished for an excellent score, converted to lead now 0-7 after a great strike from Eddie Keys.

Skins were on the Dromore line yet again within five minutes with a chance to put the game further out of the home side’s reach, but two consecutive handling errors let them off the hook.

The scrum momentum had shifted now too and a penalty on the Skins’ 10-metre line allowed Dromore to narrow the gap, 3-7.

From the restart Skins were soon back on their own line after a cunning kick from Dromore into the Skins’ 22’ with no one to cover.

From the back of a scrum, Dromore managed to cross the line under the posts, converted to lead 10-7.

With only a few minutes on the clock it was too much to ask from Skins and victory went to the home side.

Skins will undoubtedly be disappointed, given how many times they threatened the Dromore try line, and will surely look to convert those opportunities in future.

Skins now look to a huge day for the club as they host Monkstown this Saturday in the semi-final of the All-Ireland Junior Cup – a first for Enniskillen.