Both sides were short a number of players at a rain-swept Royal College of Surgeons ground in Santry, but it was the visitors who made the brighter start. Good interlinking play between Jason Rothwell and Robbie Walshe on the right was putting the hosts under pressure but the St. Brendan's defence were well equipped to prevent Enniscorthy from penetrating the semi- circle. Similarly, driving runs through the centre from midfield by Glenn Chapman and Jonathon Rothwell were causing difficulties for the men in blue. The Enniscorthy defence was once again in excellent form and the Dubliner's attack rarely threatened.
The second half told a different story. The mood in the Enniscorthy camp had been upbeat at the break and the team sensed blood. However, a mixture of St. Brendan's raising their game and an inability to adopt a more measured approach when in possession could have cost the Model County men dearly. Shots on target from Jason Rothwell and Rory Maguire were the bright spots in a half which yielded four short corners in quick succession for the hosts. Fortunately for Enniscorthy, St. Brendan's were ineffective in the shooting department while ferocious defending kept the blues at bay during a period of sustained pressure late in the game. Thanks to the hard work of the Enniscorthy backs and midfield, debutante goalkeeper John Casey was rarely called into action.
The match finished scoreless; Enniscorthy will feel that, on balance, it was two points lost rather than one gained. Cup holders Corinthians IV are Enniscorthy's next league opponents as they visit the Astro Active Centre next weekend.
Squad: John Casey; Rory Maguire; Keith Ogilvie; P.J. Pierce; Roy Chapman; Kieran Costello; Niall Maguire; Jonathon Rothwell; Glenn Chapman; Jason Rothwell; Seamus McAllister; Robbie Walshe.