U14 Girls – Killarney v Midleton/Youghal
Photos: Anne Gabbett, Words: Fiona Landers
Midleton/Youghal got off to the better start with a good try early on in the game. However, Killarney recovered quickly and Emma Looney took the ball down the side line to score a neat try in the corner. Shortly after that a penalty to Killarney allowed Nessa O’Donoghue to go over for another try which she duly converted. Midleton/Youghal got a penalty and created a try off a strong lineout. They were unfortunate not to convert, the ball hitting the crossbar denying them the extra 2 points. Again, Nessa O’Donoghue and Emma Looney took 2 tries in quick succession, both successfully converted by Holly Burke.
Killarney gave 2 easy penalties to Midleton/Youghal but they converted neither into points thanks to big tackles made by Nell Thompson and Harriet O’Sullivan. However, Midleton/Youghal were persistent and their persistence finally paid off despite tenacious tackling by Sorcha O’Sullivan and our no. 4 Lucy Guiney. The score at this stage was 26-20 to Killarney who had the edge with the conversions.
Towards the end of the first half the coaches put in some new players, and Izzy Hilario along with Ruby Breen started their first game with Killarney and got stuck in. However, with the end of the first half in sight Midleton/Youghal got back on track with 2 unanswered tries. A last minute try by Orla Murphy and conversion by Holly Burke had Killarney trailing by 1point at halftime.
The second half started like the first half with Midleton/Youghal scoring the first try and successfully converting it. Killarney kept up with them with scrum half Brooke O’Sullivan cleverly supplying Sarah Mangan who was the next player to score with Holly Burke again converting. Not long after that Nell Thompson made a break and found the try line. She also converted the try which added 7 more valuable points to the scoreline. Orla Murphy added another 5 and a penalty gave no. 10 Ciara Eager her opportunity to get a score with help from Brooke Sullivan who made a cute dart off the scrum.
Meanwhile, Midleton/Youghal weren’t giving up that easily and Killarney gave up 2 tries one after the other making the match a 1point game in Killarneys favour. However, Killarney finished the stronger with 3 final tries, 2 from Nessa O’Donoghue and another from Orla Murphy bringing their tally for the day to 4 tries and 3 tries respectively. The game ended with a victory to Killarney in what was a tough, hard fought and highly entertaining match.
Many thanks to the Midleton/Youghal team, coaches and supporters for making the long journey to play. Thanks also to Jenna Moynihan for reffing the game. To our own supporters thank you for cheering on the girls and for the food and help given afterwards. A word of thanks to the coaches who were pacing up and down the side line encouraging the girls as always. Last but not least, a special thanks to the girls themselves who gave us a wonderful display of rugby. Well done to you all!
