Portlaoise 32 Arklow 12
Girls U-14 Leinster Rugby League Final
Portlaoise RFC hosted the Leinster League Finals on Saturday. Eight finals were played and were staggered throughout the morning.
The rugby Gods offered up a great day with uninterrupted sunshine. Burnt arms, necks and ice cream were to be seen all around.
Molly Jane Dempsey would get proceedings under way. As the Arlow pack would wait for the ball to bounce Ciara Cuddy was on it like a train, driving the Arklow girls into their own 22.
Quick balls were being whipped out by Emily Harvey quicker than Bosco Ramsbottom could sell ice cream. For 10 minutes, Portlaoise would hammer at the Arklow defence reminding them of their intention.
This was their cup and they were not giving it up easily. Arklow would eventually overturn the ball and try as they might to carry out.
However they would be met by a ferocious tackle from Lily Brophy. When the game resumed, Arklow tried their luck on the wings, it all looked like it was going to plan until they met Freya Stanley.
She drove the Arklow player out and over the line for a Portlaoise line out.
Portlaoise would continue to dominate largely thanks to the ball carrying skills of Faye Scully and Sarah Keane.
It was only a matter of time before they would break through. A series of quick balls out to Safron Adams would see her cross the line for the first try of the day.
Arklow would restart the game and unfortunately for them would kick straight into the hands of Freya Stanley. Freya would tear into the heart of the defence from inside her own 22.
Evading tackle after tackle and from out of nowhere Aoibheann Conroy arrives with a brilliantly timed off the shoulder run just as Freya is eventually caught would see Aoibheann take the off load and run under the posts for the second try of the day to leave it 12-0 at half time.
The second half would begin like the first, at explosive pace. Jesscia Delaney would be a thorn in the Arklow side all day, great ball carrying and better tackling.
Chloe Kavanagh would be immense all day. Tara Peavoy playing out of her skin. They all needed to be as this Arklow side had pace and strength.
However Portlaoise were relentless in their quest to retain this cup.
Captain on the day, Daisy Whitten, would carry the ball deep into the Arklow 22 which would allow a swift pass from Sarah Cunningham to Saffron Adams to score her second try of the day.
As Arklow tried to shore up their defence in the middle they now started to leave gaps on the wings.
With the pace of Molly Fitzpatrick who was running with real intent every time she got the ball.
Among everything these girls did in this game, professionally timed tackling, heroic ball carrying their handling was up there with the best, superbly timed whip arounds were causing the Arklow girls all sorts of problems.
On one occasion such a move would release Molly Jane Dempsey to race up the wings and touch down in the corner.
Perhaps Portlaoise could be forgiven for thinking this game was over. Arklow had other ideas.
From the restart they raced through the Portlaoise team to score their first try. Quickly after the restart they were on the march again, this time out on the wings sprinting down the sideline for another try, game on or so you would think.
As Arklow threatened the try line again Orlaith Costigan would put in a huge tackle causing a knock for a Portlaoise ball.
Bailey Campion with the help of Amy Peters would begin to shore up the Portlaoise defence.
Abbi Fitzpatrick would take the game again to Arklow. In another great move by Portlaoise and again one which showed the quality of their ball handling would release Lily Brophy who, for the second game in a row would run from her own 22 to score under the posts.
Saffron Adams would kick the conversion and that would be the final score of the day.
This triggered wild celebrations from the Portlaoise girls in a game they thoroughly deserved to win from start to finish.
Next for Portlaoise is a trip to Energia Park for another final on Saturday, May 4.
PORTLAOISE: Orlaith Costigan, Faye Scully, Daisey Whitten, Ciara Cuddy, Sarah Keane, Tara Peavoy, Jessica Delaney, Chloe Kavanagh, Emily Harvey, Lilly Brophy, Molly Jane Dempsey, Aoibheann Conroy, Saffron Adams, Molly Fitzpatrick, Freya Stanley, Amy Peters, Sarah Ging, Emma Ging, Cara Deegan, Abbi Fitzpatrick, Muireann Thompson, Sarah Cunningham, Addison Reilly, Ella Sherlock, Meabh Dooley
SEE ALSO – Joe McDonagh Cup: Purcell the hero as Laois come from six points down to defeat Offaly
