Portlaoise RFC 17 Mullingar 0
Leinster U-14 Girls Rugby Cup Final
Portlaoise U-14s travelled to Energia Park in Donnybrook on Saturday May 4 for the Leinster Cup final against Mullingar.
This Portlaoise side are the current holders of the Leinster Cup having defeated Greystones last year in a titanic battle and were looking for an historic double double with the majority of last years team still U-14.
Molly Jane Dempsey would get proceeding under way. Portlaoise would apply all the pressure for the opening minutes of the game.
Driving the Mullingar girls deep into their own half, where they would hold them for the majority of the opening exchanges.
As with all the Portlaoise girls, they would play an epic game and bring their ‘A’ game to Mullingar in a dominate first half display.
Mullingar would offer a defensive masterclass in their efforts to keep Portlaoise from crossing the white line. Ciara Cuddy was making huge gains and ground with her strong carries.
Try as Mullingar would to get out of their own half their were met with a masterclass of their own from captain Lily Brophy who was hitting the tackles with precision.
Vice-Captain Chloe Kavanagh was every bit as impressive with her tackle count and timing.
As Mullingar tried to get out of their half the ball was overturned by the hugely impressive Jessica Delaney who was outstanding on the day.
Emily Harvey fizzed a ball out to Freya Stanley who ran though the heart of the Mullingar defence evading no fewer than five tackles to touch down under the post for a well deserved lead. Saffron Adams would land the conversion.
Portlaoise would continue with their commanding display. With further pressure being applied from the magnificent paring of Faye Scully and Daisy Whitten.
Portlaoise would enter the Mullingar 22 again and Aoibheann Conroy would draw the Mullingar defence in and at the last second would release the pass to Saffron Adams who would show a clean pair of heels evading the Mullingar winger to cross the line for a 12-0 lead.
Portlaoise would continue with their dictatorial game for the rest of the half and how they didn’t score again was a huge credit to the Mullingar defence who held strong.
Portlaoise and Mullingar had played a ‘friendly’ game at Christmas which resulted in a draw – so Portlaoise were wary that this game could have had a second half twist to it.
Mullingar’s defensive display in the first half was incredible. Now it was their turn to show their offence and for Portlaoise to show case their defence.
Mullingar hit the ground running and were quickly applying pressure. Portlaoise’s defence was impenetrable – led exemplary by Captain Lily Brophy and Orlaith Costigan.
Time and time again, they were met by a brick wall. As Mullingar kept knocking on the door they seemed to see an opening.
Mullingar’s full raced along the touch line with brilliant pace to cross the line as she looked up to maybe head in towards the posts instead of touching down, she was met with a driving, ferocious tackle by Freya Stanley, which drove her out into touch. No try.
Mullingar would re-group and go again, pressing hard. A quick ball out was intercepted brilliantly by Aoibheann Conroy who raced though the centre.
Mullingar flooded back to catch her outside of the 22. This seemed to take the wind out of the Mullingar sails. Portlaoise would start to apply pressure back onto Mullingar now.
Sarah Cunningham was now firing balls out to the wings for Molly Jane Dempsey to take advantage of and that she did, tearing along the wings only to caught five metres out.
The excellent Jessica Delaney would gather up the ball and drive towards the try line for what appeared a certain try only for a last ditch Mullingar tackle to prevent it.
Tara Peavoy would apply more pressure into the Mullingar 22 aided by Amy Peters who was excellent in the line outs all day.
Abbie Fitzpatrick and Molly Fitzpatrick were causing all sorts of problems on the other wing. It was only a matter of time before Portlaoise would score again.
Sarah Keane would drive again into the Mullingar defence and release Lily Brophy who looked like she was just stooped short of the line but managed to twist over and touch down for Portlaoise’s third try.
With the game virtually all bit over Portlaoise kept the pressure on and very nearly had another try.
The whistle was blown for full time and Portlaoise would celebrate what was not only a brilliant display of rugby but also the Double Double!
An incredible bunch of talented girls whose appetite to train and learn never ceased to amaze.
With an remarkable coaching team of Jack Kavanagh, Ritchie Harvey, Sue Delaney, Graham Peavoy, Ivan Whitten and Mick Dempsey.
Special thanks to Koren Dunne for sharing with the girls her rugby experiences and offering excellent advice.
PORTLAOISE: Orlaith Costigan, Faye Scully, Daisy Whitten, Tara Peavoy, Ciara Cuddy, Amy Peters, Jessica Delaney, Chloe Kavanagh, Emily Harvey, Lily Brophy, Molly Jane Dempsey, Aoibheann Conroy, Saffron Adams, Molly Fitzpatrick, Freya Stanley, Abby Fitzpatrick, Sarah Cunningham, Sarah Keane, Bailey Campion, Ella Sherlock, Sarah Ging, Emma Ging, Cara Deegan, Muireann Thompson, Meabh Dooley, Addison O’Reilly
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