Portlaoise RFC 15 Arklow 12
U-14 Girls Division 1 Rugby Final
The Portlaoise U-14 girls met their counterparts Arklow in Cill Dara RFC for the Division 1 Final at the weekend.
Captained by Ella Sherlock, this was their third time to meet during the season and with one win apiece, this was always going to be a titanic battle.
Arklow would kick off with proceedings and Portlaoise would have to defend deep into their territory for the opening five minutes.
Arklow had some great carries and that would see them into the Portlaoise 22, with an overlap on the wing they saw the advantage, which they took for the opening try.
A tight angle for the conversion was expertly put over by the Arklow 10 with a kicking technique akin to Johnny Sexton.
Things could have been worse for Portlaoise moments before that only for an excellent tackle from Freya Stanley that stopped a certain try.
There was also a brilliant piece of defending in there from Aoibhan Conroy who made a sensational tackle.
An impressively drilled Arklow team again looked to make ground in on the Portlaoise 22 only for some serious counter rucking from Kate Ging.
Portlaoise, led by the brilliant Lilly Brophy and the superb rucking of Chloe Kavanagh, would spend the next 10 minutes in the Arklow half and twice they knocked the ball on as they proceeded over the Arklow try line.
But the pressure continued to mount and eventually strong running from Jessica Delaney and fast passing from Rachel Hovenden would release Molly Kelly for Portlaoise’s opening try.
The conversion was missed and Arklow held the lead at half time, 7-5.
Elisha Gilligan would get the second half underway with a wonderfully high weighted drop kick which seemed to hang in the air for an age.
This allowed Portlaoise to pile the pressure on from the start and show Arklow what was to come. Portlaoise would not allow Arklow time to settle and would quickly regain possession of the ball.
Louise Hyland would be instrumental in the second half for Portlaoise, her carries would gain extra yards and Arklow were finding her presence a real threat.
Louise Hyland made a great carry into the 22 drawing more than her fair share of Arklow girls.
A quick ball from Saffron Adams sent Daisy Whitten on her most impressive run of the day.
She evaded several Arklow girls and while eventually being tackled, she superbly off loaded the ball to Mary O’Hara who had made an impressively well-timed run off her shoulder to race under the posts for Portlaoise’s second try
Portlaoise wouldn’t stop applying pressure, they sensed blood and were relentless in their attack, this time led by Erin “Pow-Pow” Powell.
Amy Peters drove into the Arklow 22 and a swift ball out to Molly Jane Dempsey saw her fly along the touchline, avoiding several Arklow defenders, before crossing the white line for what would prove to be the match winner.
With only minutes remaining Arklow needed to up their game if they had any chance of winning. Portlaoise were having none of it.
Crushing tackle after tackle and when relief was needed Saffron Adams would tear through the middle to give Portlaoise the time they needed to catch their breath and eat into some valuable time.
Arklow would eventually cross the line deep into over- time but it was simply too late and after the conversion was missed the ref blew his whistle for full time.
Portlaoise Panel: Jessica Delaney, Erin Powell, Daisy Whitten, Amy Peters, Rachel Connolly Ferguson, Chloe Kavanagh, Molly Kelly, Lilly Brophy, Molly Jane Dempsey, Elisha Gilligan, Saffron Adams, Mary O’Hara, Freya Stanley, Kate Ging, Keelin O’Brien Crossland, Emily Harvey, Molly Fitzpatrick, Abbie Delaney, Aoibheann Conroy, Tara Peavoy, Rachel Hovenden, Ella Sherlock, Emma Heffernan, Faye Scully, Ruby Maunsell, Orlaith Costigan, Louise Hyland, Ellie Mahoney, Ruby Coyle, Grace Pearson, Rosa Conroy, Ciara Cuddy, Emma Fitzpatrick, Eve Thompson O’Dwyer.
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