There was phenomenal success over the weekend for PortDara Rugby Club, as they delivered an outstanding U-14 and U-16 Leinster double victory.
The club – an amalgamation of Portarlington RFC and Cill Dara RFC – had their two juvenile teams in action for a Cup and Plate double-header in Energia Park, Donnybrook.
There was a great crowd on hand to see PortDara U-14s win the Leinster Cup before the U-16s went on to lift the Leinster Plate.
PortDara 22 Mullingar 17
Leinster U-14 Cup Final
The U-14s got the day off to the perfect start when they beat Mullingar to complete a sensational League and Cup double.
PortDara were crowned League champions in March – where Mullingar also provided the opposition – with a fantastic 20-7 win in Naas.
PortDara had to twice come from behind, by secured the Leinster Cup with a fabulous performance from their players and coaches.
Mullingar were 5-0 up early on but PortDara took over after that and went in for their opening try midway through the first half through second row Matilda Pearson.
Outside centre Caoimhe Murphy added the conversion to give PortDara the lead for the first time in the game.
Two tries and a conversion later, however, Mullingar had moved 17-7 in front.
PortDara responded with incredible pressure and were awarded a penalty try just before the break to trail 17-14 at half-time.
PortDara produced a high-class back move ten minutes after the restart that allowed full back Molly Molloy to dive over in the corner for a try to put her side two points up.
With a sensational defensive performance, PortDara were able to keep Mullingar scoreless in the second half.
Then, deep into injury-time, PortDara forced a penalty. Caoimhe Murphy calmed herself brilliantly before slotting the three points to ensure the title came home to Lea Road.
SCORERS – PortDara: Matilda Pearson and Molly Molloy (one try each); penalty try; Caoimhe Murphy (one pen, one con).
PORTDARA: Molly Molloy; Maci Church, Caoimhe Murphy, Aoife Murphy (Capt), Hayley Ryan, Elizabeth Conway, Linea Mannion; Ava Kelly, Caoimhe Killeen, Alannah Clare, Matilda Pearson, Isabella Cooper, Nora Mahon, Lily Ryan, Maisy Broughall. Replacements: Holly Brown, Annabelle Torpey, Ava Campbell, Ella Jayne Lenehan, Aoileann Ni Chomhraidhe, Roisin Gleeson, Caoilinn Dixon, Kate Keegan, Ailbhe Barrett, Alice Mahon, Elsie Noons, Elouise Flynn, Emily Keegan, Katie Bracken, Kate Hogan, Leah McEvoy, Lucy Goulding, Lucy Hefferan, Marianne Cooper, Mia O’Reilly, Niamh Gleeson, Olivia Ryan, Pippa Nolan, Saoirse Condon.
PortDara 26 Wicklow 24
Leinster U-16 Plate Final
With the U-14 title in the bag, PortDara completed a whirlwind weekend when the U-16s overcame Wicklow to get their hands on the Leinster Plate.
The sides swapped the lead back and forth throughout the game with PortDara leading heading into the closing stages.
With less than five minutes left on the clock, a converted try from Wicklow saw them retake the lead as they went five points in front.
But the sides were level inside injury time when PortDara winger Laura Carroll burst through for a try, completing her hat-trick in the process.
Up stepped Molly Ryan, who had already scored a try and landed a pair of conversions, with a world of pressure on her young shoulders.
With the title on the line, Ryan held her composure and slotted the kick to give PortDara the victory.
SCORERS – PORTDARA: Laura Carroll (three tries), Molly Ryan (one try, three cons).
PORTDARA: Clarissa O’Connell; Éabha Lawlor, Molly Ryan, Juliette Flanagan, Laura Carroll; Emma Behan, Éabha Connolly; Caoimhe Mooney, Aimee Deering, Lucy Reilly; Ciànna Stacey, Ruby Broughall; Lucy Noons, Emily Jane Miller, Mila Mihajlovic. Replacements: Aimee Ennis, Aimee Mulhall, Ali Murphy, Aoibhe Leigh, Aoibhinn Kett, Eabha Ryan, Ellie Monahan, Ellen McLoughlin, Emma Finlay, Eimear Reilly, Holly Tidd, Kate Flynn, Laoise Sherlock, Laura Gleeson, Lauren Hendy, Lola McLaughlin, Lyra Harrington, Mary K Clarke, Rebecca Luttrell, Saoirse Mooney, Sarah Walshe.
SEE ALSO – All of this week’s Laois GAA fixtures as senior footballers and hurlers return to action
