Killarney U18.5 Girls shine in the Aghadoe Sunshine

Report: Diarmuid O’Malley, Photos: Anne Gabbett, Compiled by Liam Murphy

Killarney RFC 35-5 Carrick on Suir RFC

After a five-week break, Killarney u18.5 girls faced Carrick-on-Suir in the U18.5 Girls Munster League Quarter Final. Played in glorious Aghadoe sunshine, it was the perfect weather for running rugby. The girls from Killarney played some incredible high-quality rugby and ran out comfortable winners against a very spirted Tipperary side.

Right from the kick off Killarney showed that they meant business. Flyhalf Fia Whelan landed a perfect kick off to the on rushing Ava O Malley, who gathered and Carrick conceded an early penalty. A quick tap had Carrick on the back foot and after some good interplay, Whelan made an excellent break and was tackled just before the line. However, she managed to give a lovely off load to the supporting player Lily Morris who was on hand to get the first score of the day, which Whelan converted to put the girls from the Kingdom leading 7-0.

Shortly after, Niamh Dorian made an excellent break which created an overlap out wide and passed to birthday girl Holly O’Sullivan who scored a fine try. Then it was the turn of Carrick to score next which wasn’t converted leaving the score line of 12-05 to Killarney.

Next up to score was one of three girls celebrating their birthday Ali O’ Donoghue to get the best try of the day after a super finish by the Killarney centre O’Donoghue, which again was converted by Whelan.

To round off the first half Killarney scored two further tries the first from Niamh Dorian and her second of the day and then by player of the match ,the Gneeveguilla forward Ella Guerin Crowley, who showed incredible strength and determination to get over to leave the half time score at 35-5.

In the second half both teams got all their reserves on and played a very competitive game, special shout out to the third Killarney birthday girl, Molly Gabbett, who had a super game.

Killarney had two girls from Listowel making their debut namely Cara Reilly and Niamh Enright. Next up for the Killarney girls is an away semi-final in Clonakilty on Saturday the 20th of January – details to follow.

The team lined out as follows:

1. Annie O’Reilly

2. Ella Guerin-Crowley

3. Emer O Keefe

4. Joanne O’Keefe

5. Melissa Mc Carthy

6. Clodagh Foley

7. Lily Morris (joint captain)

8. Ava O Malley

9. Bronagh Dorian

10. Fia Whelan (joint captain)

11. Holly O’Sullivan

12. Niamh Dorian

13. Ali O Donoghue

14. Mary Ellen Mc Donald

15. Marina Eagar

16. Molly Gabbett

17. Niamh Enright

18. Cara Reilly

19. Nell Crowley

20. Jasmine Dwyer

21. Jess O’Sullivan

22. Sarah Slattery

Coaches: Josh Whelan & Diarmuid O Malley

Manager: Elaine Clifford

Photos courtesy of Anne Gabbett