Killarney RFC U18 girls qualify for Munster league semi final

Killarney RFC U18 girls qualify for Munster league semi final:

Report by Diarmuid O’Malley

Pics: Courtesy of Ballincollig RFC and Liam Murphy

Final Score: Killarney RFC 34-0 Ballincollig

Killarney U18.5 girls team continued their unbeaten league form, with a win last Saturday at Aghadoe. Played in atrocious conditions both sets of players provided a very entertaining game in very testing conditions, thankfully the fantastic home  surface was in perfect condition which is a huge testament to all the great work that has being done on the playing surfaces in Aghadoe.

Killarney started off very well, with an early try from Ali O Donoghue which was converted by joint skipper Fia Whelan. Both sides at all times tried to play expansive rugby despite the near gale force conditions. Next up to score for Killarney was the speedster Niamh Dorrian after some good interplay with Marina Eagar.  Killarney didn’t have it their own way and Ballincollig, at times, really tested the resolute Killarney defence. After two tries from the Killarney backs it was then the turn of their forwards to get in on the act, first up to score was Ava O Malley whose try was duly converted by Whelan and followed soon after by her hard working team mate Katie O Donoghue. This left the halftime score at 24-0 to Killarney.

After a quick halftime turnaround, Ballincollig attacked and attacked but just couldn’t manage to break the outstanding defence led by some outstanding tacking by the Killarney forwards O’Malley, Clodagh Foley, Emer O Keefe, Lilly Morris and Katie O Donoghue.. On the 47 minute mark, Molly Gabbett gathered a good Ballincollig kick,  making a good run and excuted a lovely pass to Molly Jenkins setting up a great counter attack from deep inside their own half,  after some great interplay with Bronagh Dorrian, Katie O Donoghue made a strong carry and was just held up short but on hand to take the final pass was Lilly Morris to go over the line for a lovely score. Leading by 29 points, Whelan was keen to get in on the scoring and scored the final points of the day.

The joint killarney coach Diarmuid O’Malley added “this was a really great week for the girls of Killarney, where we had 4 girls selected to the U18 Munster Rugby squad for the upcoming Interprovincials in February. Last season we had 1 girl selected, which just shows the ability in this squad. Today the girls demonstrated how much strength we have across the squad, some of the interplay in awful conditions was superb to watch. The highlight today for me, was the performance of our two second rows Ellen Leech playing her first ever game of rugby and Keelyn O Leary playing out of position filled in like they both had played there on numerous times previously.  This just epitomises the girls attitude of rolling up their sleeves, getting on with it and always putting the team first. We are always looking for new joiners and encourage girls of any age over 12 to come up on a Wednesday night at 7pm and give it a go”

The Killarney team was:

1. Emer O Keefe

2. Molly Gabbett

3. Lilly Morris (joint captain)

4. Ellen Leech

5. Keelyn O Leary

6. Katie O Donoghue

7. Clodagh Foley

8. Ava O Malley

9.Robyn Landers

10. Fia Whelan (joint captain)

11. Niamh Dorrian

12. Bronagh Dorrian

13. Ali O Donoghue

14. Molly Jenkins

15.  Marina Eagar

Coaches:

Josh Whelan

Liam Murphy

Diarmuid O Malley

Manager: Jenna Moynihan