Tuam/Oughterard Colts 38 UL Bohemians 2nd XV

Tuam/Oughterard Colts 38 UL Bohemians 2nd XV 12

Tuam/Oughterard Colts put in a devastating first half performance to book their place in January's All Ireland Junior ladies Cup final against MU Barnhall.

An Éabha Nic Dhonnacha try after just 90 seconds set the tone for the afternoon as Tuam/Oughterard made history by becoming the first ever Connacht team to qualify for the All Ireland Junior ladies Cup final.

It was a victory this young side fully deserved as the incredible story of Tuam/Oughterard Girls rugby continues. Only founded in 2015 by former Tuam RFC teammates, Owen Lydon and Norman Tierney, and a senior team only set up last year, this ladies team have already won the Connacht league in 22/23, last year's Connacht Invitational plate and this year's Invitational Cup and now have an All Ireland Cup final to look forward to!

This year the side have the welcome addition of Claremorris Colts players thus the name change to Tuam/Oughterard Colts this season. They came into this game with high expectations after a very impressive 47-5 victory over Skibereen last month in the quarter-final stage. And the huge crowd that gathered at Garraun Park on Saturday hadn't long to wait to cheer the homeside's first try of the match.

Eabha Nic Dhonnacha took everyone by surprise when she took a penalty quickly and used her pace to evade would be tackles to touch down under the posts. A fine individual try for the quick thinking former Galway ladies footballer who also added the conversion.

The Munster side responded by camping themselves in the Colts '22 but brilliant tackling by the Tuam/Oughterard defence, led by Beibhinn Gleeson who was outstanding all afternoon, meant their sides defensive line remained resolute.

More quick thinking brought a second try to the home side on twenty minutes. Emma Burns took a quick penalty inside UL's '22 and a through the hands move ended with Hannah Clarke offloading to Dominika Lukasik who touched down in the corner. From a difficult angle, Nic Dhonnacha, brilliantly converted as the Colts stretched their lead to fourteen.

A strong end to the half put Tuam/Oughterard almost out of sight as they scored two tries in the final four minutes.

Clarke, having scored seven tries in her last league match against University of Galway was unsurprisingly being well marshalled all afternoon, got her break in the 37th minute as she found a gap, put on the after burners and scored under the posts for her sides third converted try of the game.

Just as the half-time break approached, Tuam/Oughterard's captain, Sarah Jane Fox broke clear and although she was caught just before the line, Norman Tierney's daughter, Karly, was on hand to touch the ball down.

At 26-0 it looked all over but to their credit UL stuck to their task and were rewarded with a try just after the hour mark when Tara Holohan scored and converted a try. But this was Tuam's day and a fifth try arrived in the 69th minute. A great attacking move saw Karly Tierney offload to Emma Burns who showed great hands to control the ball and brilliantly pass to the onrushing Katie Creavan who got over the whitewash to really put the result beyond any doubt.

Clarke had to settle for just two tries today as once more her pace proved too much for her opponents when she scored a converted try with six minutes remaining. Sarah O'Gorman did manage a consolation try for UL but this was Tuam/Oughterard Colts day as they ran out comprehensive and deserved winners.

In the other semi-final, MU Barnhall defeated fellow Leinster outfit Tullamore 17-8. The final will take place on January 13th, 2024, with the venue to be decided.

TUAM/OUGHTERARD:

H. Clarke, N. Lydon, É. Nic Dhonnacha, A. Burns, D. Lukasik, E. Burns, R. Forkan, N.Corless, SJ. Fox G. O'Rourke, J. Foote, G. Hahessy, A. Lydon, B. Gleeson, K. Tierney.

Replacements; A. O’Callaghan, H. Daly, K. Burns, A. Gibbons, C. O'Grady, R. O'Dea, K. Creavan, A. Larkin, D. Byrne, S. Quinn, K. Irons.

UL BOHEMIANS:

C. McMahon, N. White, A. Stock, N. Mathastein, A. Jones, R. O'Shea, L. Costello, A. O'Sullivan, T. Holohan, S. O'Gorman, E. Grehan, S. Byrne, S. Marley, N. Brodie, C. Monahan.

Replacements; L. O'Connor, T. Kirwan.

REFEREE: Siobháin Daly