✍️ALL IRELAND LADIES JUNIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL-MATCH REPORT✍️
MALONE 31 TUAM/OUGHTERARD 27
Tuam/Oughterard Colts ladies team's journey in the All Ireland Junior Cup came to an end in the cruelest way possible against Malone RFC in Gibson Park, Belfast, in their semi-final tie on Sunday last.
Anna Stanfield's injury time converted try, in what was the last play of the game, saw the reigning Ulster Champions snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
It was a heartbreaking way for this brilliantly, talented, young, Tuam/Oughterard side to bow out of a competition they came so close to winning last year.
A late Barnhall rally on that occasion saw the Kildare outfit lift the cup for a second year in a row. Malone now stand in the Leinster side's way of three on the trot, after they overcame Tuam/Oughterard in an epic semi-final on Sunday.
Last year's finalists started on the front foot and in the seventh minute, after almost 20 phases of play inside the Malone '22, Megan Walsh raced in to touch down in the corner for the game's first try.
Although Malone responded with a period of pressure, Tuam/Oughterard's defence didn't buckle and forced knock-ons as well as gaining turnovers on multiple occasions. Both facets of the game, orchestrated by both sides, was a frequent occurrence throughout this cracking tie.
With the clock approaching 15 minutes, Walsh was again causing the Ulster side problems as she outpaced their defence before offloading to Molly Boote and the young full back ran in for a try under the posts which Walsh converted.
Malone responded almost immediately as Anna Stanfield finally found a gap in the away side's defence to get her team up and running on the scoreboard. Alexa McMullan converted to cut the gap to five. 12-7 now.
The fast tempo of the game saw no sign of abating when in the 23rd minute, Karly Tierney, who was captain on the day due to Beibhinn Gleeson's absence through injury, picked from a scrum and raced clear to score a brilliant individual try which Walsh once again converted.
However, back came Malone with a try of their own as McMullan profited from Shirelle Wilson's quickly taken penalty to touch down under the posts. She converted her try as the gap once again was five points.
As the frantic opening half drew to a close, Alicia Costello was unlucky not to have score a try after her weaving run from just inside the halfway line saw her hold off would be tackles only to be held up on the Malone tryline. Nonetheless, she wasn't to be denied on the stroke of half-time when she got the try her workrate deserved, as she touched down in the near corner. Tuam/Oughterard leading 24-14 at the break.
Chasing the game, Malone as expected, came out with renewed energy and determination as they began to dominate possession in the early stages of the second half. Yet, Tuam/Oughterard's workrate and discipline saw them answer anything Malone threw at them.
Eventually, in the 50th minute, scrum-half, Shirlee Wilson finally unlocked their defence to score her side's third try of the day but McMullan's conversion attempt struck the post to leave the score, 24-19.
Seventeen minutes later, the teams were level as Wilson got in for her second try and gave McMullan the opportunity to put her side in front for the first time in this contest. However, the alert Keannah Irons, charged down her conversion attempt. It was a brilliant piece of play by Irons.
As the clock ticked down, another great carry by Tierney saw play brought inside the Malone '22. Tuam/Oughterard worked the play in front of the posts where they won a penalty. Walsh made no mistake to convert the 77th minute kick and put TOC in touching distance of the final.
It set up a nail biting finish as back came Malone in search of a score to rescue or even win this absorbing semi-final. Deep in added time, Tuam/Oughterard did brilliantly to win back possession and although Walsh kicked to touch, there was no final whistle. Instead Malone attacked deep inside the Connacht side's '22 and when a Tuam/Oughterard player touched the ball down over their own crowded try line, it was game over surely?
Unfortunately it wasn't to be as the referee, after consultation with a touch judge, awarded Malone a five metre scrum. A driving maul resulted and the Ulster Champions got over for a try which was credited to Anna Stanfield. McMullan's successful conversion was the final act of the day as the referee's final whistle sounded.
Utter joy for Malone. Utter devastation for Tuam/Oughterard Colts. A heartbreaking way to lose it.
Tuam/Oughterard can be very proud of their efforts. They left it all on the field. It was a game that really could have gone either way. It was just a cruel way to lose it. They have brought us all on a fantastic junior cup journey the last couple of seasons and we all couldn't be prouder of them.
Well done to all the players and also to the management team made up of head coaches Owen Lydon, Norman Tierney and Barry Ruane, manager, Ken O'Grady and coach Martin Irons.
Finally thanks to all the parents, family members and supporters, who made the long journey to Belfast last Sunday. It was greatly appreciated.
TUAM/OUGHTERARD: M. Boote, A. Costello, M. Walsh, A. Burns, D. Lukasik, Emma Burns, S. Quinn, N. Corless, A. O'Callaghan, Ella Burns, K. Burns, G. Hahessy, A. Lydon, C. O'Grady, K. Tierney. Subs used: G. O'Rourke, K. Irons, R. O'Dea, A. Gibbons.
Subs: A. Thornton, C. Conneely, D. Byrne, R. Ganley, R. O'Callaghan, K. Creavan.
By Martin Nally
27/11/24
MALONE 31 TUAM/OUGHTERARD 27
Tuam/Oughterard Colts ladies team's journey in the All Ireland Junior Cup came to an end in the cruelest way possible against Malone RFC in Gibson Park, Belfast, in their semi-final tie on Sunday last.
Anna Stanfield's injury time converted try, in what was the last play of the game, saw the reigning Ulster Champions snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
It was a heartbreaking way for this brilliantly, talented, young, Tuam/Oughterard side to bow out of a competition they came so close to winning last year.
A late Barnhall rally on that occasion saw the Kildare outfit lift the cup for a second year in a row. Malone now stand in the Leinster side's way of three on the trot, after they overcame Tuam/Oughterard in an epic semi-final on Sunday.
Last year's finalists started on the front foot and in the seventh minute, after almost 20 phases of play inside the Malone '22, Megan Walsh raced in to touch down in the corner for the game's first try.
Although Malone responded with a period of pressure, Tuam/Oughterard's defence didn't buckle and forced knock-ons as well as gaining turnovers on multiple occasions. Both facets of the game, orchestrated by both sides, was a frequent occurrence throughout this cracking tie.
With the clock approaching 15 minutes, Walsh was again causing the Ulster side problems as she outpaced their defence before offloading to Molly Boote and the young full back ran in for a try under the posts which Walsh converted.
Malone responded almost immediately as Anna Stanfield finally found a gap in the away side's defence to get her team up and running on the scoreboard. Alexa McMullan converted to cut the gap to five. 12-7 now.
The fast tempo of the game saw no sign of abating when in the 23rd minute, Karly Tierney, who was captain on the day due to Beibhinn Gleeson's absence through injury, picked from a scrum and raced clear to score a brilliant individual try which Walsh once again converted.
However, back came Malone with a try of their own as McMullan profited from Shirelle Wilson's quickly taken penalty to touch down under the posts. She converted her try as the gap once again was five points.
As the frantic opening half drew to a close, Alicia Costello was unlucky not to have score a try after her weaving run from just inside the halfway line saw her hold off would be tackles only to be held up on the Malone tryline. Nonetheless, she wasn't to be denied on the stroke of half-time when she got the try her workrate deserved, as she touched down in the near corner. Tuam/Oughterard leading 24-14 at the break.
Chasing the game, Malone as expected, came out with renewed energy and determination as they began to dominate possession in the early stages of the second half. Yet, Tuam/Oughterard's workrate and discipline saw them answer anything Malone threw at them.
Eventually, in the 50th minute, scrum-half, Shirlee Wilson finally unlocked their defence to score her side's third try of the day but McMullan's conversion attempt struck the post to leave the score, 24-19.
Seventeen minutes later, the teams were level as Wilson got in for her second try and gave McMullan the opportunity to put her side in front for the first time in this contest. However, the alert Keannah Irons, charged down her conversion attempt. It was a brilliant piece of play by Irons.
As the clock ticked down, another great carry by Tierney saw play brought inside the Malone '22. Tuam/Oughterard worked the play in front of the posts where they won a penalty. Walsh made no mistake to convert the 77th minute kick and put TOC in touching distance of the final.
It set up a nail biting finish as back came Malone in search of a score to rescue or even win this absorbing semi-final. Deep in added time, Tuam/Oughterard did brilliantly to win back possession and although Walsh kicked to touch, there was no final whistle. Instead Malone attacked deep inside the Connacht side's '22 and when a Tuam/Oughterard player touched the ball down over their own crowded try line, it was game over surely?
Unfortunately it wasn't to be as the referee, after consultation with a touch judge, awarded Malone a five metre scrum. A driving maul resulted and the Ulster Champions got over for a try which was credited to Anna Stanfield. McMullan's successful conversion was the final act of the day as the referee's final whistle sounded.
Utter joy for Malone. Utter devastation for Tuam/Oughterard Colts. A heartbreaking way to lose it.
Tuam/Oughterard can be very proud of their efforts. They left it all on the field. It was a game that really could have gone either way. It was just a cruel way to lose it. They have brought us all on a fantastic junior cup journey the last couple of seasons and we all couldn't be prouder of them.
Well done to all the players and also to the management team made up of head coaches Owen Lydon, Norman Tierney and Barry Ruane, manager, Ken O'Grady and coach Martin Irons.
Finally thanks to all the parents, family members and supporters, who made the long journey to Belfast last Sunday. It was greatly appreciated.
TUAM/OUGHTERARD: M. Boote, A. Costello, M. Walsh, A. Burns, D. Lukasik, Emma Burns, S. Quinn, N. Corless, A. O'Callaghan, Ella Burns, K. Burns, G. Hahessy, A. Lydon, C. O'Grady, K. Tierney. Subs used: G. O'Rourke, K. Irons, R. O'Dea, A. Gibbons.
Subs: A. Thornton, C. Conneely, D. Byrne, R. Ganley, R. O'Callaghan, K. Creavan.
By Martin Nally
27/11/24
