TUAM/OUGHTERARD COLTS RETAIN LEAGUE CROWN 23/24
(Article appeared in the Tuam Herald)
TUAM/OUGHTERARD COLTS 65 UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY 0
Tuam/Oughterard Colts added another chapter in their extraordinary story as they clinched back to back Connacht women's league titles with an emphatic victory over University of Galway in Creggs on Sunday last.
In only their second season in existence, Tuam/Oughterard are taking Connacht Junior rugby by storm having now won the league in successive season. They ran in eleven tries in total on Sunday as their opponents had no answer for their exciting brand of fast paced rugby.
As she did in the semi-final victory over Sligo, Hannah Clarke ran in four tries while captain Sarah Jane Fox added two with Niamh Corless, Rachel Forkan, Katie Creavan, Karly Tierney and Dominika Lukasik all grabbing one apiece while Clarke added five conversions in a truly dominant display by the Colts.
There was no doubt Tuam/Oughterard were strong favourites coming into this league decider and it took them only four minutes to get the first try of the contest. After a number of phases, Karly Tierney found the electric Clarke on the wing and once she put her foot on the gas she wasn't for catching. Clarke added the conversion to give her side the perfect start.
University of Galway responded with a period of possession of their own inside their opponents '22 but it was Tuam/Oughterard who doubled their lead with an eleventh minute converted try. Once more Clarke broke at speed and offloaded to Eabha Nic Dhonnacha who found Katie Creavan on the wing. Just before she was tackled, Creavan's return pass found Nic Dhonnacha who was stopped short of the line. However from the resulting scrum, Niamh Corless touched down and Clarke converted.
Already facing an uphill task, a high tackle in the 25th minute resulted in University having Alana Roche sent to the bin. Three minutes later and Tuam/Oughterard capitalised on their numerical advantage with a third try.
A great clearance kick by Nic Dhonnacha bounced perfectly for Karly Tierney who raced in on the University line before offloading to Rachel Forkan who touched down. Once more Clarke converted. It was 28-0 just after the half hour mark when Tierney and Nic Dhonnacha combined to set up Clarke who raced clear and got her second of the afternoon.
There was time for a fifth Colts' try just before the break as a brilliant passing move between Forkan, Amy Burns, Nic Dhonnacha and Clarke ended with Katie Creavan scoring a try in the corner. A great team try sealing what was a great first half team performance by Tuam/Oughterard.
The second half was only four minutes old when Karly Tierney got in on the try scoring act. It was a try her performance had deserved. Tierney got four tries in last years final and it was a feat that would be repeated by her teammate Hannah Clarke in this year's.
Clarke completed her hat-trick in the 45th minute when Amy Burns set her off down the wing and Clarke let her blistering pace do the rest. She would have to wait 20 minutes for her 4th try however, as both teams emptied their benches. Nonetheless, in the 65th minute, great play by Amy Burns and Clarke, saw Dominika Lukasik almost reach the try line however she was stopped short of it but still did brilliantly to tee up Clarke, who made it 48-0.
There was no doubt this was a tough day at the office for University of Galway but they battled bravely all afternoon against an opposition who are just something special to say the least. It is easy to forget how young this Tuam/Oughterard side is. The majority of this side are in their very early twenties or younger.
Ella Burns for example came off the bench on Sunday having only turned eighteen two weeks ago. It's been an incredible week for Ella as she won the under 18 inter-provincial series with Connacht on Sunday week, three days later was named in the Irish Squad for their upcoming under 18s Six Nations series, and on Sunday last made her debut for the Tuam/Oughterard Colts ladies team. She made an impact too with five great carries. A star of the future for sure.
Tuam/Oughterard ran in three late tries in this comprehensive with Sarah Jane Fox grabbing two. The Colts captain has made a remarkable comeback from two cruciate ligament injuries and is a hugely popular figure among her teammates. She has led her team superbly all year and deserved her two tries here.
Although she was unlucky earlier, Lukasik got the try her performance also deserved when she made no mistake to complete an utterly dominant Tuam/Oughterard victory with an added time try.
Owen Lydon and Norman Tierney's side adding more silverware to their cabinet as the All Ireland Finalists easily retained their crown. Connacht President, Michael O'Hehir presented SJ Fox with the Bank of Ireland Connacht women's league trophy as Tuam/Oughterard celebrated back to back success.
TUAM/OUGHTERARD COLTS: H. Clarke; K. Creavan; É Nic Dhonnacha; A. Burns; D. Lukasik; Emma. Burns; R. Forkan; N. Corless; SJ Fox; H. Daly; K. Burns; G. Hahessy; A. Lydon; R. O'Dea; K. Tierney. Replacements: A. O'Callaghan; Ella Burns; D. Byrne; C. O'Grady; A. Larkin; S. Quinn; R. Ganley; K. Irons.
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY: M. Williams; A. Mulhall; A. Dunne; R. Farrell; R. Kinneavey; C. Geraghty; C. Millar; J. Houlihan; M. Ager; J. Morgan; A. Hahessy; K. O'Meara; L. Mac Lochlainn; E. Cafferkey; A. Roche. Replacements: A. Graham; M. Malaquais; C. O'Sullivan; M. McGlynn; J. Phelan; B. Nee; A. O'Morain; A. McWilliams.
REFEREE: Siobháin Daly
TUAM/OUGHTERARD COLTS 65 UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY 0
Tuam/Oughterard Colts added another chapter in their extraordinary story as they clinched back to back Connacht women's league titles with an emphatic victory over University of Galway in Creggs on Sunday last.
In only their second season in existence, Tuam/Oughterard are taking Connacht Junior rugby by storm having now won the league in successive season. They ran in eleven tries in total on Sunday as their opponents had no answer for their exciting brand of fast paced rugby.
As she did in the semi-final victory over Sligo, Hannah Clarke ran in four tries while captain Sarah Jane Fox added two with Niamh Corless, Rachel Forkan, Katie Creavan, Karly Tierney and Dominika Lukasik all grabbing one apiece while Clarke added five conversions in a truly dominant display by the Colts.
There was no doubt Tuam/Oughterard were strong favourites coming into this league decider and it took them only four minutes to get the first try of the contest. After a number of phases, Karly Tierney found the electric Clarke on the wing and once she put her foot on the gas she wasn't for catching. Clarke added the conversion to give her side the perfect start.
University of Galway responded with a period of possession of their own inside their opponents '22 but it was Tuam/Oughterard who doubled their lead with an eleventh minute converted try. Once more Clarke broke at speed and offloaded to Eabha Nic Dhonnacha who found Katie Creavan on the wing. Just before she was tackled, Creavan's return pass found Nic Dhonnacha who was stopped short of the line. However from the resulting scrum, Niamh Corless touched down and Clarke converted.
Already facing an uphill task, a high tackle in the 25th minute resulted in University having Alana Roche sent to the bin. Three minutes later and Tuam/Oughterard capitalised on their numerical advantage with a third try.
A great clearance kick by Nic Dhonnacha bounced perfectly for Karly Tierney who raced in on the University line before offloading to Rachel Forkan who touched down. Once more Clarke converted. It was 28-0 just after the half hour mark when Tierney and Nic Dhonnacha combined to set up Clarke who raced clear and got her second of the afternoon.
There was time for a fifth Colts' try just before the break as a brilliant passing move between Forkan, Amy Burns, Nic Dhonnacha and Clarke ended with Katie Creavan scoring a try in the corner. A great team try sealing what was a great first half team performance by Tuam/Oughterard.
The second half was only four minutes old when Karly Tierney got in on the try scoring act. It was a try her performance had deserved. Tierney got four tries in last years final and it was a feat that would be repeated by her teammate Hannah Clarke in this year's.
Clarke completed her hat-trick in the 45th minute when Amy Burns set her off down the wing and Clarke let her blistering pace do the rest. She would have to wait 20 minutes for her 4th try however, as both teams emptied their benches. Nonetheless, in the 65th minute, great play by Amy Burns and Clarke, saw Dominika Lukasik almost reach the try line however she was stopped short of it but still did brilliantly to tee up Clarke, who made it 48-0.
There was no doubt this was a tough day at the office for University of Galway but they battled bravely all afternoon against an opposition who are just something special to say the least. It is easy to forget how young this Tuam/Oughterard side is. The majority of this side are in their very early twenties or younger.
Ella Burns for example came off the bench on Sunday having only turned eighteen two weeks ago. It's been an incredible week for Ella as she won the under 18 inter-provincial series with Connacht on Sunday week, three days later was named in the Irish Squad for their upcoming under 18s Six Nations series, and on Sunday last made her debut for the Tuam/Oughterard Colts ladies team. She made an impact too with five great carries. A star of the future for sure.
Tuam/Oughterard ran in three late tries in this comprehensive with Sarah Jane Fox grabbing two. The Colts captain has made a remarkable comeback from two cruciate ligament injuries and is a hugely popular figure among her teammates. She has led her team superbly all year and deserved her two tries here.
Although she was unlucky earlier, Lukasik got the try her performance also deserved when she made no mistake to complete an utterly dominant Tuam/Oughterard victory with an added time try.
Owen Lydon and Norman Tierney's side adding more silverware to their cabinet as the All Ireland Finalists easily retained their crown. Connacht President, Michael O'Hehir presented SJ Fox with the Bank of Ireland Connacht women's league trophy as Tuam/Oughterard celebrated back to back success.
TUAM/OUGHTERARD COLTS: H. Clarke; K. Creavan; É Nic Dhonnacha; A. Burns; D. Lukasik; Emma. Burns; R. Forkan; N. Corless; SJ Fox; H. Daly; K. Burns; G. Hahessy; A. Lydon; R. O'Dea; K. Tierney. Replacements: A. O'Callaghan; Ella Burns; D. Byrne; C. O'Grady; A. Larkin; S. Quinn; R. Ganley; K. Irons.
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY: M. Williams; A. Mulhall; A. Dunne; R. Farrell; R. Kinneavey; C. Geraghty; C. Millar; J. Houlihan; M. Ager; J. Morgan; A. Hahessy; K. O'Meara; L. Mac Lochlainn; E. Cafferkey; A. Roche. Replacements: A. Graham; M. Malaquais; C. O'Sullivan; M. McGlynn; J. Phelan; B. Nee; A. O'Morain; A. McWilliams.
REFEREE: Siobháin Daly
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