Huge day for Wicklow girls
Three teams in Leinster finals
THE excitement is building in Wicklow RFC as this Sunday, December 15, is a historic first for the girls section.
All three of their girls team, U-14, U-16 and U-18, have won their way through to the Leinster Cup Finals in Donnybrook.
Wicklow RFC has the biggest women’s and girls section in the country, with over 200 players and with four buses heading to Dublin on Sunday the club plan to turn Energia Park into a home venue for the three teams and make it a sea of red, black and white.
Best of luck to all three of the girls teams on Sunday
Wicklow RFC U-14 girls will be first up with a 1 p.m. kick-off where they will face Naas, who defeated Greystones, Newbridge and Kilkenny on their way to the decider.
The Wicklow girls had to reach the finals the hard way with away fixtures against Dundalk, Athy and a very strong Navan side.
Wicklow U-14s have been having a very successful season so far and are top of their Leinster League grading section as are Naas, with both sides undefeated this season this promises to a very exciting and close match between two good sides.
This is a very good Wicklow U-14s team, some of whom are made up from last year’s Leinster League winners and bring that experience with them into the final.
The U-16 girls will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and they will face close rivals Portlaoise.
The Wicklow girls will be slight favourites, having narrowly beaten the midlanders in the Leinster League Division One.
The Wicklow side have been undefeated this season and sit top of Division One.
Portlaoise have overcome Ashbourne, Balbriggan, Portdara and New Ross on their route to Donnybrook.
Wicklow’s road to Dublin had them at home against Naas, a very narrow five-point victory on the road against Navan and another tight away semi-final win away to Mullingar.
There are no easy matches when you get to the finals stages in Leinster and this game will be no different.
This U-16s team are one of the top sides in Leinster this year and will have high hopes of bringing this cup home to Wicklow.
The last game of the Leinster Finals day features Wicklow U-18 girls, who will be pitted against strong Leinster League Division One side Portdara who defeated, Navan, North Meath and Naas on the way to this year’s blue ribband event.
The Wicklow girls like their younger club mates had a very tough draw in the first round.
They were drawn away in Dundalk where they won a tight match, this was followed by Mullingar and then an epic semi-final in Gorey against undefeated Leinster Division One side Enniscorthy.
Portdara have a strong pack and skilful set of backs and the Wicklow girls will have to be at their best to beat them.
The U-18s have been a little unlucky with injuries this year but they are a side with great determination and character and will be putting their best foot forward to add some silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet.
The schedule for Sunday is as follows:
U-14 Cup: Naas vs. Wicklow, PITCH 1, 1.00 p.m.
U-16 Cup: Portlaoise vs. Wicklow, PITCH 1, 2.30 p.m.
U-18 Cup: PortDara vs. Wicklow, PITCH 1, 4.15 p.m.
Pitch 1 is in front of the stand.