U-18 girls dig deep to edge out strong Tullamore
DUNDALK U18 Girls made the long trip to Co. Offaly for the second game in a row, this time to play Tullamore, the reigning league champions.
Tullamore started the stronger picking from the ruck and using their larger pack to great effect leading to a try in the early minutes.
Dundalk grew into the game more and from a penalty earned at halfway put together some great phases using backs and forwards before moving the ball wide for fullback Maria Smith to sprint down the wing and score under the posts.
Amy Turley converted to leave the score 7 all.
From the kick off some uncharacteristic errors by Dundalk gave Tullamore possession in the Dundalk half resulting a penalty advantage and their out half put in an intelligent kick to the wing for their winger to touch down just ahead of the Dundalk cover.
Soon afterwards further strong running by Tullamore led to another try to leave them 17 – 7 ahead.
Dundalk regathered their composure and again strung some great rugby together to apply concerted pressure on the Tullamore defence before Nina Hjalmers crashed over out wide to leave the score 17 – 12.
From the kick off Dundalk again worked their way back up the pitch and although they lost possession their strong defence caused Tullamore to knock on giving Dundalk a scrum 15 metres out.
A quick move from the base of the scrum again sucking in the Tullamore defence then moving it wide for Maria Smith to cross again leaving the score at 17-17.
Tullamore picked up their game again following a knock on by Dundalk in their own half and despite some strong play and good phase play by Tullamore Dundalk defended with great determination to hold out Tullamore and leave the half time score 17-17.
The second half was a really tight affair with both teams attacking and defending strongly until about half way through the half in the second half when a superb break from Caoimhe
O’Callaghan from her own 22 led to a try under the posts with Amy Turley adding the conversion to leave it 24-17 to Dundalk.
Both teams lost players to injury during some highly contested play between both teams before Tullamore struck back again out wide to make it 22 -24 with 8 minutes remaining. Dundalk were keeping on the pressure in Tullamore’s 22 but a ripped ball by the Tullamore defence saw their winger released out wide and sprinting free for what looked like a killer score.
However, Dundalk out half Amy Turley never gave up the chase and reeled her in to make a superb tackle two metres short of the Dundalk line, great support defence got here on time to hold Tullamore support out resulting in a five-metre scrum to Tullamore.
Tullamore continued to attack the Dundalk line for the remaining minutes with superb defence from Dundalk including two superb turnovers by Ellie Meade and another by Nicola Bolger on the line stopping Tullamore and relieving the pressure temporarily at least.
Over the remaining minutes some determined and aggressive defence by Dundalk backs and forwards alike on their own line repeatedly knocked the Tullamore attack back.
The final play of the game saw Caoimhe Conroy the last defender out wide forcing the Tullamore winger to knock on a pass which went into touch and the referee blew the final whistle as Dundalk departed with a hard-fought 24-22 success.
Dundalk’s next game is in the inaugural Leinster U18 Girls Plate Final next Sunday (15th) in Energia Park - Donnybrook Stadium against Tullow, KO 4.15, all support welcome.
Dundalk: Emma McArdle, Miriam Finnegan, Grace Quigley, Neasa Boyle, Erin Casey, Molly Hughes, Ellie Meade, Nina Hjalmers, Clodagh Flynn, Amy Turley, Caoimhe Conroy, Eva Toal, Caoimhe O’Callaghan, Emily Molloy, Maria Smith. Substitutes: Nicola Bolger, Elsie Cavaroli, Amberlie Collins, Ciara Graham, Aoife Lawrence.