Fantastic weekend for Wicklow youths

WICKLOW’S youths section had a fantastic weekend of rugby with three teams facing local rivals in the South East semi-finals. All three teams had finished top of their repsective qualifying leagues to secure home games in the semi finals.

First up were the under-14s who had emerged unbeaten in qualifying league. They took on a bruising Kilkenny side who had some huge players.

Kilkenny had beaten Wicklow in the league last year and Wicklow knew they would need to be at their best to come away with the win. The game was a tight affair until the last ten minutes when Wicklow ran in three late tries to finish 38-7.

There was a barnstorming man of the match display from Cormac Murphy who tackled and carried well and led from the front all night. Overall this was an excellent team performance and the team can look forward to a big day out in Carlow IT in April for the final where they will take on Gorey.

Wicklow’s under-16s pulled off one of the best comebacks seen in Ashtown Lane for manys a year.

Wexford had beaten this Wicklow side comfortably in the league a few weeks ago but Wicklow knew they had the talent to score tries against a tough Wexford outfit.

Things hadnt gone their way during their game. A number of crucial decisions hadn’t gone their way and they trailed 7-22 with fifteen minutes left.

A Scott Fitzpatrick try and a brilliant Tom Hodgkinson conversion into the wind made it 14-22 and gave Wicklow a glimmer of hope. Five minutes later Fitzpatrick struck again from deep to make it 17-22.

With the game deep in injury time Scott Fitzpatrick broke through again, the Wicklow crowd roared.

The last ditch tackle by the full back brought him down ten yards out, but he wasn’t held. He scrambled to his feet and dived over the line to score the try.

The referee awarded the try and Wicklow had won by 26-22 in one of the most dramatic games seen at Ashtown Lane in recent times.

The under-16s can look forward to a titanic tussle with Tullow when they face off in the South East final in April.

Wicklow’s under-13s made it three wins from from three with an excellent 26-10 win over a tough Carlow side.

Try scorers included James Curry and Olan Donoghue. All three teams can look forward to a big day out in April. Well done to all.