A festival of Womens Rugby in Leinster took place on Saturday at Parsonstown, the home of Barnhall RFC with no less than four finals up for decision including the premier cup competition for women – the Paul Flood Cup. Clondalkin Womens Rugby had earned their place in the final after coming through a very difficult draw that saw them account for Old Belvedere, Tullamore and Tullow on their way to the final. Their opponents, Gorey RFC, getting the better of Wexford and Arklow enroute. Clondalkin were to take the field without their inspirational captain, Shóna Byrne, who had suffered a badly broken collar bone in the semi-final and were also missing Melissa Kavanagh who had suffered concussion in that same semi-final.
Clondalkin kicked off into the club house end and it was immediately confirmed to all that this Gorey side were a very difficult proposition who were not going to give an inch and both sides swapped the ball and territory for the first 10 minutes before Clondalkin were adjudged to be playing the ball on the ground in a ruck. The penalty was in front of the Clondalkin posts about 20 meters out and the Gorey outhalf made no mistake in slotting the ball over the posts opening their account. This score inspired Clondalkin to even greater effort and they got their reward with a penalty of their own in roughly the same position but at the other end of the pitch. Ailbhe O’Nolan will acknowledge that it was not one of her better kicks but it did go over the bar and the sides were level.
The bruising encounter continued with both sides having to use their benches to good effect. On 35 minutes Clondalkin managed to put together a concerted passage of play with the pack picking and going to try to unlock the Gorey defense. After being held up once over the Gorey line they were not to be denied the second time when Ailbhe O’Nolan got herself into the right position and drove over the line on the right wing. Try to Clondalkin. Ailbhe was just wide with the resultant conversion. There were to be no more scores before half time and the message to the Clondalkin team from their coaches was to keep on doing what they were doing – their rewards would come.
And this turned out very much to be true – this was a game of two halves. Four minutes into the second half, the Clondalkin number thirteen Sara Phelan found space out wide and sped away from the flaying tackles to register her first try of the afternoon. The conversion was not made but Clondalkin were now into top gear and just four minutes later Mairead Holohan, the Clondalkin number eight and captain for the day, took an excellent line off the back of a ruck on the Gorey 22 to race through for an excellent try touching down under the posts which was converted by outhalf Gale Stowe.
While Gorey continued to mount a valiant defense, they could not stem the Clondalkin tide. Three further trys were scored by Sara Phelan – two of which were converted, one by Gale Stowe and one by Ailbhe O’Nolan with what turned out to be the last play of the final ending on a scoreline of Clondalkin Womens Rugby 39, Gorey RFC 3. The name of the Clondalkin would be added to the roll call of previous winners – St. Marys, Galwegians and Old Belvedere. Each and every one of the squad had put in a huge effort during the season which had started back in late July – through all kinds of weather, sacrificing much in order to improve under the excellent coaching team of Gordon Condell, Shane Dunne and Una Maguire, ably assisted by manager Eugene Noble. They had earned their success.
Huge cheers echoed around the Barnhall grounds as each of the winning squad were presented with their medals by their Ireland heroes Sophie Spence and Mary Louise Reilly, followed by the presenting of the Pennant to Clondalkin RFC President, Tom Duffy, and the Paul Flood cup to captain Shóna Byrne. The last presentation of the day by Sophie and Mary Louise was to Woman of the Match Sara Phelan who ended with a haul of four trys. This signaled the start of the celebrations which transferred later to the Laurels and went long into the night.
A successful end to a memorable season for Clondalkin Womens Rugby and a stepping stone to future success next season. If you want to be a part of this success, you are very welcome to join – no matter what your level of experience. Do get in touch!
Clondalkin Womens Rugby Team: Amanda Boland, Kerryn Buck, Caroline Conway, Louise Dixon, Niamh Farrelly, Naomi Fynes, Aideen Grogan, Ciara Grogan, Sandie Healy, Debbie Hendrick, Mairéad Holohan (captain), Brid Holohan, Ciara Lennon, Kerrie O’Halloran, Ailbhe O’Nolan, Sara Phelan, Michelle Rowan, Nicola Smyth, Gael Stowe, Siobhan Tierney, Laura Wall, Claire Winters and Anne Marie Whelan.
