After hard fought victories against Old Belvedere and Tullamore in the first and second rounds respectively, Clondalkin Womens Rugby travelled to Black Gates, the home of Tullow RFC on Sunday March 23rd,, to play the semi-final of the Paul Flood Cup and attempt to reach their second final of the season.
Conditions were perfect for a game of rugby and the large crowd that gathered were treated to a very entertaining game of rugby featuring two sides that were 110% committed to reach the final. Straight from the whistle Tullow tested the defense of Clondalkin with continuous attempts to use their pack to make progress. Clondalkin held out bravely until the end of the first quarter when the Tullow pack drove over the Clondalkin line and were adjudged to have successfully grounded the ball. The conversion was not made.
Clondalkin came back after that first score and applied pressure of their own against the hard tackling Tullow team – moving the ball wide only for last ditch tackles to stop their progress. Their efforts were soon rewarded with outside centre, Sara Phelan, taking the ball some 40 meters out on the right and accelerating away from her pursuers to score under the posts. Ailbhe O’Nolan was successful with the conversion. The tight struggle between the two sides continued for the rest of the first half – but at half time Clondalkin were leading 7 to 5.
The close fought encounter continued at the restart but 10 minutes into the half, Tullow were adjudged to have held on in the ruck and a penalty was awarded to Clondalkiin some 30 meters out to the right of the posts. Ailbhe O’Nolan stepped up to know the ball over the bar. There was no a bit of daylight between the teams. This was quite soon followed by a near copycat repeat of their first try with Sara Phelan once again taking a pass on the right wing just on the halfway line and glided by a number of defenders to once again touch down under the posts. Outhalf, Gale Stowe, was successful with the conversion.
Urged on by a large and vocal home, Tullow were never going to accept defeat and time after time asked questions of the Clondalkin defense who withstood the constant onslaught. On the twenty minute mark, some clever back play from Clondalkin brought the ball into the Tullow half to be followed up by some concerted forward play. Clondalkin were rewarded when once again Tullow were penalised for handling in the ruck. Even though the mark was in a very difficult angle, Ailbhe O’Nolan slotted over the penalty to bring the score toe Clondalkin 20, Tullow 5.
Clondalkin were then hit with two serious injuries. Scrum half and captain, Shóna Byrne bravely tackled an opponent only for her opponent to fall heavily on Shóna who had to be carried off with what was later diagnosed after a long wait in Naas A and E with a badly broken collar bone. Shortly after Shóna had to leave the field, Melissa Kavanagh took a very heavy fall on making another brave tackle. Play was stopped for some time while the required attention was given to Melissa who was then stretchered off the field to await an ambulance which would take her to join her captain in Naas A and E.
When the match resumed, Tullow maintained their pressure on the Clondalkin line and with the final play of the match were rewarded for their efforts with a try on the left close to the touch line. The conversion was missed and the final whistle was blown. Clondalkin had earned their right to play in the final by a score of 20 to 10.
It was a tremendous effort by the Clondalkin Womens Rugby team. Despite a huge effort by their opponents, they held their composure and took the breaks given them. The final will take place next Saturday, March 29th with a 2:30 kick off at the grounds of Barnhall RFC when Clondalkin will play against Gorey RFC who beat Arklow in the other semi-final. This will be a great match and your support for Clondalkin Womens Rugby at that final would be greatly appreciated.
Clondalkin Womens Rugby Team: Amanda Boland, Shóna Byrne (captain), Caroline Conway, Louise Dixon, Niamh Farrelly, Naomi Fynes, Aideen Grogan, Ciara Grogan, Debbie Hendrick, Mairéad Holohan, Brid Holohan, Melissa Kavanagh, 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.
