Listowel Girls Claim Bank Of Ireland Munster U18 Cup

Listowel made the journey to Garryowen RFC on Friday evening to meet Carrick/Waterpark in this season’s Bank of Ireland Munster U18 Cup final.

Submitted by Listowel RFC…

It has been a tremendous couple of seasons for this group of players with half of them being part of the all conquering team last season appearing in their 26th competitive match at this level, having lost just once in the process.

The loss came in the league semi-final last December, and like all good teams they dusted themselves off with a renewed focus on the Munster Cup.

This was the first time we got to play the current league champions this season, and we knew from the start that it was going to be a tough challenge, but like most of our matches the girls came out firing.

They carried, rucked and tackled unlike any game this season, and were really up for the challenge. We controlled the pace and the momentum from the start and it did not take long for the first try when after some excellent rucking, the inspirational Muireann Kennelly took the ball at pace from a ruck slicing through the defence just to be brought down short of the line.

It was quick recycling, and who else but try-machine, Aine Enright, was on hand to crash over. Muirne Wall converted to leave the score at 7-0.

This was the pattern for most of the first half with our forwards taking control up front managing to hold on to the ball for long periods only to be denied by some excellent defending from Carrick/Waterpark.

The opposition showed their class with some brilliant counter attacking rugby, and eventually did manage to cross for a well deserved try.

The swing in momentum did not last long when our girls managed to attack from deep after some excellent back play where Rebecca Reilly split the midfield and managed to bring play to inside their half.

From here, we managed to make some good carries and after some quick hands, Maeve Carmody crossed to score first of two tries. Muirne Wall converted. This is how it stayed for the first half with Listowel taking a deserved 14 – 5 lead at the interval.

The second-half started very much with Listowel playing at pace holding on to the ball for long periods.

Tara O’Connor marshalled play from scrum-half, linking the forwards and backs superbly,with Mary Murphy, Aine Enright, Muireann Kennelly, Sarah Hunt and Shauna Mulvihill quite brilliant with ball in hand keeping the pack going forward giving us the momentum and platform to attack from.

After some good work at the breakdown and with quick recycling, the brilliant Muirne Wall spotted space next to the touchline which she exploited to run in from half-way and score under the posts. She converted her own try to leave the score at 21-5.

We deserved the lead and played some brilliant attacking rugby with Clare Beasley, Mary Kate Reidy & Danika Kelleher tackling anything that moved up front, and behind we had Emma Reidy, Maeve McElligott, Rebecca Reilly, Molly Cluney and Kayla Mulvihill shutting down every attack with some excellent aggressive defence that lead to numerous turnovers.

Carrick/Waterpark hit a purple patch midway through the second-half and continued to attack with their forwards and backs combining well to create space.

Clare Beasley and Mary Kate Reidy were quite superb in their defensive roles up front, and behind we just about stopped everything they threw at us, but eventually after another attack we had a player yellow-carded for a high tackle.

Carrick/Waterpark had the momentum and started taking control of the game, denying us any possession and pounding away at our line. They crossed for a well deserved try out wide when we simply ran out of numbers to defend the overlap.

We were in trouble with 15 minutes left and players going down with cramp after a game played at high tempo on a 4G pitch. Things did not get much better when straight after being back to our full compliment of 15 players, our captain and most experienced player received a yellow card.

This was a real test of character, and with their backs to the wall and with very little possession we managed to get a turnover against the run of play and worked our way to their 22.

From a resulting scrum, No 8 Maeve Carmody picked and went just to be held up over the line. We had another scrum and again the same process, Maeve picked up and started, stopped, turned on her heals and went blind side shrugging off the nine and bursting through two defenders to score what turned out to be the winning try.

We never coached this, we never do it in the drills, but we always emphasize to play heads up rugby and play what is in front of you. Maeve went against the coaching manual, and played what she saw in front. This is what makes this team special, with a never say die attitude and a will to succeed and play for each other and most importantly to make the right decisions at the right time.

Carrick/Waterpark did respond with a fine try in the final play, but the day belonged to Listowel. They showed true character and grit combined with periods of brilliant rugby to win a well deserved fourth trophy in two seasons. Well done girls, you deserved it!

Thanks again for the support from all the parents that came out on a freezing evening to see their children deliver on the big stage. A big thanks to all the coaches and volunteers, as without your commitment and dedication none of this will be possible. To the U18 Girls, its a very big well done. You are the champions!

Scorers: Tries Aine Enright, Maeve Carmody (2), Muirne Wall

Conversions: Muirne Wall (3)

Squad: Kayla Mulvihill, Emma Reidy, Molly Cluney, Rebecca Reilly, Meabh McElligott, Muirne Wall, Tara O’Connor, Maeve Carmody,Muireann Kennelly, Clare Beasley, Aine Enright, Mary Kate Reidy, Mary Murphy, Danika Kelleher, Melanie McKnight, Shauna Mulvihill, Sarah Hunt, Anna Hooke, Elise Harris.