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Ballina Killaloe U18 Girls won their Munster League Final last Saturday in a keenly fought and highly entertaining match vs Clonakilty RFC at Fermoy Showgrounds.
This is the first ever Munster title for Ballina Killaloe Rugby Football Club (BKRFC) after previous Youths rugby success in North Munster competitions.
Ballina-Killaloe started off the scoring with a well taken try from Player of the match, Tova McMahon bursting through the Clonakilty defence after a quick tap penalty.
Clonakilty were not for wilting, and immediately responded with a line break out wide on the right, their winger rounding the defence to score under the posts, and draw the game 7-7 with less that 8 minutes played.
Ballina-Killaloe however struck back straight away, regaining possession in the Clonakilty 22, and after a period of pressure, scoring out wide on the right.
The half continued with Ballina-Killaloe rebuffing Clonakilty pressure and twice breaking downfield, through good recycling, switching the play to the right and the left, scoring two more unconverted tries to leave it 22-7 going into the final play of the half.
A blindside break down the right, by Rebecca Rogers powering through a couple of tackles to score under the posts finished an excellent half of rugby, 29-7 to Ballina-Killaloe at the break.
Clonakilty were never going to give up, and the first 15 minutes of the second half saw continued Clonakilty possession and pressure in the Ballina-Killaloe 22, with Clonakilty crossing the tryline three times yet unfortunately not scoring to last ditch tackling and a never-say-die attitude from Ballina-Killaloe, holding the ball up twice and forcing a knock-on when a try seemed more than certain.
Champions! pic.twitter.com/wrzhXLfgjb
— BallinaKillaloe RFC (@BallinaKillalo1) January 29, 2022
As is their wont, Ballina-Killaloe regained possession and slowly worked the ball up the pitch, through strong carries from all the players especially Tova at 7 and Grainne Mahony at 10.
In truth, all Ballina-Killaloe players stepped up to the mark on the day, especially Zoe Loughran, who eventually succumbed to cramp near the end.
Two more Ballina-Killaloe tries put a gloss on the final score, 39-7 but that’s not to say Clonakilty were outplayed, they fought to the bitter end, giving it all on the pitch and after.
Both sides are a great advertisement for Munster girls rugby.
Special mention to all the parents, families and supporters who made the trip to Fermoy, many thanks to all at Munster Rugby, and to Brendan Foley for presenting the Player of the match awards.
Ballina-Killaloe: 15 Zoe Loughran; 14 Eibhlis Coleman; 13 Fionnuala O’Rahilly; 12 Emily Byrne; 11 Anna Hanly; 10 Grainne Mahony; 9 Rebecca Rogers; 1 Alice Walsh; 2 Hayley Byrnes; 3 Alannah O’Donovan; 4 Ella Joslin; 5 Ellie McEvoy; 6 Robyn McKenna; 7 Tova McMahon; 8 Karen O’Mahony; 16 Maeve O’Brien; 17 Edie Reynolds; 18 Ciara Anna Mulkern; 19 Roisin Mockler; 20 Ciara Fitzgibbon; 21 Siobhan Coakley; 22 Sarah McEvoy; 23 Caoimhe Maguire
Coaches: Grace Kearney; Ken McKeogh; Tyrone Elliott
