North Midlands pipped at the post by South East
The North Midlands U/16 team which was pipped at the post by the South East in Shane Horgan Cup
North Midlands10
South East 12
MULLINGAR Rugby Club hosted the latest round of fixtures in the Leinster Youths Development Programme with two games in the Bearing Point Shane Horgan Cup for U/16 and the Bearing Point Sarah Robinson Cup for U/17 Girls.
A crisp morning with good sunshine and little wind welcomed the sides to the fantastic facilities in Mullingar. The new all-weather pitch, in use for the first competitive game, welcomed the North Midlands sides. Meanwhile Metro provided the opposition for the host Area, the Midlands, on the second all-weather.
The Leinster Player Pathway, has over recent seasons seen many players from the Area teams initially graduate to the Leinster U/18s and subsequently advance to the Leinster Academy and the Senior Leinster and Ireland sides.
Thursday last saw the next batch of players from the Areas display their skills, competitiveness and commitment as they endeavoured to win this seasons Shane Horgan Cup.
The opening game was very tight game from the start with North Midlands defending their try line. Big defensive plays from Kevin Anatharajah (Newbridge), Harry Ward (Naas) and Killian James (Portarlington) kept the South East out. North Midlands made two great try saving tackles in the fifth and seventh minute.
Surviving the opening challenge, North Midlands put pressure on the South East. Winger Cian Keogh (Athy) made a break down the sideline into the South East 22. After a few more phases, Excel Ekemhenrekhian (Portlaoise) went over for the try, converted by Roan Brennan (Athy) in the 26th minute.
North Midlands started the second half brightly. In the 52nd minute great handling by the backs released Jack Logan (Naas). A clever grubber kick put Dan Downey (Portlaoise) through to score in the corner. The conversion was missed and the score remained 12-0 to North Midlands.
The South East, who had been very competitive throughout, made a number of substitutions who had a significant impacted on the closing period. Strong carries by their pack, along with the concession of a number of penalties by the North Midlands, allowed the South East into the opposition half. A smart move by Brendan Nolan (Tullow) released Cathal Mallin (Tullow) to score a converted try.
Minutes later Conor Kehoe (New Ross) crashed over in the corner. Scott O’Shea (Kilkenny) converted from the touchline.
Kevin Anatharajah (Newbridge) tackled and carried the ball well throughout the game with Aidan Tamming (Naas) winning three turnovers and carrying well in the second half. Dan Downey (Portlaoise) and Cian Keogh (Athy) were dangerous in possession of the ball throughout.
NORTH MIDLANDS SQUAD, Rory Jones (Naas), Joe Costello (Naas), Excel Ekemhenrrehkian (Portlaoise), Finn Kelleher (Athy), Ciarán Dunne (Portlaoise), Kevin Anatharajah (Newbridge), Gorden Fennel (Athy), Aidan Tamming (Naas), Adam Smith (North Kildare), Aidan Carroll (Newbridge), Cian Keogh (Athy), Killian James (Portarlington) Harry Ward (Naas), Roan Brennan (Athy), Dan Downey (Portlaoise), Oscar Scully (Athy), Cillian Brennan (Cill Dara), Alex Anderton (Naas), Eanna O’Shaughnessy (Clane), Sean Cahill (Newbridge), Alex Sheehan (Portlaoise), Jack Logan (Naas), Luca O’Brien (Newbridge).
