Portlaoise girls go a wandering and crush Wexford

U/16 Girls League 

Wexford Wanderers 22 

Portlaoise 55 

WITH the fuel protests in full flow - or full stop - and petrol stations running out of diesel, a convoy from Portlaoise made their way down to Wexford to take on the Wexford Wanderers in the semi final of the league.

With the wind blowing diagonally across the pitch, Wexford got proceedings under way and applied pressure immediately.

The girls from Portlaoise defended for their lives for the opening ten minutes, but their resilience was finally broken when the Wexford girls went over for the first try of the day.

Portlaoise returned the favour shortly after when great pack play, led by captain Jessica Delaney, drove over the line for the equalising try. With the wind blowing a gale, the ball blew off the kicking tee for the conversion. With the onrushing Wexford pack closing it down, Molly Jane Dempsey managed to drop kick the ball over to add the extra two points.

Portlaoise had their tails up now. Strong carries from Bailey Campion and Daisy Whitten brought Portlaoise into the 22. Quick ball from Emily Harvey released Sophie Sweeney on the wing to race through and take the lead. Wexford, to their credit, kept their tempo high and the pressure on. Strong pack play earned them the next try of the game to leave Portlaoise leading 10-12 at half time.

The second half would see Portlaoise play with the strong gale at their backs. With the wind howling, Faye Scully managed to throw excellent lineouts under difficult conditions, with Amy Peters rising like a salmon to launch an attack. This allowed the “Timahoe Two” of Pippa Casey to release Niamh Ramsbottom, who raced clear to score.

Portlaoise kept the pressure on Wexford. Powerful running from Chloe Kavanagh, along with captain Jessica Delaney, ensured dominance at the breakdown. Abbie Delaney was finding plenty of space in the centre and making the most of it, using a clever drop of the shoulder to release her cousin, Lily Brophy, who powered over to touch down under the posts. Converted by Dempsey.

Wexford were not out of it by any stretch, and they responded with the next score to keep the pressure on.

Tara Peavoy was immense with her ball carrying. On one occasion, Sara Cunningham released Molly Jane Dempsey just inside the Wexford half, and she danced and jinked her way through the defence to restore Portlaoise’s cushion. She dusted herself off and added the extra two.

Momentum seemed firmly in Portlaoise’s favour until Lily Brophy was yellow carded for an accumulation of team fouls. Wexford, to their credit, couldn’t make the extra player count. Sarah Keane broke the defensive line and, with help from Ciara Cuddy — possibly the only Cuddy not aiding the Portlaoise protesters that Saturday — found Molly Fitzpatrick, who released Abbie Delaney to race through for her first try of the day. Converted again by Dempsey.

The numerical advantage was cancelled out when Wexford found themselves on the wrong side of the referee. The extra space allowed Molly Jane Dempsey to run in another try and convert. With the return of Lily Brophy to the field, Wexford were starting to feel overwhelmed. Still brooding from her yellow card, Lily charged through for her second try of the day.

The never say die attitude of the Wexford girls paid off again with an excellent individual break and try from their number 9, which was also converted.

With the game almost over, Portlaoise mounted one last attack. Great running from the two Mollys saw Molly Fitzpatrick deliver a fine pass to Molly Jane Dempsey, who scored her third and the final try of the day.

PORTLAOISE PANEL: Bailey Campion, Faye Scully, Daisy Whitten, Amy Peters, Ciara Cuddy, Chloe Kavanagh, Molly Fitzpatrick, Tara Peavoy, Jessica Delaney, Lily Brophy, Sarah Cunningham, Emily Harvey, Molly Jane Dempsey, Abbie Delaney, Niamh Ramsbotton, Sophie Sweeney, Pippa Casey, Sarah Keane,