Scoil Chríost Rí hold out for a momentous Leinster Schools Senior Cup win

Newbridge College 12 

Scoil Chríost Rí Portlaoise 15 

IN a full on game played between to very resolute team, a game that lasted to over 100 minutes, Scoil Chríost Rí Portlaoise held out for an exceptional win after Newbridge College mounted a late, late resurgence.

In the heavy underfoot conditions in Newbridge College, both teams gave it everything and by the end were out on their feet. While each and every player did their bit, both teams had some outstanding performers.

For the winners their No 8 Blathnaid Kehoe, who unfortunately went of injured in the second half, was exceptional as the their flying full back Amarachi Obi. As well as getting the back line moving, out half Lily Brophy doubled up as a line jumper when Kehoe retired.

In Roisin Kinch Newbridge had a centre of exceptional talent who also doubled up as their No 8 late on when their other stand out player, Nina Sweeney had to leave the pitch. Against another opposition Kinch would have scored but just could not breach the SCR’s stern defence, while for a forward, Sweeney had some boot of a ball.

The game had hardly got underway when Amarachi Obi broke from deep inside her own half and burst down the left wing outstripping the entire Newbridge defence.

But it was the home team that was to dominate much of the opening utilising their greater physical size to punch holes in the SCR cover. But even when penetrated, the Portlaoise girls would eventually halt the attack. In this area centres Molly Jane Dempsey and Aoibheann Conroy were superb and brave.

However, Newbridge were rewarded for their efforts 12 minutes into the game. When they won a penalty Sweeney caught the SCR off guard, taking it quickly and ran in to score.

That left it a 5-5 at the break and all to play for in the second half.

Newbridge’s effort were hampered when they had a player yellow carded for a shoulder charge early in the new half and this afforded SCR the opportunity to use the open spaces.

From one such surge they thought they had extended their lead. When they won a penalty Grainne Buggy took it quickly resulting in Newbridge being penalised for not being back 10 metres. They went of the corner this time and from the line out moved the ball across the back line when Newbridge infringed leaving Molly Jane Dempsey with a simple three-pointer in front of the posts.

Minutes later they extended their lead when Aoibheann Conroy made an incisive break from deep inside her own half. She linked up with Keogh who attempted to get a pass out to Adah Ramsbottom and while trying to intercept the pass a Newbridge player knocked it back over her line and Ramsbottom pounced for the try. Dempsey converted to her side a 10 point lead 12 minutes into the half, but no realised that the game would go on for another 45 minutes ort so.

Newbridge picked up another yellow card and subsequently SCR looked to have crossed for an insuring try only to be puled back for a forward pass.

And so it went on, each side enjoying periods of dominance but eventually Newbridge got a foothold inside the SCR 22 late in the game. They piled on the pressure but twice were denied tries when help up over the line.

However, in the lead up to those efforts SCR were shown two yellow cards. And when Newbridge went close again SCR infringed and the referee awarded the home side a penalty try, and SCR saw a third red.

Now with only 12 players on the pitch the referee indicated there was two and a half minutes play remaining. SCR’s kick off went long and while Newbridge did everything in their power SCR help out for a momentous win.

They will now meet Ard Scoil Trionoide, Athy, whom they beat in the Leinster League final in late December, in the Leinster semi-final on a date to be confirmed.

FOOT NOTE – The potential of this Scoil Chríost Rí team can be judged by the fact that four of their players were on the North Midlands’ Sarah Robinson Cup winning team - Molly Jane Dempsey, Lily Brophy and Aoibheann Conroy (all Portlaoise), Mila Mihajlovic (Portarlington) while Portlaoise’s Saffron Adams missed out on Wednesday she was injured NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Lila Van Lonkhuyzen; Amy Byrne, Jules Flanagan, Roisin Kinch, Ella Fagan; Elizabeth Conway, Sarah Walshe; Ellen May Mullaney, Kate Doyle, Nina Sweeney; Emma Mulcahy, Brianna Brannock; Keeva Kelly, Faye Kavanagh, Emma Jane Wilson.

Replacements: Emma Kelly, Mia Finan, Holly Farrell, Rachel O'Rourke, Ruby Connolly, Ruth Minnock, Isabelle Doyle-McDonagh, Laoise Sherlock.

SCOIL CHRÍOST RÍ: Amarachi Obi; Chawa Gondwepule, Molly Jane Dempsey, Aoibheann Conroy, Grainne Ramsbottom; Lily Brophy, Grainne Buggy; Emma Scully, Kate Ging, Kate Scully; Ruby Maguire, Adah Ramsbottom; Emma Finlay, Jessica Delaney, Blathnaid Kehoe.

Replacements: Vanessa Jannsen, Salma Valentine, Áine Farmer, Shauna Lalor, Ríona Nugent, Ava Whelan.