Portlaoise and Portarlington well represented on North midlands side
The North Midlands U/17 team which played Metro in Donnybrook on Friday night
Metro 35
North Midland’s 26
PORTLAOISE and Portarlington rugby clubs were bot well represented when the North Midlands played Metro in Donnybrook on Friday last in the U/17 boys’ competition as part of the Leinster Rugby player development programme.
Portlaoise had four representatives on the starting XV - Matt Costello, Daniel Whelan, Matt Cunningham, Paul Byrne with Declan Iguma on the bench. Portarlington had Odhrán O’Reilly starting the game.
Both clubs’ representation might have been much stronger but, unfortunately, Zach McGuiness (Portlaoise), Cormac Drea (Portlaoise), Daragh White (Portarlington), Ben Stapleton (Portarlington), Eanna Moynihan (Portlaoise), Fionn Mullen (Portlaoise) and Shane Foley (Portlaoise) were all unavailable due to injury.
North Midlands went down narrowly after the home side had the better of the opening exchanges and held a 14-7 lead after 30minutes with two tries. The North Midlands lads rallied, and with a well taken try from scrum half Paul Byrne and conversion from out half Turlough Donnelly left the score at half time 14-7 in favour of the Metro.
The start was frantic with no quarter asked or given. To be fair the North Midlands lads knuckled down and through some big plays from Daniel Whelan, Paul Byrne, Rian Cullen and Odhrán O’Reilly started to play some great rugby. Unfortunately, O’Reilly picked an injury on the half hour mark having put in an energetic performance. A great break snipe by scrum half Paul Byrne saw him go in in for the final score of the half.
The second started as the first half finished with end-to-end stuff. Through some massive physicality from the forwards ended with a score from Joe Cole ably assisted by Chris Hulin, Myles McNamara, and Cian Doyle.
The next two scores belonged to the Metro which, to be fair, were excellent plays.
The visitors rallied and some great pressure saw Daniel Whelan cross for an excellent try which was converted by Turlough Donnelly.
The final score of the game came from a brilliant individual effort by The North Midlands scrum half, Paul Byrne, who kept the Metro defence busy all evening. He crossed for his second try of the game which was again converted by Turlough Donnelly.
All in all, what stood out was the teams never-say-die attitude and hard work from the group which comes from the coaching from their clubs and great training every Monday night by the North Midlands coaching staff.
NORTH MIDLANDS: Matt Costello (Naas); Hugh Martin (Cill Dara), Daniel Whelan (Portlaoise), Matt. Cunningham (Portlaoise), Liam Blair (Clondalkin); Turlough Donnelly (Newbridge), Paul Byrne (Portlaoise); Donnacha Miley (Newbridge), Myles McNamara (Newbridge), Chris Hulin (Newbridge); Cian Doyle (Newbridge), Joe Cole (Athy); Odhrán O’Reilly (Portarlington), Rian Cullen (Naas), Oisín Brien (Naas).
Replacements: Declan Iguma (Portlaoise), Luke Duffy (Newbridge), Liam O’Grady (Newbridge), Daniel McConnell (Cill Dara), Patrick Reeves (Athy), Max Kavanagh (Newbridge).
