National final beckons for the Colts
Niamh Corless tackles UL Bohs' Erica Grehan as Sarah-Jane Fox and Emma Burns look on. Picture: Owen Nally Photography
In only their second season with a senior team, Tuam/Oughterard Colts are through to the Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup final after a magnificent performance against UL Bohemians in Garraun Park, Tuam, on Saturday afternoon.
They have become the first team from Connacht to make it to the All-Ireland final at the grade, where they will play MU Barnhall RFC after they defeated Tullamore RFC, in what was repeat of last year’s final, on Sunday.
It’s been a remarkable journey since 2015, as the club has come leaps and bounds. That year Owen ‘Dygo’ Lydon brought a girls team to a blitz in Tuam Rugby Club and his good friend Norman Tierney brought a team from Oughterard RFC.
Neither had enough numbers to field a team so both Owen and Norman decided to join the two teams together and enter a team. The team was called Tuam/Oughterard Girls Rugby, and no-one could have predicted the journey the club would go on.
They entered an U14, U16, U18, and for the first time ever last season, they entered a senior team into the Connacht Women’s League. Their first season was an outstanding success as they won the Bank of Ireland Connacht Rugby Women’s League after defeating Westport RFC 34-14 in the final at The Sportsground in March.
This season, brought on the name Colts, as an acknowledgement of all the Claremorris Colts RFC players who contribute so greatly to the team.
There was a large crowd on what was a bitterly cold afternoon at Tuam Rugby Club on Saturday, and Tuam/Oughterard Colts got off to the perfect start as the brilliant Éabha Nic Dhonnacha took a quick tap from a penalty, rode two tackles and ran straight through the centre to touch down under the posts. Nic Dhonnacha converted it herself to make it 7-0 after just two minutes.
The visitors then put together some impressive attacking moves and got right up to Tuam/Oughterard Colts’ try-line. However, the home side stood firm and they doubled their advantage as the industrious Dominika Lukasik scored in the right corner. Nic Dhonnacha showed her impressive boot to kick a tricky conversion.
Then on the 37th minute, the outstanding Hannah Clarke showed her breathtaking speed to beat five or six defenders down the right wing and cross the try line. Nic Dhonnacha then kicked another hard conversion to make it 21-0.
Right on the stroke of half-time, captain Sarah-Jane Fox made a fantastic run down the left wing, and while she was tackled right at the try-line, Tuam/Oughterard Colts went through the phases and Karly Tierney touched down. Nic Dhonnacha’s conversion went just wide as the Tuam/Oughterard Colts led 26-0 at the break.
Lydon and Tierney’s side displayed their resolute defence in the first 20 minutes of the second half, especially when they went to 14 players as Holly Daly was sent to the sin bin, but UL Bohs eventually opened their account through immense pressure as Tara Holohan scored a try, which she converted to make it 26-7.
Nevertheless, Tuam/Oughterard Colts’ powered on as out-half Emma Burns, who was immense on the day, showed a flash of brilliance to offload to substitute Katie Creaven, who ran a lovely line to catch and score in the corner. Not long after, Hannah Clarke got her second try of the day with another searing run. Nic Dhonnacha converted to make it 38-7.
UL Bohs got a consolation try three minutes from time, through Sarah O’Gorman, and Holohan converted. However, it was Tuam/Oughterard Colts day as they ran out well deserved winners.
They will now look ahead to the Energia Women’s AIL Final in the coming weeks.
Tuam/Oughterard Colts: Hannah Clarke, Nia Lydon, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Amy Burns, Dominika Lukasik, Emma Burns, Rachel Forkan; Niamh Corless, Sarah-Jane Fox (captain), Gráinne O’Rourke, Jessica Foote, Gráinne Hahessy, Aebha Lydon, Beibhinn Gleeson, Karly Tierney. Replacements used: Abigail Gibbons, Aoife O’Callaghan, Holly Daly, Katie Creaven, Charlotte O’Grady, Rhona O’Dea, Karen Burns, Doireann Byrne, Natasha Deacy.
UL Bohemians: Clodagh McMahon, Natalia White, Aisling Stock, Nina Mathastein, Alannah Jones, Rebecca O’Shea, Louise Costello; Aoife O’Sullivan (captain), Tara Holohan, Sarah O’Gorman, Erica Grehan, Shannen Byrne, Shauna Marley, Niamh Brodie, Ciara Monahan. Replacements used: Tarragh Kirwan, Lorraine O’Connor.
Ref: Siobhán Daly.
