Ruthless Tuam/Oughterard Colts crowned champions
The Claremorris contingent - Rhona O'Dea, Gráinne Hahessy, Niamh Corless, Saoirse Quinn, Abigail Gibbons, Doireann Byrne and Rosie Ganley with captain Sarah-Jane Fox. Picture: Owen Nally Photography
A devastatingly ruthless performance from Tuam/Oughterard Colts (TOC) against University of Galway (UG) on Sunday sent them on their way to winning the Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Women’s League for the second year in a row.
Having suffered the bitter disappointment of losing the All-Ireland Junior Cup Final to MU Barnhall last month, TOC bounced back by defeating Westport to finish top of the league, setting up a semi-final tie against Sligo at home.
They easily swatted aside the Sligo women, with a 56-0 win at Garraun Park, Tuam. While UG beat Westport 15-12 in Dangan.
There was an interesting storyline in Sunday’s final in Creggs, as two sisters from Claremorris faced off against one another, Gráinne Hahessy playing for TOC, while her older sister Aisling captained UG. Both wore the number four shirt, no doubt it was a proud occasion for the Hahessy family. Claremorris’ Molly Ager lined out at hooker for the students.
It was tough to see a way back for UG with just eleven minutes on the clock as TOC built up a 14-0 lead. The outstanding Hannah Clarke, who scored four tries, touched down following a pass from Karly Tierney. Clarke added the extras.
UG then stormed down the field and had the ball on their opponents’ tryline but TOC made a crucial turnover. Scrum-half Rachel Forkan then made a fantastic run up the centre which saw Clarke find Éabha Nic Dhonnacha who exchanged passes with Katie Creaven but was tackled at the tryline. Claremorris woman Niamh Corless powered over to score her side’s second try.
It went from bad to worse for UG as their number 8 Alana Roche received a yellow card and TOC made a hay. Nic Dhonnacha’s kick sat up lovely for Tierney who slipped it to Forkan for a try, while Clarke got her second to make it 28-0. Katie Creaven touched down in the corner to finish off a good team move as TOC led 33-0 at half-time.
The game was well and truly over but TOC were only just getting started as they mercilessly put their opponents to the sword as Tierney scored from the back of a scrum, while Clarke registered two more tries.
Captain Sarah-Jane Fox got a brace of tries in the final five minutes while winger Dominika Lukasik got her side’s eleventh try to put the icing on the cake.
TOC will begin their Connacht Senior Women’s Cup campaign on Sunday next as they take on Ballinrobe at 1pm in Oughterard. UG will face Sligo at the same time in Dangan.
