Heartbreak for young Colts side in historic All-Ireland final

Energia Women’s All-Ireland Junior Cup Final 

MU Barnhall 15 

Tuam/Oughterard Colts 6 

Tomás Keating at Shay Murtagh Park 

It was cruel heartbreak for this young Tuam/Oughterard Colts side as MU Barnhall came from behind down the home stretch to win their second Energia Women’s All-Ireland Cup title in a row.

Tuam/Oughterard Colts, who were the better side for much of the match, made history at Mullingar RFC on Saturday as they became the first team from Connacht to play in an All-Ireland Junior Cup final, however, it was disappointment following a bruising affair.

The second-half went on for one hour and three minutes as captain Sarah-Jane Fox, Abigail Gibbons, and Niamh Corless all suffered lower leg injuries, while winger Nia Lydon was also injured in the first-half.

The stop-start nature of the second-half did not help this young athletic team from the West as MU Barnhall used all their defensive nous, big game experience, and physicality to eke out a memorable win.

Tuam/Oughterard Colts were leading 6-5 to with five minutes to go when MU Barnhall won a penalty inside the opposition’s 22. MU Barnhall’s captain Ciara Faulkner dispatched to put the Leinster outfit 8-6 up.

From the kick-off, MU Barnhall powered their way down the field and after going through the phases, prop Rebecca Francis touched down over the line, Faulkner converted as referee Mark Hynes blew his full-time whistle, which was met with despair from Tuam/Oughterard Colts team.

It was a special day for Tuam/Oughterard Colts RFC as a large contingent of supporters came west of the Shannon to watch their players create history. The newly developed stand at Shay Murtagh Park was adorned with the navy and pink, as spectators watched Tuam/Oughterard Colts get out in front early as Éabha Nic Dhonnacha kicked a penalty to put Owen Lydon and Norman Tierney’s charges 3-0 up after three minutes.

However, MU Barnhall went in front on 11 minutes as they put together a sweeping team move that saw prop Hope Lowney slip a beautiful offload to the impressive Lauren Patterson, who touched down in the right corner. Faulkner missed the conversion, but the reigning champions led 5-3.

The Colts were down to 14 players for 10 minutes as Gráinne Hahessy received a yellow card, but they navigated those choppy waters well. There were one or two instances when they could have kicked for the points but they elected to tap their penalties. On the second penalty they were almost in for a try, but scrum-half Rachel Forkan knocked the ball on as she attempted to touch down, but them’s the breaks.

The Connacht side had to dip into their bench early as Katie Creaven, Fódhla Ní Bhraonáin, Rhona O’Dea, and Aifric Ní Ghibne all came on in the first-half. After an injury enforced Lydon off the field, the Colts went in at half-time with their noses in front as Nic Dhonnacha’s penalty put them 6-5 up.

Tuam/Oughterard Colts made a flying start to the second-half, but they just couldn’t get points on the board for all their dominance. MU Barnhall’s defence was nothing short of outstanding, as they held out big carries from Beibhinn Gleeson, Karly Tierney, and Nic Dhonnacha.

The injuries to Fox, Gibbons, who had to be brought off on a stretcher, and Corless halted the Colts’ momentum, as they just couldn’t get a spark going into the final 20 minutes and MU Barnhall opened their shoulders out and created a real dogfight.

They managed to curtail the influence of Tuam/Oughterard Colts’ big players, and waited for the perfect time to strike in the final five minutes.

A penalty from Faulkner and a try from Francis were very bitter pills to swallow.

The Tuam/Oughterard Colts panel came straight over to the stand to applaud their fans, who gave them such raucous support throughout.

With most of their team in the 18 to 21 age bracket, this team will be back. While Saturday was cruel, they have the Connacht Senior League and Connacht Cup to contend for and in the coming weeks, they will be proud of their achievements this season.

MU Barnhall: Ava Gleeson, Alex Casey, Ciara Faulkner (captain), Sinéad Farrell, Lauren Patterson, Órfhlaith Murray, Nais Jaime Bouquet; Hope Lowney, Emma Kiernan, Rebecca Francis, Alannah Fraser, Ali Howick, Sarah Haughian, Prudence Isaac, Katelyn Doran. Replacements used: Michelle Gorman, Niamh Quinn, Emily Tarrant, Brooke Fagan Merrigan, Amy Rushton, Emily Byrne.

Tuam/Oughterard Colts: Hannah Clarke, Nia Lydon, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Amy Burns, Dominika Lukasik, Emma Burns, Rachel Forkan; Niamh Corless, Sarah-Jane Fox (captain), Holly Daly, Abigail Gibbons, Gráinne Hahessy, Aebha Lydon, Beibhinn Gleeson, Karly Tierney. Replacements used: Katie Creaven, Fódhla Ní Bhraonáin, Rhona O’Dea, Aifric Ní Ghibne, Charlotte O’Grady, Karen Burns, Aoife O’Callaghan.

REF: Mark Hynes