Wicklow 22
Ballincollig 21
Terenure College Rfc
Eoin Horkan
Wicklow and Ballincollig served up an absorbing and high-quality contest in Dublin on Saturday evening, with the Leinster side edging out their Munster opponents by the narrowest of margins in a game that remained in the balance right to the final whistle.
Ballincollig made the brighter start and had the scoreboard ticking early. Inside the opening five minutes, sustained pressure deep inside the Wicklow defensive zone began to tell. A defensive mix-up, coupled with two penalties conceded close to the try line, handed the Cork side prime attacking territory. From the resulting phases, Ballincollig’s forwards kept the ball tight, eventually powering over for the game’s opening try through Aoife Madigan . The conversion was calmly slotted over to give the visitors a deserved seven point lead.
The opening quarter belonged largely to Ballincollig. They enjoyed long spells of possession, pinned Wicklow back with intelligent kicking and were strong and efficient at the breakdown. Wicklow, however, showed plenty of composure, defending stoutly and biding their time rather than panicking under pressure.
That patience was rewarded just before the twenty minute mark. Following an extended Ballincollig attack, a loose pass spilled to the turf and broke kindly for Wicklow’s Clara Dunne. Collecting the ball just inside her own 10-metre line, Dunne showed superb pace and composure, slicing through the retreating defence and sprinting clear to finish under the posts. Beth Roberts added the straightforward conversion and suddenly the scores were level at 7–7.
Wicklow struck again almost immediately from the restart. Regathering the kick-off, they built momentum through a series of strong, direct phases. The pressure eventually told when Jamie Church drove over from close range. After a brief consultation, the referee awarded the try, though the conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving Wicklow five points ahead.
Ballincollig responded well and, with half an hour played, edged back in front to lead by two when winger Awatere McClean -Wanoa raced over with the extras added. This set the stage for what was becoming a tightly contested and entertaining encounter in Terenure.
Just before the interval, Wicklow struck a crucial blow. Their set piece, which had steadily improved as the half wore on, provided the platform. From a well-controlled passage of play, Ciara O’Leary forced her way over for Wicklow’s third try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the score ensured the south-east side went into the break with a slender three-point advantage and growing belief.
The opening ten minutes of the second half swung the momentum back towards the visitors. Ballincollig camped inside the Wicklow twenty-two for a prolonged period, applying relentless pressure. That pressure eventually resulted in a yellow card for Teni Onigbode, and the numerical advantage quickly proved decisive. Ballincollig burrowed over for a crucial try from Aoife Fleming, leaving just a point between the sides before Emma Connolly added her third conversion of the game to restore the Cork side’s lead.
The next ten minutes were fragmented, with both benches emptied as the physical toll of the contest became evident. The stop-start nature of the play made it difficult for either side to build sustained momentum, and as the lights faded in Terenure, the tension only increased.
With Ballincollig seemingly edging closer to closing out the game, Wicklow found one last surge of energy. With ten minutes remaining, Usha Daly O’Toole showed great control and determination to gather possession and drive over the line for a vital try. The conversion from near the sideline narrowly missed, leaving the home side just ahead and setting up a nervy finale.
Ballincollig threw everything at Wicklow in the closing minutes, piling on the pressure in search of a decisive score. Wicklow, however, defended superbly in open play, refusing to yield ground. Substitute Rebecca Brennan made a huge impact, producing a series of excellent lineout steals, including a crucial one inside the final minute just 15 metres from her own line.
That moment effectively sealed the contest and ensured Wicklow held on for a hard-fought and memorable victory, a result built on resilience, clinical finishing and outstanding late-game defence in a contest that showcased the very best of both sides.
Wicklow:Teni Onigbode; Faye O’Neill, Jamie Church, Clara Dunne, Sophie Murphy; Beth Roberts, Sophie Richardson; Eimear Douglas (co-capt), Lorraine Voorbach, Joanne Smith, Renee Koper, Laura Newsome, Ciara O’Leary, Usha Daly O’Toole, Rachel Griffey (co-capt).
Subs:Dannii Masters, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Róisín Ridge, Rebecca Brennan, Nicola Schmidt, Erin McConnell, Naoise O’Reilly.
BALLINCOLLIG: Kate O’Sullivan; Awatere McLean-Wanoa, Brighid Twohig, Alison Kelly, Niamh Crotty; Emma Connolly, Kelly Griffin; Ciara Fleming, Aoife Fleming, Megan O’Callaghan, Olivia Hay Mulvihill, Sinéad O’Donnell, Alex Good, Clodagh O’Dowd, Aoife Madigan (capt).
Replacements: Charlotte O’Neill, Orlaith Morrissy, Ciara Falvey, Fia Whelan, Rachel Naughton, Vivienne O’Donovan.
Referee Paul Manning
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