Killarney RFC’s U18.5 girls secured a dramatic 22-20 victory over Ballincollig RFC in front of a spirited home crowd at Aghadoe. The match was a nail-biter from start to finish, with both teams showcasing skill, determination, and heart.
The first half saw Killarney come out firing, scoring two well-worked tries scored by Cara in the centre and Mary Ellen on the wing to take an early lead. Unfortunately, neither was converted, leaving the score at 10-0. Ballincollig responded strongly with a converted try to narrow the gap and followed it up with a successful penalty kick to bring the game level at 10-10.
Just before the break, Killarney regained the lead with a crucial try again scored by Mary Ellen, which was converted by Eliza, taking a 17-10 advantage into halftime.
The second half proved just as tense as the first. Killarney extended their lead with another try, again by our back line but this time by Maggie on the other wing, with the conversion attempt missing the mark. Ballincollig fought back valiantly, scoring two tries of their own, but they couldn’t find the posts for the extras. This left Killarney clinging to a slender two-point lead as the final whistle approached.
Despite Ballincollig’s relentless pressure in the dying moments, the Killarney defence held firm, securing a hard-fought 22-20 victory.
Player of the Match: The entire Killarney squad deserves credit for their collective effort, but special mention goes to the backline for their attacking creativity to score the 4 tries and conversion. This was made possible by the hard work of our pack who all played really well and created the opportunities for the backs to shine, and the whole team should be commended for their resolute defending in the final stages of the game.
Thank you to Ballincollig RFC for a fantastic hard fought contest and to all the home supporters who came along and cheered the girls on. This result underscores the strength and resilience of this U18.5s squad as they continue their league campaign.
