Wanderers 05
Tallaght 19
Tries: Eileen Shanahan, Aisling Pyke, Louise Leonard Flood
Conversions: Louise Leonard Flood, Grainne Leonard Flood
Women’s Leinster Division 4
Merrion Road
14/01/2024
The Tallaght women’s team took on Wanderers away in Division 4.
Tallaght started well and from a kick ahead Aisling Pyke regathered the ball and offloaded to skipper Eileen Shanahan. Shanahan sprinted away from the defence to score a fine try under the posts. Louise Leonard Flood converted to make it 7-0 to Tallaght. Wanderers hit back at Tallaght in their own spell of pressure but strong defence from the likes of Roisin Ni Uileagoid and Orlaith Plunkett kept them out.
Tallaght made a break out wide through full back Sorcha Burns and eventually Aisling Pyke finished off the try in the corner. Louise Leonard Flood’s touchline conversion attempt was unlucky as it hit the crossbar and bounced back out. It left the half-time score at 12-0 to Tallaght.
In the second half Tallaght continued in the same dominant fashion. Wing Doireann O’Byrne ran clear and looked set to score a try but was dragged down by the collar five metres out. The referee only gave a knock-on against O’Byrne though. It was only a brief respite for Wanderers though as Tallaght won the ball back and Nicole Fanning put Louise Leonard Flood in for a try. Leonard Flood handed the kicking tee to her wife Grainne, who duly kicked a fine conversion to make it 19-0 to Tallaght.
Wanderers made a fine break shortly afterwards and though Doireann O’Byrne got back to make a superb cover tackle to save a certain try, the ball was recycled and Wanderers got over to make the final score 19-5.
Head coach Hayley Whyte was pleased with her side’s display. ”We made a few changes to the team today to get some players game-time and also to give other players experience in positions they’re not used to. Despite that disruption it was a positive performance, although there are some things to work on, as ever. It was really difficult to pick a player of the match as everyone played well. But we went with the birthday girl Abbie Keeley who started in the second row but ended up on the wing, doing a great job where-ever we needed her as always.”
Player of the match: Abbie Keeley
Tallaght RFC
- Karen Corrigan
- Orlaith Plunkett
- Samantha Ledden
- Noemi Garcia Fernandez
- Abbie Keeley
- Kim Littlefield
- Lisa O’Connell
- Louise Leonard Flood
- Eileen Shanahan (Captain)
- Nicole Fanning
- Niamh Moore
- Aisling Pyke
- Roisin Ni Uileagoid
- Doireann O’Byrne
- Sorcha Burns
- Shauna Fitzgerald
- Martina Fitzpatrick
- Lisa Kennedy
- Lorraine McManus
- Grainne Leonard Flood
- Nikita Murray
- Chloe Conroy
Photos Mark Luttrell