Tallaght 28
Tries: Ellen Crotty, Chloe Conroy, Kim Littlefield, Aisling Pyke
Conversion: Grainne Leonard Flood 4
Barnhall 26
Paul Cusack Cup
Tymon Park
10/03/2024
The Tallaght women’s team took on Barnhall in the Paul Cusack Cup.
Despite Barnhall being in the division above them, Tallaght started the brighter and from a smart kick through by out-half Grainne Leonard Flood, Ellen Crotty gathered the ball and raced away to score under the posts. Leonard Flood kicked the conversion to make it 7-0. Barnhall hit back with first an interception try and then another breakaway score and converted both to lead 14-7 at half-time.
In the second half, Tallaght hit back when Chloe Conroy scored from close range. Then Martina Fitzpatrick put Kim Littlefield over for a try. Grainne Leonard Flood converted both to make it 21-14. But Barnhall scored a try and kicked a fine conversion to make it 21 points apiece with ten minutes left.
But Tallaght hit back again and centre Aisling Pyke broke through for a fine try which Leonard Flood converted superbly to make it 28-21. Barnhall came back yet again, scoring a try in the corner, but the conversion was missed leaving the score at 28-26. Tallaght had to endure a seemingly endless amount of added on time before the referee finally, finally blew the final whistle.
Head coach Hayley Whyte was delighted with the win. “It was a great cup tie and fair play to Barnhall, they kept coming back at us. But we showed character to get the scores we needed and now we’re looking forward to the semi-final where we’ll play the winner of Clontarf and Edenderry. On a wet day with a muddy pitch, it was a really good game and we showed great skills. There was a lot of good displays today but Nicole Fanning had a super match on both sides of the ball and is a deserved winner.”
Player of the match: Nicole Fanning
Tallaght RFC
- Lorraine McManus
- Orlaith Plunkett
- Karen Corrigan
- Martina Fitzpatrick
- Abbie Keeley
- Kim Littlefield
- Lisa O’Connell
- Louise Leonard Flood
- Eileen Shanahan (Captain)
- Grainne Leonard Flood
- Sorcha Burns
- Nicole Fanning
- Aisling Pyke
- Ellen Crotty
- Jensen Byrne
- Lisa Kennedy
- Laura Dalton
- Shauna Fitzgerald
- Emma Irvin
- Chloe Conroy
- Niamh Moore
- Roisin Ni Uileagoid
Photos: Mark Luttrell
