Thurles Women Overcome A Strong Tralee Challenge

Thurles Women’s RFC eked out a narrow 13 -10 win in their first Championship game against visitors Tralee in Thurles on Sunday.

Match Report Courtesy of:- Brian Scanlon, Thurles PRO

Thurles had the upper hand in the early encounters with both Maria Whelan and Aisling O’Hagan showing their speed and skill with some great runs. Thurles were very unlucky not to score a try in the early stages of the game with Rebecca Byrne mere yards away from the try line.

For a short period mid-way through the first half it looked as though the visitors were winning back some vital possession but the skill and determination of the Thurles defence proved too strong for them. Laura Carroll in her first championship game put an end to the Tralee dominance with a wonderful run which saw great support play from Maria Woodlock. Once again play was intense in the moments that followed and a knock on from Thurles gave Tralee possession once again. However, both Byrne and O’Hagan made superb tackles and the Thurles defence held strong.

Laura Carroll gave Thurles possession minutes later with a top class intercept from a Tralee lineout and once again Thurles were on the attack. Tralee conceded a penalty just in front of the posts and Megan Callanan calmly slotted over Thurles’ first three points of the day to give the home side a 3 -0 lead. It was to be the only score of the first half, a first half that was an intensely fought battle with Niamh Coman and Jean Ryan having superb defensive games and newcomers Carroll and Sinead Kilcare proving their worth to the team. While Tralee were unlucky not to have scored towards the end of the first half with a strong Thurles defence holding them it was Thurles that had the bulk of the try chances in the first half and although in the lead they could have had tries on the board.

Tralee began the second half with a renewed vigour and scored a try not long after the re-start. The angle for the conversion was tight and Tralee failed to convert but had etched out a narrow 3 – 5 lead. Coman was impressive from the re-start and made some fantastic ground. Indiscipline from visitors Tralee saw them concede yet another kickable penalty which Callanan duly slotted over with ease. Thurles once again were in the lead on a score line of 6 – 5.

In the passage of play that followed Tralee managed to score a second try. The conversion was once again missed but they re-gained the lead, the score now stood 6 – 10 in favour of Tralee. Despite conceding the try Thurles had been immense in defence with both Byrne and Ciara O’Dwyer putting in magnificent tackles bringing the opposition out over the line.

With a little over five minutes remaining in the game it was once again the home side that were well and truly in control of the play with O’Dwyer as good in attack as she had been earlier in defence and with the forwards such as Maria Woodlock and Joanne Harrison providing great support play. It was the combination of fast ball through the hands, support play and some exceptional rucking that saw Eileen Shanahan in over the line for a Thurles try. A superb conversion from a tight angle by Megan Callanan, who had an all round great game, saw Thurles ahead 13 – 10. Moments later the final whistle went and Thurles were deserving winners.