Quarter-final heartbreak for Newbridge in Leinster Schools Senior Cup
Faye Kavanagh makes ground for Newbridge College as she prepares to hand off the tackle of Portlaoise winger Grainne Ramsbottom. All Photos: Aisling Hyland
In a full-on clash played that ultimately lasted to over 100 minutes, Newbridge College came up just short against Scoil Chríost Rí Portlaoise, who now advance to the Bank of Ireland Leinster Girls Schools Senior semi-finals.
The Kildare school mounted a late resurgence, but they were unable to make up the ground, as Scoil Chríost Rí held out for the win.
In the heavy underfoot conditions in Newbridge College, both teams gave it everything they had, and by the end were out on their feet. While each and every player did their bit, both teams had some outstanding performers.
Portlaoise number eight, Blathnaid Kehoe, who went of injured in the second half, was simply exceptional, as was their their flying full back Amarachi Obi.
As well as getting the back line moving, out half Lily Brophy doubled up as a line jumper when Kehoe retired.
In Roisin Kinch, Newbridge had a centre of exceptional talent - who also doubled up as their number eight late on when their other stand out player, Nina Sweeney, had to leave the pitch.
Against another opposition Kinch would have scored but just could not breach Portlaoise’s stern defence, while front-row forward, Sweeney had a magnificent game which included some unexpectedly brilliant kicking.
The game had hardly gotten underway when Amarachi Obi broke from deep inside her own half and burst down the left wing, outstripping the entire Newbridge defence to score early.
The home team, however, was to dominate much of the opening period, utilising their greater physical size to punch holes in the Portlaoise cover.
But even when penetrated, the Portlaoise girls would eventually halt the attack. In this area, centres Molly Jane Dempsey and Aoibheann Conroy were superb and brave.
Newbridge were rewarded for their efforts 12 minutes into the game when they won a penalty; Sweeney caught Portlaoise off guard, taking a quick-tap before racing in to score. That left it a 5-5 at the break and all to play for in the second half.
Newbridge’s effort were hampered when they had a player yellow carded for a shoulder charge early in the new half and this afforded Portlaoise the opportunity to use the open spaces to attack with speed.
They thought they had extended their lead. When they won a penalty Grainne Buggy took it quickly resulting in Newbridge being penalised for not being back ten metres.
Portlaoise went to the corner this time and from the lineout moved the ball across the back line. When Newbridge infringed, Molly Jane Dempsey with a simple three-pointer in front of the posts.
Minutes later, the visitors extended their lead when Aoibheann Conroy made an incisive break from deep inside her own half.
She linked up with Keogh who attempted to get a pass out to Adah Ramsbottom and while trying to intercept the pass a Newbridge player knocked it back over her line. Ramsbottom pounced for the try, and Dempsey converted to her side a ten-point lead 12 minutes into the half.
Newbridge picked up another yellow card and subsequently Portlaoise looked to have crossed for an insuring try, only to be puled back for a forward pass.
And so it went on, each side enjoying periods of dominance before eventually Newbridge got a foothold inside the Portlaoise 22 late in the game. They piled on the pressure but twice were denied tries when help up over the line.
However, in the lead up to those efforts Portlaoise were shown two yellow cards. And when Newbridge went close again, the away side infringed and the referee awarded the hosts side a penalty try - followed by third Portlaoise player heading for the sin bin.
Now with only 12 players on the pitch, Portlaoise had two and a half minutes left to play with a slender three-point lead to defend. Their kick-off went long and while Newbridge did everything in their power to get back towards the Portlaoise line, the Laois school just about managed to close out the game.
Portlaoise will now meet Ardscoil Trionaide Athy in the semi-finals, with the Laois school emerging victorious when they last played Athy in the Leinster League Final in late December.
Lila Van Lonkhuyzen; Amy Byrne, Jules Flanagan, Roisin Kinch, Ella Fagan; Elizabeth Conway, Sarah Walshe; Ellen May Mullaney, Kate Doyle, Nina Sweeney (1 try); Emma Mulcahy, Brianna Brannock; Keeva Kelly, Faye Kavanagh, Emma Jane Wilson.
Emma Kelly, Mia Finan, Holly Farrell, Rachel O'Rourke, Ruby Connolly, Ruth Minnock, Isabelle Doyle-McDonagh, Laoise Sherlock.
Amarachi Obi (1 try); Chawa Gondwepule, Molly Jane Dempsey (1 pen, 1 con), Aoibheann Conroy, Grainne Ramsbottom (1 try); Lily Brophy, Grainne Buggy; Emma Scully, Kate Ging, Kate Scully; Ruby Maguire, Adah Ramsbottom; Emma Finlay, Jessica Delaney, Blathnaid Kehoe.
Vanessa Jannsen, Salma Valentine, Áine Farmer, Shauna Lalor, Ríona Nugent, Ava Whelan.
