All-Ireland League qualifying play-off final
TULLOW 22
QUEENS UNIVERSITY 10
TULLOW are now a senior rugby club. On Sunday morning in Balbriggan the Slaneysiders out-fought and out-played Queens University to qualify for the All-Ireland league next year.
Tullow celebrate securing promotion to the AIL
Photo: Caroline McFadden
It was a hard-earned win which stood on a knife-edge for most of the first half.
Once again and just before the interval, Grace Kelly scored a try to put Tullow into the lead as the forwards went through the phases which was just reward for a dominant display in the opening half.
‘It would not have reflected the game if we hadn’t got that score coming up to half-time,” said manager, Paul Canavan.
Queens scored early in the second half to level matters which asked a big question of the Leinster representatives.
In reply, another well-worked try involving both backs and forwards saw Kelly touch down for her second five-pointer of the day. Tullow were flying. From the kick-off, Anna O’Neill took the ball from a ruck, passed to Chloe Walsh who ran the length of the field to score which, in the context of the game, was huge.
Queens hit back for a try to narrow the gap to five points. The eventual winners didn’t panic and the long-serving Alex O’Brien breached the Northerners cover for a fourth try. Catherine Dempsey’s successful conversion put Tullow completely in the driving seat.
After that Tullow absorbed the pressure and despite conceding another try ran out deserving winners.
It was a sharp contrast at the same venue the week before where Tullow were outclassed in the Paul Flood cup final against MU Barnhall.
“Last week, we probably focussed too much on what the opposition might do instead of playing our own game. We didn’t make that mistake this week,” said manager, Paul Canavan.
“It was nice to be rewarded for all the work that they put in over the year.”
Towards the end as Tullow looked certain to hold out, there was joy on the side-line as Canavan explained.
“Cora Browne, who is the heart-beat of women’s rugby in the club, had a tear in her eye and said that I think we have it won now.”
For the squad, the Cup may have been the focus originally but the thought of qualifying for AIL was never dismissed.
“Last year we finished the season very strongly. We won the league this year and went to Ennis to beat a very strong team. We have done well to beat what was in front of us,” said Canavan.
And is there any fears of travelling to the four provinces next season?
“If we are not progressing, you are not living. We have been in division one for long enough. We thought Saturday rugby would not suit the lads this year and look what happened,” said a defiant manager.
TULLOW: Roisin O’Toole, Chloe Walsh, Sara Rennick, Alex O’Brien, Alice Carroll, Catherine Dempsey, Grace Kelly; Annie Gardiner, Anna O’Neill, Joanna Mahon, Orla Hanlon, Shelley Faulkner, Emma Byrne, Lana Brennan, Grace Kelly. Subs: Aoife Byrne, Kate McDonald, Courtney Kelly, Jessica Nolan.
By Kieran Murphy
