MALONE 31 TUAM/OUGHTERARD 27
Malone scorers: Tries: Anna Stanfield 2, Alexa McMullan, Shirelle Wilson 2; Cons: Alexa McMullan 3
Tuam/Oughterard: Tries: Megan Walsh, Molly Boote, Karly Tierney, Alicia Costello; Cons: Megan Walsh 2; Pen: Megan Walsh
MALONE Women have made club history by reaching the final of rugby’s Irish Junior Cup for the first time, defeating Tuam/Oughterard a thrilling nine-try encounter at Gibson Park. The January 18 decider will see them face Barnhall, 64-5 winners over Tralee, in the other semi-final.
Just as it looked like a Megan Walsh penalty had sealed Tuam/Oughterard’s passage through to make the final once again, Malone’s influential number 8, Anna Stanfield, had other ideas as she crossed for the decisive try in her club’s first semi-final appearance in the competition.
Tuam/Oughterard started strongly with centre Walsh crossing for an early try. Molly Boote and Karly Tierney followed up with tries in the 19th and 25th minutes respectively, with Walsh adding two successful conversions to extend the lead to 19-7.
Stanfield kept the home side in the game with a well-taken 22nd-minute try, converted by Alexa McMullan. However, Tuam/Oughterard’s Alicia Costello scored on the stroke of half-time, giving last season’s runners-up a 24-14 advantage.
Whatever was said at the break, Malone came out reinvigorated. Shirelle Wilson led the charge as she crossed the line twice, in the 50th and 63rd minutes, to tie things up and leave Tuam/Oughterard on the back foot.
As the last-four clash approached the final few minutes, the Galway outfit crucially got their first points of the half. Walsh split the posts with a penalty effort.
However, with the game hanging in the balance, Stanfield produced a moment of brilliance to get over in the 80th minute. McMullan’s conversion put the icing on the cake, as the Cregagh Red Sox booked their place in the January 18 final.
MALONE: Claire McKane; Sophie Armstrong, Emma Jordan, Peita McAlister (capt), Mia Ferguson; Alexa McMullan, Shirelle Wilson; Sarah Murphy, Katie-Anne McCallion, Ashleigh Currie, Lauren Maginnes, Hannah Beattie, Ruby Devine, Cara O’Neill, Anna Stanfield.
Replacements: Samantha Eley, Beth Leckey, Anna Park, Donna McGovern.
TUAM/OUGHTERARD: Molly Boote; Alicia Costello, Megan Walsh, Amy Burns, Dominika Lukasik; Emma Burns, Saoirse Quinn; Niamh Corless, Aoife O’Callaghan, Ella Burns, Karen Burns, Grainne Hahessy, Aebha Lydon, Charlotte O’Grady, Karly Tierney.
Replacements: Grainne O’Rourke, Rosie Ganley, Abigail Gibbons, Rhona O’Dea, Chloe Conneely, Keanah Irons, Katie Creaven, Rhian O’Callaghan, Angela Thornton, Doireann Byrne.
Victory huddle at Gibson Park and action from the game (below)
