Ulster champions Michelle Bowring & Mairead Carty comment after playing in a brilliant brilliant game of rugby, with one penalty in it they were very aware of how close it was and also absolutely delighted to have earned the championship, they comment below post GAME!!!!!!!!
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Ballyshannon 13-10 Cavan
First ever silverware for Shannon girls.
In his presentation speech, the Ulster Branch representative spoke of how until the final whistle he was unsure which captain would receive the cup. However had Shannon captain Michelle Bowring not got her hands on the cup it would have been a travesty. Apart from a ten minute spell in either half the Shannon girls owned the ball and both Cavan tries came from Shannon mistakes. CLICK HERE for pictures
Conditions were far from ideal on Saturday evening in Enniskillen. A torrential downpour just before the kickoff meant that just keeping ball in hand would prove difficult. The wind and rain continued throughout the game and great credit must go to both teams for still been able to serve up a great game of rugby. The conditions suited the Cavan girls better. The quicker and more skillfull Shannon girls are used too and better suited too playing on the fast pitch at The Lakeside. However they had been training on a surface similar to that on Saturday for the previous two weeks in preparation for this game.
A sizeable crowd made its way from Ballyshannon, with the shed end full of blue and white. Ballyshanon kicked off and made one change from their semi final win with Kitty Dolan unfortunately forced out with an ankle injury. The early exchanges were frantic. Both teams tore into each other from the start. It was evident from the off that although Shannon had the skill it was also going to take a lot of heart and desire to win this game. Early pressure from Shannon saw them move inside the Cavan ’22. The front row of Louise Collins, Yvette Morrow and Brona Carty really taking the game to the Cavan girls. After 15 minutes that pressure was rewarded when Cavan were penalised for a high tackle on Collins. Although slightly miss kicking, Danika Doherty put Shannon in front.
Shortly after they found themselves with another penalty in a similar position. This time though scrum half Bowring elected to take it quickly. With the Cavan defence sucked in the ball was moved out wide to the left. Although the first attempt was stopped short, out half Siobhan Coughlin was on hand to score in the corner. From a difficult angle Doherty was unsuccessful with the conversion. This spurred Cavan into life. The remainder of the half was played mostly inside the Ballyshannon ’22. But with the Shannon girls putting their bodies on the line time and again with some great tackles they held out.
Halftime; Ballyshannon 8-0 Cavan.
Halftime; Ballyshannon 8-0 Cavan.
The second half started as the first had ended. Cavan were encamped just short of the Shannon posts. The penalty count against them was rising. The referee seen one too many infringements and sent Fodhla Foody to the sin bin. From that penalty and with the Shannon defence in disarray Cavan went over for a try. The conversion was missed. Cavan though were unable to threaten again while a player up and with Shannon now back to their full compliment they set about getting their second try.
The Shannon lineout was going well with Lynda Loughlin and Dearbhla Fox working well together. This along with Mairead Carty controlling the back of the scrum out half Coughlin was able to give good ball to the centre partnership of Orlaith Sheridan and Doherty. When their initial breaks were stopped Shannon were able to recycle thanks to some great rucking. Another feature of this play was the Shannons players ability to break the gain line. No more so then with prop Collins. Time after time Louise’s carries gained vital yards.
All this pressure was about to pay off. Although Shannon had the ball turned over, the Cavan fullback was put under serve pressure as she attempted a clearance kick. Her kick dropped into the grateful arms of Liston. From just inside the ten metre line Liston still had a bit of work to do. But realistically she was never going to be stopped. She out paced the would be tacklers with a great arching run to score the second try Shannon deserved. Doherty was very unlucky to see her conversion attempt tail off at the end in the strong wind.
At 13-5 that should ave been enough for the Shannon girls. But Cavan were not done. They once again got themselves deep in Shannon territory. In similar circumstances to their first try they were awarded penalty after penalty. It paid off as they crashed over for a try. The conversion again missed. That set up a nervy final few minutes. However the Shannon line was never threatened again and deep in injury time the referee blew for full time. That whistle was met with mass celebrations and one or two tears of joy.
This victory was fully deserved for the 16 girls that played and the five others who were unable to play due to injury. Every one of the Shannon girls tackled like demons. In a game where conditions had a huge bearing on the game it was very hard for clean line breaks to be made. Thankfully on the one occasion when it was possible Liston finished with great aplomb. But in a final it can be just as important to have people doing the simple and hard things right. Not for the first time this season Louise Collins was that player. She was immense as every time she took the ball on she done it with pace and determination. Breaking the gain line each time and was deservedly named player of the match.
Coach Ray Gallagher and assistant James O’Donnell can be very proud of the work they have done and the efforts of the squad. This is a very committed bunch of players. Hardly a training or game missed between them. There is a core group of 8-10 players who have been there since the teams inception. They have been joined this year by a number of players who have added a new impetus to their play. This combination has brought the first of hopefully many pieces of silverware to this team.
