COOLMINE 27 ST MARYS 7
The sun was shining down on Ashbrook on Sunday morning as the Under 14s teams from Coolmine and St Marys started their semi final earlier than usual at 11am. Having met already this year this would prove to be a challenging match.With a quick check of studs, the French lady referee set the game in motion and help release the tension of both teams in front of a large turn-out in the Ashbrook grounds of Coolmine RFC.
What may easily have been the fastest try of the season, Dean Ennis made a break, from loose ball to run length of the pitch and grounded the ball, within the first 10 seconds of the game. Louis McDonagh converted for Coolmine. St Mary’s have significant talent but a determined defense from Coolmine chased, tackled, brought the players to ground over and over during the first quarter of play. There were some errors on both sides with balls turn over but again Coolmine recovered quickly. During the 8th minute of the game, a Chris Agnoli tackle on the Marys half back resulted in a strong scrum by the Coolmine forwards and some good passing. Thien called for the ball and it found its way to him and he was away, and brought the ball home to score the second try but failed to convert with a tight angle.
At the break of the second half the St Mary’s players caught an unaware Coolmine and scored a well-deserved try. The Coolmine captain, Chris Agnoli, rallied the Coolmine players and steadied them after the conversion. With the introduction of fresh legs, Harry Meehan, Jack Fitzpatrick and Ben Colgan, the pressure was intense for both teams. A pivotal try scored by Dean through multiple phases of play helped move the game closer to Coolmine. Their efforts were rewarded when Conor Dunne intercepted a high pass the ball to bolt down the pitch to ground the ball between the posts, lining up Louis nicely with a straight forward conversion. Score stood at 24-7 with only a matter of minutes to play, when the final whistle blew. A well turned St Marys did their club proud but on the day the Coolmine 14's had the upper hand.
Onward to the final. Show your support for the lads and get behind them for the final. Come on Coolmine!
