Last gasp try seals All Ireland Junior Plate title for Erne

Following their unbeaten record in the Ulster Qualifying Blitz last month Erne Integrated College’s Girls U15 rugby team travelled to Energia Park, Dublin on Wednesday November 7 where they joined the two best teams from each of the four provinces to compete in the All Ireland Finals day.

Their first match saw them pitted against Munster Champions Rockwell College from Tipperary. The long journey from Enniskillen appeared to contribute to the team’s slow start and Erne found ourselves two tries down before they hit their stride.

By half time they had brought the game back level but a speedy and well drilled Rockwell side pulled away again in the second half eventually winning 5-3.

The team quickly put this defeat behind them and won both their remaining pool games.

In a tense physical encounter, they beat Leinster Champions King’s Hospital from Dublin 2-1 and knowing they now had a chance to qualify for the Plate Final they convincingly beat Connacht Champions, Clifden Community College 9-1.

In the plate final they met Munster team St Anne’s Community School from Co. Limerick.

The two teams were evenly matched and were tied 2 tries a piece when the final hooter sounded.

In extra time St. Anne’s looked to be finishing the stronger and were camped on the Enniskillen school’s line but despite tired and bruised bodies after their four games the Fermanagh girls showed exceptionally committed and heroic defence to keep the Limerick side from scoring. They eventually turned the ball over and swept down the pitch with a series of strong carries, clinical clear-outs and accurate passes to score in the corner. The final whistle went to jubilant scenes and the team were presented with their trophy and medals by the Irish Women’s Rugby 7s Captain Lucy Mulhall.

Squad: Samantha Armalyte, Hope Milligan, Sorcha McGovern, Leja Sidlauskaite (Year 10) and Cora Balfour, Sophie Barrett, Moya Hill, Kelly Quinn, Naoise Whitely, Ciara Woods (Year 11)