Portlaoise make it two from two in U/18 Rugby Premier League

Leinster Premier U18 League

The result of this pulsating game went right down to the final whistle as Clontarf surrendered an early lead. In the end they had fight back to go within two points and might easily have won it. But this never-say-die Portlaoise outfit defended gallantly to come home from the Dublin venue with full points.

Portlaoise 23

Clontarf 21

On a perfect day for rugby in Clontarf, Portlaoise struggled to get used to the fast paced all-weather pitch and conceded a try within three minutes after some poor tackling. The extra two points were added and Clontarf had a head of steam up and they wanted more scores. 

The continuous pressure told as Clontarf added another seven points as Portlaoise’s porous defence was broken through again. Clontarf were in dream land and couldn’t believe they were 14 points up with half time approaching. 

Portlaoise eventually started to exert some pressure but their failure to cross the hardest five metres on the pitch was telling. So much so, with a minute remaining in the half they opted for a kick at goals to get the score board ticking over. Mathew Coonan stroked the ball to leave the score 14-3 at half time in favour of Clontarf.

Team talk sorted and Portlaoise came out for the second half with a mission. They started to get more physical and drove Clontarf backwards. The forwards started to win their individual duels and that always means one thing, the backs get better ball and when they did they made hay. 

Ciaran Culleton was first to score a try in the corner and now we had a game. The Portlaoise bench was emptied as Jamie Baldwin, Daniel Thornton, Evan Caffrey, Ivan Okonkwo and, man of the match, Aran Coiley came on to make an immediate impact. 

PJ Larkin teamed up well with Daniel Thornton for both of them to score tries. The fast running of Ivan Okonkwo and Aran Coiley were piercing holes through the Dublin team’s defence and Portlaoise were well on top. They extended their lead to 23-14. 

Just when you thought it was all over Clontarf pulled one back to leave the score 23-21 with two minutes to go. Portlaoise kicked off and Clontarf had one more chance to win it. With finger nails almost gone it was the Portlaoise defence, which was poor in the first half, thet stood up and kept them out with some try saving tackles from Evan Caffrey and Dara Phelan in particular.

Next game of the Premier League is at home to Skerries.

PORTLAOISE ACADEMY SQUAD: Ciaran Culleton, Mathew Coonan, Stephen Delaney, Dara Phelan, Cian Coffey, Brian Barry, James Kidd, Billy Kerry, Adam Glynn, Cathal Kenny, Killian O'Keeffe, Conor Raggett, Daniel Fingleton, Dylan Kelly, Evan Bergin, Evan Caffrey, Ivan Okonkwo, Jake Andrews, Jake Culbert, Jake Darcy, Jamie Baldwin, Paddy Reddin, PJ Larkin, Ross Bradley, Killian McHugh, Sean Peters, Nathan Duffy, David Duggan, Daniel Thornton, Andrew Schiller, Nathan Flanagan, Killian Bowe, Eoin Rooney, Darragh Townsend, Aran Coiley, Euan McCann, Callum Carroll, Aaron Kingston, Conor Stack, Ryan Gilligan, Jake Byrne, Robert Keane, Dylan Browne, Sean Dunne, Ryan McEvoy, Rory Costigan, Josh Grogan, Sam Browne, Robbie Murtagh,

Physio: Mick Comer 

Coaches: Roy Glynn, Mark Phelan, Owen Coonan, Paddy Bergin, Pat Duggan, Richie Whelan