Portlaoise RFC set to contest Leinster final

Destination Energia Park in Donnybrook on the May bank holiday for these young men from Portlaoise as they powered past  Tullamore side in the Leinster Plate semi-final held in Togher. Tullamore had no answer to a determined Portlaoise side who ran in eight tries on an evening that was just perfect for Rugby.

Leon Walsh got the scoreboard ticking over with a brilliant try as Excel Onosedeba Exemhenrekhian made a strong drive down the heart of the Tullamore defence. Walsh picked from the back of a maul and got over the white wash using his low centre of gravity.

Portlaoise 52

Tullamore 10

U/14 Leinster Plate Semi-Final

With 10 minutes on the clock Tullamore responded from a quick tap penalty and scored a try to put them back in the game. 

This was the wake-up call that Portlaoise needed and it was all navy blue for the rest of the half. Further tries from Dennis Phelan, Finn Darcy and Excel Onosedeba Exemhenrekhian were added. The pick of the tries came straight from the training ground. Scrum 20 metres out from the Tullamore line and Portlaoise’s 8, 9, 15 to 11 move worked to perfection as Jack Rice was delighted to get his name on the scoreboard. 

Rian Weston was in no mood to let points slip away as he put in a majestic performance from the tee with four conversions, especially the one on the stroke of half time which was taken from the right-hand tram line. 

With a 28-point lead, Portlaoise did not let up and they knew a place on the starting 15 was up for grabs in the final. Dan Downey waltzed his way to a try. Tadgh Roberts slalomed from the half way line to get over but the biggest smile of the day came when Ryan O’Brien McCormack slammed a ball down to earn Portlaoise more points.

Tadgh Roberts took over the kicking duties from the tee and was flawless. 

Tullamore were never going to give up and pulled a try out of the bag to leave the score 52-10 to Portlaoise at the final whistle. 

Even though he didn’t score, Ciaran Dunne was everywhere on the pitch and is improving with every game and was named man of the match.

PORTLAOISE U-14 BOYS' SQUAD: Jack Dowling, Conor Phelan, Leon Walsh, Ryan O’Brien McCormack, Daragh Lalor, Ciaran Dunne, Denis Phelan, Excel Onosedeba Exemhenrekhian, Alex Sheehan, Rian Weston, Odhran Fitzpatrick, Finn Darcy, Tadgh Roberts, Jack Rice, Daniel Downey, Josh Bowe, Josh Kearney, John  Cuddy, David Cunningham, James Fitzpatrick. Scott Byrne, Adam McCabe, Alex Vaughan, Oisin Moore, Daithi Quirke

Coaches: John Dowling, Thomas McCormack, Mark Roberts