Ballina Killaloe Rugby Club

U14 North Munster Conference Final

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Champions 2017-3

Well done to our Ballina-Killaloe/Newport RFC combined U14’s who won a titanic North Munster
Conference Final in Richmond Park, Limerick on Thursday 6th April. Playing Old Crescent RFC on a
bright evening, ideal for running rugby, both sides gave their all.
BK RFC got off to the ideal start with Evan Wood putting in a strong run to score in the right
corner. Buoyed by the good start BK RFC retained possession and went through the phases, creating
a couple of opportunities but OC held firm and through a good press defence, intercepted a BK RFC
pass, although caught before the line, OC retained possession and eventually scored an good try.
BK RFC responded immmediately with again a strong run by Evan Wood, caught just before the line,
Evan popped a pass to Ian Larkin, who again offloaded to Joe McGrath to score. 10-5 to BKRFC.
Old Crescent were not one’s to lie down and the rest of the half saw them put BKRFC under heavy
pressure and rewarded with 2 tries, one converted to leave the half-time score 10-17 to Old
Crescent. A strong second half was required by our lads, but it was Old Crescent who struck first
with an excellent worked try after some strong work by their forwards. 10-22 to Old Crescent.
It’s times like these the boy’s character is tested and they responded brilliantly, regaining
possession and after good work by both the forwards and the backs, Evan scored 2 well worked tries,
one converted by James Frahill. BKRFC now led 24-22, a lead they did not relinquish, great
fielding of the restart by Oisin Kennedy retained posses ion for BKRFC and after an excellent break
by Man of the match, Evan on the left wing, Noel McGrath was on hand to secure possession and the
ball was then recycled a couple of times before Ian Larkin dived in under the posts, Cathal
O’Donnell converted to make the score 31-22. A hallmark of these boys is their never give up
attitude and again after retaining possession from the kick off, the ball was worked out to the
left wing where Stephen Geraghty made an excellent break, again support was on hand and the ball
was quickly worked out to the opposite side, where good hands by Joe McGrath put Ronan Neill in
for the final try in the corner.

Final score BK/Newport RFC 36, Old Crescent 22.

This was an entertaining and thrilling match where both sides gave their all and left everything
on the pitch. Credit to everyone for their hard work and support throughout the season.

Ballina-Killaloe/Newport RFC U14 squad 2016/17:

Cathal O’Donnell
Braoin Cleary
Ian Larkin
Joe McGrath
Ronan Neill
James Frahill
Luke Graham
Oisín Kennedy
Padriac Duhig
Noel McGrath
Cormac Kennedy
Eoin Gilmartin
Cathal O’Sullivan
Sam Lloyd
Evan Wood (Capt)
Callum Byrne
James Sutton
Ben McInerney
Omar Erdim
Shane Murphy
Stephen Geraghty
Aidan Ryan
Jamie Newton

U14 Match vs St Senan’s RFC

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U14 Squad

Well done to our U14 Newport RFC Official – Scariff R.F.C. – Ballina-Killaloe RFC combined XV who defeated St Senan’s RFC in their North Munster Conference league match at Clarisford Park, Killaloe earlier today.
This match was rescheduled from St. Senan’s RFC pitch as their pitch was unplayable. Many thanks to St Senan’s for traveling on a weekend a lot of games were called off.
While conditions in part could have been called ‘heavy’ both teams played out an excellent game of rugby with both sides showing great handling skills with the wet ball. The game was a close call until the final 15 minutes, when a couple of injuries reduced St Senan’s numbers and resolve with Newport/Scariff/BK RFC pulling through with a brace of converted tries.
Final score Newport/Scariff/BK RFC 57 St Senan’s RFC 12.

Newport/Scariff/BK RFC U14 XV are now 3 wins from 3 in the League with Richmond RFC and Thomond RFC to visit the next couple of weeks

U14’s vs Old Crescent RFC

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Congratulations to our combined Newport-Ballina-Killaloe RFC XV who traveled to Old Crescent RFC this morning for their U14 Conference match. In an engaging, see-saw contest of a match, OC were the first off the mark with a well taken try, converted, to lead 7-0 after 5 minutes. Not ones to hang their heads, our boys regrouped and playing to suit the heavy and wet conditions, they held on the ball through a series of pick and go’s, before man of the match Evan Wood burst through for BK RFC’s first try.
Another one was soon added on by Joe McGrath on the left wing, using his pace to get around the cover after great work by the forwards to create the overlap. BK RFC now led 10-7
OC however didn’t give up, and conjured a try themselves after some good work out wide. OC now led 12-10.
Once again BKRFC knuckled down and Evan Wood scored a lovely individual trademark try after breaking from a scrum on his own 10 metre line, brushing off the OC cover to score under the posts, BKRFC led 17-12 at half-time.
OC were not giving up just yet and after a series of probing pushes they were rewarded with a try, unconverted, to level up the scores, 17-17. The game now ebbed and flowed with both sides creating half breaks and chances, eventually, after a series of scrums and a couple of penalties, as OC strayed offside, MOM, Evan Wood crashed over for his 3rd try. James Frahill converted to give BK RFC a 24-17 lead. Never say die was the attitude of OC and they came back again to eventually score after a series of rucks, 22-24 to BKRFC with the game entering the final minutes. A long kick off saw OC counter but they lost possession out wide, BKRFC then managed a series of plays just inside the OC half, retaining possession and holding OC at bay. Final score 24-22 to Newport-BK RFC.
Well done to all the players from both teams in what was a great contest in trying conditions. Many thanks to Old Crescent RFC for hosting the boys16426468_452264355163438_138640425_n

U18 Girls Munster Cup

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Our U18 girls played their very first competitive match against Abbeyfeale RFC on the 21st January last. Traveling down to Abbeyfeale, the girls put in a strong and committed performance but were ultimately overpowered by a very good and well drilled Abbeyfeale team.

Final score: Abbeyfeale 38 – Ballina-Killaloe 0

Well done to all the girls and best of luck in the future.

 

U18 Abbeyfeale

 

 

U18 Girls vs Kanturk RFC

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Ballina-Killaloe U18 Girls traveled to Kanturk RFC on Saturday 3rd December for a friendly challenge match.
Both teams are in development stage and were evenly matched. BK RFC started off strongly, gaining a foothold in the Kanturk half of the pitch, eventually the pressure proved too strong for Kanturk with BK RFC managing two unconverted tries to lead 10-0.  Kanturk did not give up, and managed to work their way up the pitch and with a searing line break, scored under posts with a converted try.  Not to be outdone, BKRFC struck back immediately to leave the half-time score 15-7 to BKRFC.
The second half was as fiercely contested as the first. BKRFC put the Kanturk line under pressure on a couple of occasions, but good defence saw Kanturk hold off the siege and then manage a try of their own after some good work out wide, closing the gap to 15-12 as the match entered the final quarter.  Again BK RFC put together some good phases and threatened the Kanturk line, again, Kanturk repelled the pressure and as the game entered the final minutes Kanturk had possession in the BK RFC half of the pitch, however a good turnover and some quick hands with the ball going out wide to the left wing, Maeve óg O’Leary for BK RFC, made a strong run and eventually handed off a number of Kanturk tacklers to score in the far corner, with the final score ending , Kanturk RFC 12, BK RFC 20.
BK RFC would like to thank Kanturk RFC for hosting the match and they look forward to facilitating a return fixture in the New Year

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U12 Girls play at Thomond Park

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Congratulations to our U12 Girls team who played in the Mini rugby half-time games during the Munster – Glasgow game at the weekend. On what was an emotionally charged day for the whole rugby community our girls turned in a stellar performance, running in 4 tries, putting on a showcase of excellent rugby skills.

Well done to all involved!

girls-tp-2 girls-tp-3