Leinster glory for Kilkenny as under-15s capture title

Under-15 Leinster League Final- Kilkenny 21 Naas 10

After a slow start to the season, the Kilkenny under-15 rugby team began to get the locomotive moving and momentum started to pick up.

At the conclusion of the league, Kilkenny travelled to Navan to take on Naas in the league final. After an entertaining tie, Kilkenny came out as worthy winners over a gallant and hard working Naas side. In truth, Kilkenny should have had the game wrapped up by half-time but deviations from game plan and unforced errors, saw a hardworking Naas side stay in the game until the very end.

An edgy Kilkenny side made a poor start, knocking on the kick-off instead of allowing it into touch and putting Naas on the front foot. A number of further handling and tactical errors kept giving the ball back to Naas until the inevitable Naas score on 14 minutes expertly converted from wide out.

Finally, getting into the Naas half from the kick-off the Kilkenny boys started to get into their stride, with two try scoring chances missed when players did not give the final pass with the try line open. Committed defence saw Naas lose two players to injury.

After several turnovers at ruck time Kilkenny looked for contact, rather than space, as instructed by coaches Mick McGrath and Barry Daly. Kilkenny composed themselves and a sequence of good phase play gave centre Larry Phelan, the stand out player on the pitch, the chance to round his man and touch down after 25 minutes a try converted from 30 metres by the influential Jack Rhatigan. A Naas penalty on the stroke of half-time gave them a 10-7 lead at the break.

The second half started with Kilkenny in determined mood. They pinned Naas back in their own half before finally making the breakthrough when, after sustained pressure, Ian McDonald crossed for a try 18 minutes into the second half, which was again converted by Rhatigan.

Kilkenny’s best spell followed as the defence, led by centres, Dylan Brennan and Liam Phelan, kept Naas pinned back and starved of possession. Both wingers Killian Dunphy and Daithí Magee were stopped by last gasp tackles on the try line as Naas fought to stay in the game. With six minutes to play Kilkenny spurned a series of kickable penalties until Michael Lawlor grounded for a try, which was converted again by Rhatigan, to put 11 points between the teams.

Instead of exiting from the kick off Kilkenny once again gave the ball back to Naas and spent the last few minutes defending, before Thomas Brennan, won a great turnover that allowed Kilkenny to seal the game and claim a deserved victory in their 18th game of the season.

Keeping the lively and well organised opposition to one try was no mean feat for Kilkenny. The back row defence was well organised by scrum half Patrick Kennedy, giving Naas no room for their powerful number 8 and captain Mark O’Brien to attack from scrums.

Kilkenny move on to the Leinster Cup semi-final next weekend where they will play neighbours New Ross. The team, in keeping with tradition, is largely made up of students from St Kieran’s College (10 players) and CBS Kilkenny (seven players), but it is encouraging to see a cohort of players from Coláiste Abhainn Rí, Castlecomer Community College and Grennan College Thomastown also involved.

Kilkenny - Charlie Gleeson (St Kieran’s College), Daithí Magee (CBS Kilkenny), Dylan Brennan (Castlecomer CS), Larry Phelan (St Kieran’s College), Killian Dunphy (St Kieran’s College), Jack Rhatigan (St Kieran’s College), Patrick Kennedy (CBS Kilkenny), Cathal Grogan (Coláiste Abhainn Rí), Ian McDonald (Coláiste Abhainn Rí), Rory Dunne Michael Lawlor (Castlecomer CS), Alex Dooley (St Kieran’s College), Oisin Barry (St Kieran’s College), Killian McElwee (St Kieran’s College, capt), Darragh Lynch (CBS Kilkenny).

Reserves: Thomas Brennan (CBS Kilkenny), Donnchadh Convery (CBS Kilkenny), Zac Prizeman (CBS Kilkenny), Louis Evans (CBS Kilkenny), Tom Doheny Conor Leahy (St Kieran’s College), Hugh Healy (St Kieran’s College), Conor Merry (St Kieran’s College), Diarmuid Roche (Grennan College Thomastown).