Kilkenny stars of the future showcase their skills at the Aviva Stadium

The Kilkenny under-12s enjoyed an unforgettable evening as they took to the hallowed turf of the Aviva to contest a half-time display match against Tullamore during the clash between Leinster and Edinburgh.

Playing in front of a packed stadium, the occasion gave the young players a rare taste of rugby on the biggest stage, accompanied by the buzz and excitement of a 20,000 strong Aviva crowd.

Both Kilkenny and Tullamore showed no signs of nerves as they ran out onto the pitch.

Kilkenny started strongly from the opening tap-and-go, with quick ball from Andrew O’Connor finding Tadhg Cody on the wing, only for him to be brought down by resolute Tullamore defence.

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A strong defensive ruck from Conor Quinn and Tom O’Neill secured possession, allowing Kilkenny to continue their attack through the centre before the ball was eventually lost at the breakdown.

Tullamore countered with intent but were met by a well-organised Kilkenny defensive line.

A turnover allowed quick thinking from Tadhg Grogan to switch play across the pitch, gaining valuable territory.

After several sustained phases and pressure from Tullamore, Kilkenny regained momentum when Bill Mathews secured a loose ball.

Kilkenny again changed the point of attack, with fast hands through Ben Allen to Finn Brennan, who made a strong break down the wing before being hauled down just short of the try line.

Rapid ruck ball then allowed Hugo McGlynn to spot a gap in the Tullamore defence and surge towards the line, only for a superb double tackle to hold the ball up.

Tullamore reacted quickly from the resulting tap-and-go, but strong Kilkenny defence forced a turnover, which was secured by Tom Hoban.

Swift passing across the full backline finally saw Kilkenny break through for the opening try of the match.

Tullamore responded positively and were quick off the mark, but were forced into touch by determined Kilkenny defence.

Kilkenny looked to counter but spilled the ball under pressure, allowing Tullamore to launch another attack.

Powerful tackles from Hugo Fleming and Jacob Talbot halted their progress and returned possession to Kilkenny.

As the half-time whistle sounded, the sides quickly changed ends.

From the Tullamore restart, Kilkenny pressed up confidently in defence, with Finn Delaney Campion making the first tackle of the second half.

Tullamore continued to probe but were stopped by Ryan Dalton, before a quick pick from the ruck by Daniel McIntyre and rapid hands out wide saw Billy McGrath surge towards the try line, only to be forced into touch just short.

Sustained Kilkenny pressure eventually told, with Tullamore conceding a penalty.

A quick tap-and-go allowed Kilkenny to capitalise, finishing off a well-worked move to secure their second try of the evening.

Tullamore continued to search for a way through the Kilkenny defence, switching play to the far wing, but the line was quickly realigned by Aaron Tyrell to close down any space.

Sean Power’s pace to the breakdown earned another turnover, and a well-executed pass from Ryan Fogarty released Naoise Power for Kilkenny’s final break as the closing whistle sounded.

Kilkenny were impressive throughout, showing excellent teamwork, resilience, and composure, and their efforts were rewarded with two well-taken tries.

Tullamore matched them at every turn, contributing to an entertaining and competitive display that delighted the Aviva crowd during the half-time interval.

There were well-worked passages of play, brave defending, and outstanding sportsmanship from both sides, with the emphasis firmly on enjoyment and development rather than the scoreboard.

It was a hugely memorable occasion for all involved, made even more special by the support of the extended playing panel, parents, coaches, and supporters in the stands — a day they won’t forget in a hurry.