After a cold snap all week, the U16 girls welcomed Wicklow to Gorey for the third round of phase 2 of the Leinster League, premiership level.

The first half started with pressure by Gorey reaching the opposition 22, but ended with the ball getting turned over. Wicklow then made progress up the field and eventually got a try to open the scoring.  Five minutes later after strong runs by Orla and Dearbhail, Gorey were in the opposition 22 again; following some runs at the try line by Gorey pods, the ball was passed to the backs and Ciara dodged through to score under the posts. Emer knocked over the conversion, leaving the score 7-5 to Gorey.  25 minutes into to the match Wicklow got a try and conversion, switching the lead to Wicklow, 7-12.  Just before half time, Gorey were at the Wicklow try line again, and despite moving the ball the width of the pitch, they ended up getting pushed out over the sideline, to end the first half.

Ten minutes into the second half, Gorey were attacking in the Wicklow 22 and Emer passed to Amy, who running into contact made a fantastic off-load to Ciara who broke through multiple tackles to score; Amy scored the conversion, and Gorey were back in the lead, 14-12. The lead lasted 10 minutes, before a try and conversion to Wicklow, 14-19. More pressure from Wicklow followed and they nearly scored but this time they were held up superbly. With time running out Gorey need the ball, so Emer kicked the goal line dropout 10 meters on the ground, sprinted after it and recovered the ball herself !! The team then fought their way as far as the Wicklow 22, before being pushed out over the sideline. From the resulting line-out, Wicklow won the ball and kicked it straight into touch to end the game.

It was a great contest and there was some super play by the team, and it was close, but a win was really needed.  Next week, Portlaoise come to Gorey.  Player of the Match went to Ciara who was a major nuisance to the opposition all afternoon.  

Team: Aobh Cadogan, Aisling Rooney, Ellen Dixon, Siera Kennedy, Jessicia Foley, Dearbhail Gregan, Aoife Deacon, Orla Doheny, Nika Murnane, Emer Ivanoff, Heather Considine, Amy O’Brien, Ciara Byrne, Roisin Hogan, Emma Ormonde Donegan.

Subs: Liliana Gawronska, Lilly Nagle, Zoe Darcy.