The team travelled to Mullingar for the fifth and final round of phase 2 of the Leinster League, premiership level.  A win today and Gorey would have a chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages; there was a lot to play for.

The first half started with pressure from Mullingar, momentarily relieved when Gorey stole the ball, but playing the ball out of the 22, the ball got intercepted by Mullingar to score between the posts. Moments later Mullingar had a line break and looked like scoring again until Ciara caught her and brought her down at the Gorey 22 line, a try saved is as good as a try scored.  From there Gorey got a line break to reach the Mullingar half and then Lily broke through the Mullingar lines and sprinted for a well-deserved try, converted by Emer.  Five minutes later from a ruck, the ball went from Nika to Emer to Amy to Ciara who was able to sprint around the last defender to score a super try. Gorey in the lead, 12-5.  But for the last 15 minutes of the first half, the scoreboard ticked over in favour of Mullingar as they score three tries, leaving the half time score 24-12 to Mullingar.

The second half was a struggle, but there was some good play by Gorey, like when Emer chipped the ball over the Mullingar lines and collected the ball for a great line break, and Amy who burst through the Mullingar lines with 7 Mullingar players in chase.  But the only scores of the second half where 3 tries for Mullingar (plus conversions), leaving the final score at 41-12 to Mullingar.

Despite an early lead, it was a disappointing outcome, even though there was some great play and the team played their hearts out.  The Leinsters are finished for this year, but the season is not over and there are other competitions to compete in; the task now is to pick ourselves up, improve and try better.

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

Subs: Aisling Rooney, Mia Doherty, Heather Considine, Sara Kruczek.