First cup hurdle cleared with narrow win
The Wexford Wanderers Under-13 team before their cup success.
Wednesday February 24 2010
THE QUEST for Leinster Under-13 Cup glory has begun. Everyone arrived early to begin preparations and to get suitably warmed up. With the team talk over and photographs taken, all were ready for the whistle.
Cill Dara were an unknown quantity, a new challenge. Wexford were quick into the battle and sustained early injuries to Matt Doyle and Cian O'Keeffe, with the latter replaced by Neil Beaver.
Wexford pushed Cill Dara back to their '22 time and time again but were unable to go any further. There were too many knock-ons and valuable territory was lost.
Wexford now started to move the ball wide but the final pass went incomplete. James Tackacs was replaced by Aaron Ryan due to injury.
With half-time looming, Jack Stafford gave a deep pass to captain Joe O'Connor who side-steped the first tackler and ran around the Cill Dara defence to ground under the posts. Matt Doyle duly converted.
Cill Dara moved up a gear and put Wexford on the back foot, but resilient defending from forwards Ciarán Kirwan, Niall Ó Donnagáin, Conor Halligan and Greg McGrath in particular helped to keep them out. At half-time Wexford led 7-0.
The second-half started at a breakneck pace. Cill Dara were throwing everything at Wanderers and finally their out-half, Cormac Delaney, kicked ahead and ran on to it to score out wide. Crucially, the conversion was missed.
Wexford made a number of changes, with Cormac Conway on for Ciarán Joyce at loose head, Andrew Maguire moving to scrumhalf and Luke Lacey going to open side flanker. The scrum started to provide a better quality ball and Jack Stafford (our M.V.P.) urged the team forward.
Matt Doyle kicked a lovely crossfield ball to Neil Beaver to run onto and touch down. Wexford now led 12-5. Again, the Kildare men surged down the field and, after heavy pressure, scored a try on the left to make it 12-10.
Wexford held on for the final few minutes to score a memorable victory. The large crowd present showed their appreciation for both teams. Well done lads.
