On Saturday 11th December the U14 Killarney girls travelled down to the Vale in Clonakilty for the third match in their conference. Unbeaten they were confident that they could come away with a third win.   They started brightly with Ellen Moriarty running in 2 tries within minutes of each other.  Leanne Griffin missed the first conversion but was successful with the second giving Killarney a 12-point lead. However, Clonakilty clawed back 2 unconverted tries putting them 2 points behind by half time. 

As the rain got heavier, conditions worsened with the pitch becoming heavier and stickier which did no favours for Killarneys attacking style of play.  Crucially Lily Riordan managed to get over the line to stretch the gap to 7 points.  However, the Clonakilty girls were dealing better with conditions on the pitch.  Killarney Captain Holly Barrett made several breaks down the pitch only to be hauled down by  the Clonakilty defence.   The front row of Isabelle O'Shea, Caoimhe Plummer and Nell Thompson kept battling on, putting in some energy sapping tackles but Clonakilty were in the ascendency and even with the support of Rhianna Russell and Ciara Eager could not keep out a try leaving the score tied at 17 points apiece with time running out for Killarney.  It was no day for wing players Niamh Brosnan and Brooke O'Sullivan who tried in vain to salvage anything they could to get another score only to be dragged down by a hefty Clonakilty defence.  Sub Alice Hickey came on and was faced with the same challenge. Killarneys rucking was smothered by Clonakilty who finally pulled ahead with another try leaving it 22 points to 17.  Clonakilty clinched another try shortly after that stretching their lead to 10 points. The Killarney girls never gave up though with captain Holly Barrett and Ellen Moriarty leading the charge and urging their players on. 

Finally, Rhianna Russell broke through to score Killarneys last try but it was too little too late.  The Clonakilty Red team came out winners 27 - 22 at the end of play.  All credit to the Killarney girls, in horrid conditions they gave it everything and can be proud of how they played and to TJ Brosnan their coach for all the time he put into training the girls for this game.  A big thank you to the parents and supporters of the girls who travelled to see them play.  Congratulations to Clonakilty Red for their win in a hard-fought game in tough conditions.  Thanks too to Clonakilty Rugby Club for their hospitality.