U14 West Munster Cup final - Killarney Red 0 Tralee RFC 7

A single try midway through the second half was sufficient to give Tralee U14s victory in the West Munster cup final. The game - in brilliant sunshine - at Castleisland RFC was a tense and tight affair as the final score indicated.

Tralee opted to play with the wind and Killarney opted to kick off - the teams were evenly matched in the first half. Killarney having more possession as Tralee opted to play for territory with a strong breeze. However, neither team could break through.

In the second half, the roles were reverse somewhat as Tralee kept ball in hand more and Killarney opted to kick more to try to take advantage of the breeze.

The crucial breakthrough came midway through the 2nd half - responding to a Tralee incursion in our 22, Killarney executed an excellent tackle and counter-ruck to win back the ball. A misplaced pass from the ruck went over the goal line and we had to ground the ball to prevent a Tralee score. We packed down for a scrum five with Tralee to put in - excellent play from the forwards won the ball back but a knock on at the base of scrum led to a second scrum five. A third chance for Tralee at close range wouldn't be missed and they scored close to the posts after a pickup and drive from the base of scrum. Tralee converted the try to lead 7-0.

Using the wind smartly, an excellent kick off from Finán Blackwell was allowed by Tralee to run into touch 5 metres out. Although, Tralee won the subsequent line out we trapped them on their own goal line - just when it seemed that we'd get a penalty or scrum five, an penalty for a high tackle allowed Tralee to escape, and our hopes of a quick score back were dashed.

With competition rules not allowing extra time and with victory going to the first team scoring a try in the event of a draw - it gradually dawned that there was insufficient time to get 2 scores to win, nonetheless the lads fought to the end to get a score to draw the game even if the result was now foregone.

Congratulations to Tralee who made up for their disappointment in the league final earlier in the week at the same venue.

Killarney were represented by:

15 Finán Blackwell

14 John Sexton

13 Cathal Sugrue

12 Jack Gabbett;

11 Robbie Casey

10 Luke Mccan

9 Paddy Moore

1 Sean O'Leary

2 David Courtney

3 Oisín O'Sullivan

4 Daithí O'Donoghue

5 Shane Morrissey

6 Ciarán Doody

8 Mark Brosnan

7 Arthur Gabbett

Subs - Killian Collins, Jack Spillane

We finished as we began against Tralee on a sunny day - Feargal, Ed, Tom, Hugh and I want to congratulate the boys on a great season - 2 finals, 15 matches, 10 victories, loads of brilliant rugby played in all kinds conditions. With a small squad from a single age group, nearly everyone played the whole of every match. We wish them well as they step up to the U16 grade.