Tallaght go down to Edenderry

TALLAGHT’S women’s team travelled to Offaly to take on Edenderry in Division 4 of the Women’s league but despite a brave show went down 22-14.

Tallaght got trapped in their own half for most of the first half but defended gamely.

But from a five-metre scrum the ball squirted out the side and the Edenderry scrum-half Aoife Shakespeare pounced on the ball and ran over unopposed for the try.

It gave Edenderry a 5-0 lead which they kept until half-time in a game where both teams struggled to get fluency.

Tallaght wing Niamh Moore put in a couple of massive tackles which were the highlight of the first half for Tallaght.

In the second half the physicality of the game took its toll with Tallaght picking up some knocks to key players.

Tallaght did look certain to score when Aisling Pyke took a superb line off a ruck to break through the defence.

She looked certain to score but was only denied a certain try by a high tackle ten yards out from the line.

It might have been a yellow card and a penalty try but instead the referee only gave a penalty, From the penalty Tallaght were camped on the line but when the ball went wide it was knocked on by Edenderry to kill the chance and the referee completely missed it.

To make it worse Edenderry went straight down the field and scored a fine try through right wing Leah Grant.

Grant was soon on the scoresheet for a second time, and both tries were converted by Faye Lynch to give Edenderry a commanding 19-0 lead.

Tallaght kept fighting and replacement Emma Irvin started to make inroads with some big carries.

Vice-captain Martina Fitzpatrick started to come into the game in a big way and she forced her way over the line for a try which Louise Leonard converted to make it 19-7.

Edenderry came back up the field and smartly kicked a penalty in front of the posts to make it 22-7.

That penalty would show it’s value when replacement Chloe Conroy forced her way over from close range which Leonard again converted to make it 22-14, just a point outside a losing bonus point for Tallaght but they ran out of time.

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