Connacht Cup Quarter-Final, U18 ladies
Westport RFC 59 – 5 Loughrea RFC
Under the lights at Westport RFC on Friday, February 27, the home side welcomed Loughrea RFC for a 7:30pm Connacht Cup quarter-final clash. With a place in the semi-final on the line, both teams were ready for a competitive night of knockout rugby.
Westport started brightly and were rewarded early when Tara Macken crossed for the opening try to make it 5–0. Leah McNamara followed soon after with a well-taken score to extend the lead to 10–0. Loughrea responded with a try of their own (10–5), showing their intent and ensuring it was a competitive opening spell.
From there, Westport began to build momentum. Ruth Conway went over for her first try and added the conversion to push the score to 17–5. She struck again soon after, once more converting her own try to stretch the lead to 24–5, and completed her hat-trick to make it 31–5 in what was a superb individual contribution.
Westport continued to apply pressure in the second half. Ruth added another try to bring it to 38–5 before Leah crossed again to make it 45–5. Leah’s third of the night pushed the tally past fifty, and Captain Poppy Tunney Ware rounded off the scoring with a deserved try to leave the final score at 59–5.
It was a strong team performance from Westport, with solid defence limiting Loughrea’s opportunities and clinical finishing when chances came. Credit to Loughrea, who battled throughout in difficult conditions under the lights.
The evening also marked a special occasion for Emily Cusack, who celebrated her 18th birthday on match night — a memorable way to mark the milestone with a Connacht Cup quarter-final win.
Westport now look ahead to the semi-final, pleased with the work done but aware that the challenges will only grow from here.
Team sheet
1. Holly Horkan
2. Holly Burke
3. Ciara Sheridan
4. Evie Farrell
5. Saoirse Chambers
6. Maeve Sammon
7. Orla Palasz
8. Aoibhinn Lyons
9. Ceola Durkan
10. Ruth Conway
11. Daya Kennedy
12. Poppy Tunney Ware (C)
13. Clodagh McKenna
14. Tara Macken
15. Leah McNamara
16. Chloe Heraty
17. Aoife Gannon
18. Emily Cusack
19. Siena Ruane Cooper
20. Kitty Fin Sweeney
Try scorers: Tara Macken (1), Leah McNamara (3), Ruth Conway (4), Poppy Tunney Ware (1)
Player of the match: Ruth Conway
Westport RFC 59 – 5 Loughrea RFC
Under the lights at Westport RFC on Friday, February 27, the home side welcomed Loughrea RFC for a 7:30pm Connacht Cup quarter-final clash. With a place in the semi-final on the line, both teams were ready for a competitive night of knockout rugby.
Westport started brightly and were rewarded early when Tara Macken crossed for the opening try to make it 5–0. Leah McNamara followed soon after with a well-taken score to extend the lead to 10–0. Loughrea responded with a try of their own (10–5), showing their intent and ensuring it was a competitive opening spell.
From there, Westport began to build momentum. Ruth Conway went over for her first try and added the conversion to push the score to 17–5. She struck again soon after, once more converting her own try to stretch the lead to 24–5, and completed her hat-trick to make it 31–5 in what was a superb individual contribution.
Westport continued to apply pressure in the second half. Ruth added another try to bring it to 38–5 before Leah crossed again to make it 45–5. Leah’s third of the night pushed the tally past fifty, and Captain Poppy Tunney Ware rounded off the scoring with a deserved try to leave the final score at 59–5.
It was a strong team performance from Westport, with solid defence limiting Loughrea’s opportunities and clinical finishing when chances came. Credit to Loughrea, who battled throughout in difficult conditions under the lights.
The evening also marked a special occasion for Emily Cusack, who celebrated her 18th birthday on match night — a memorable way to mark the milestone with a Connacht Cup quarter-final win.
Westport now look ahead to the semi-final, pleased with the work done but aware that the challenges will only grow from here.
Team sheet
1. Holly Horkan
2. Holly Burke
3. Ciara Sheridan
4. Evie Farrell
5. Saoirse Chambers
6. Maeve Sammon
7. Orla Palasz
8. Aoibhinn Lyons
9. Ceola Durkan
10. Ruth Conway
11. Daya Kennedy
12. Poppy Tunney Ware (C)
13. Clodagh McKenna
14. Tara Macken
15. Leah McNamara
16. Chloe Heraty
17. Aoife Gannon
18. Emily Cusack
19. Siena Ruane Cooper
20. Kitty Fin Sweeney
Try scorers: Tara Macken (1), Leah McNamara (3), Ruth Conway (4), Poppy Tunney Ware (1)
Player of the match: Ruth Conway
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