On Saturday, the Westport U14 girls made the trip to Monivea for their refixed Cup quarter-final against Gort/Monivea. It was a wet and bitterly cold day, and the challenge began before a ball was even kicked. Despite travelling with 23 players, the game was reduced to 11-a-side rugby, putting the girls on the back foot from the outset.

The match started at a frantic pace, and it was clear early on that this was going to be a real battle. After just 10 minutes, Westport suffered another major setback when they lost their ever-reliable full back, Clodagh Conway, to injury. It was a tough blow, but it only seemed to inspire the team.

From that moment on, the girls showed tremendous heart. They attacked with determination and defended with incredible grit, refusing to give an inch. Every tackle, carry, and turnover mattered in a game that stayed on a knife edge throughout.

With the clock ticking down and Westport pushing hard, it looked like it could go either way. In the final minute, however, Gort/Monivea managed to get over the line against the run of play. The final whistle blew shortly after, with the score finishing 0–5.

It wasn’t to be for Westport on the day, but this was an absolutely fantastic effort from every single player. They showed resilience, teamwork, and real character in tough conditions. It’s a hard one to take, but performances like this will only make them stronger as a team.

Well done, girls — you should be incredibly proud.

Team on the Day: 

Milly Forde, Jennifer McGuire, Lucy Joyce, Abbie Kelly, Jennifer O'Grady, Freya Ruane Cooper, Cara Killeen, Kayla Cusack, Chloe Cusack, Eva McManamon, Aimee McNamara, Abbie Dockeray, Ciara Clarke, Shaylei Mayock, Clodagh Conway, Sophie O'Gorman, Grace O Donnell, Sarah Patterson, Clíona Morrison, Abby Foy, Robin Troy