Rugbaí Chorca Dhuibhne 15 Killarney RFC 12

The first half of our season finished with narrow loss to RCD at Ballydavid in the West Munster U14 league semi-final playoff.

RCD opened the scoring early in the 1st half with score from close range after applying heavy pressure close to the Killarney line. A great charge was sufficient to put off the RCD kicker - so the try was not converted. RCD 5 Killarmney 0. We responded well with a score in the corner from Hugh Dorrian after good offloading kept the ball alive. Dara Stack was unable to add the extra two points from a difficult angle. RCD 5 Killarney 5

RCD again replied with try - but a were unable to add the two points so we faced into the last fe minutes of the 1st half with a 10-5 deficit. Then Dara Stack pounced on an RCD handling error - and kicking through we was able to re-gather and score under the posts despite a half-hearted pull back. Dara also confidently despatched the conversion to leave us 12-10 up at the break.

We hoped to take advantage of the pronounced slope in the second half - but the heavy pitch and cross-field wind did a lot to negate any potential edge it might give. RCD were able to score early in the 2nd half and despite a lot of possession we could not quite convert them into points. RCD emerged victors from a close game - had it gone the other way they would not have many complaints, so neither can we.

We now look forward to the second phase of the season with Killarney Black competing against Tralee, RCD and Killorglin the cup, and Killarney Red competing in the plate with Abbeyfeale and Castleisland. This will be - we hope -the first tiem we have been able to field 2 teams at this age group - it's great for the club that we can do so, but also great that we should be able to guarantee everyone a full game. Next matches: weekend of 25th-26th January - Black away to Tralee, Red at home to Abbeyfeale.

Team - TJ Healy, Luis Caruz, Scott Carlton; Alfie Barrett, Ciaran Doyle; Connie Counihan, Gearóid Sugrue, Shane O'Sullivan; Senan Cotter, Dara Stack; Mark Kennelly, Hugh Dorrian, Bryan Walsh, Daire Kingston; Jack Tangney;

Subs: Dylan O'Brien, Conor O'Sullivan, Ben O'Brien, Eanna Coffey, Conn Carroll