'Incredible character' - Westport clinch Connacht Cup after years of heartbreak

THIRD time's a charm for the rugby ladies from Mayo, Westport RFC U-18 side, who finally got their hands on the Connacht Cup after falling short in two previous finals.

On a memorable day, they delivered a performance full of grit, determination and true teamwork to deservedly come out on top against Tuam/Oughterard.

Westport RFC U-18 Ladies manager David Conway praised his side's resilience, highlighting how previous setbacks helped shape their success: "They've been through a lot as a group over the past couple of seasons. We missed out on a couple of cup finals and suffered some very narrow losses, but those experiences really spurred the girls on and built a huge amount of resilience in the squad."

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Westport started brightly, showing attacking intent from the outset despite playing into the setting sun and against a strong wind. Two early tries from Orla Palasz and Holly Burke helped settle any nerves, with the scoreboard ticking over steadily as Westport built a 12-0 lead.

Tuam/Oughterard responded well, keeping the game tight, but Westport's work rate and cohesion were evident throughout.

As the first half progressed, further scores pushed Westport ahead, and they went into halftime leading 24-5 when Leah McNamara crossed the line for the second time proving a constant threat in attack. And Aoife Gannon added another crucial try.

The second half saw Westport raise their intensity even further when Holly Horkan powered over to extend the lead during a dominant spell.

Tuam/Oughterard refused to go away and continued to battle, closing the gap at times, but Westport always had an answer. A strong finish saw Annaleigh Kelly grab two late tries with Leah McNamara sandwiched in between to put the result beyond doubt and cap off an excellent team performance.

At the final whistle, the scoreboard read 44-9. There were sparkling celebrations in the Dexcom Stadium as Westport's captain Poppy Tunney Ware accepted the cup on behalf of her team.

"This victory was built not just on individual brilliance, but on collective effort. After coming so close in previous finals, this group showed incredible character to finally get over the line after such a nail biting game.

The girls showed incredible character, especially playing against older, more experienced opposition. I'm incredibly proud of them, and there's a real sense of excitement about what this group can achieve next year", Conway said.

Try scorers: Leah McNamara (2), Aoife Gannon (1), Holly Burke (1), Orla Palasz (1), Holly Horkan (1), Annaleigh Kelly (2).

WESTPORT RFC
L McNamara, A Gannon, T Macken, p Tunney Ware, A Kelly, R Conway, C Durkan; C Sheridan, H Burke, H Horkan, E Farrell, S Chambers, M Sammon, D Kennedy, O Palasz - Replacements: S Ruane Cooper, C Heraty, E Cusack, L Cusack, C McKenna, A Loftus, A Lyons, K Fin Sweeney, F Turk