Tralee Rugby Club

Tralee began brightly and dominated the opening exchanges. The forward pack was dominant in the scrum and the lineout, a severe handicap for much of the early season, functioned well. Eoin O’Carroll started in the unaccustomed position of out half and in tandem with scrum half Jonathan O’Halloran provided good ball for the centers Shane O’Sullivan and Bartley Horan. Out wide Joe’O Kelly and Fearghal O’Nuallain look threatening every time they got ball in hand, while full back Conor Moore showed good hands and attacking instincts when Abbeyfeale kicked long. O’Kelly scored the first try following good ball carrying by lock Eoin Holly, Captain Mark Walsh and prop Ross Coffey.

Tralee camped in the Abbeyfeale 22 for the next ten minutes and was denied what looked like a good try by O’Halloran following and excellent run and off-load by No. 8 Luke Gleasure. A second try came following a sustained attack by Abbeyfeale. Hooker Kevin Harty pounced on a loose ball following excellent tackling by lock Edward Nolan and flanker Coleman Moore. The ball was smuggled to O’Carroll who scored under the posts from inside his own half. The conversion left the score 14 to 0 at the break.

The second half was a titanic struggle and while Tralee again dominated the early part of the half a third try would not come, both O’Kelly and O’Carroll knocking on close to the line while a forward effort was deemed to have been held up. Tralee was now attracting unwanted attention from the referee and numerous penalties gave Abbeyfeale valuable possession. A penalty by out half Dan Hartnett put Abbeyfeale on the board as Tralee was forced to defend for long periods. With ten minutes remaining Captain Mark Walsh was sin-binned and shortly after Abbeyfeale scored in the corner following sustained pressure.

Tralee were now being asked serious questions in defense and the team as a whole stood up and were counted. Numerous scrums inside the 22 were contested and won by the Tralee pack, tackles were made and some last ditch defending kept Abbeyfeale at bay, though it was not for the faint hearted.. Special mention to the front row, Coffey, Harty and Aidan McQuinn, who were excellent when the need was greatest and to O’Carroll and Horan for two try saving tackles on the line.

The last play of the game saw Abbeyfeale run the ball from 5m out knowing a converted try would win the game. A shuddering tackle by Holly drove the ball carrier back and as the ball was moved to the wing O’Nuallain and Moore tackled the winger into touch to close out the victory.

A great team performance and just reward for the effort put in by the full squad over the last few months. Commiserations to a sporting and gallant Abbeyfeale team that fought to the very end.