Fine victory for Mullingar U16 side

U16 Cup Second Round: Mullingar 22, Portlaoise 10

On Saturday Mullingar U16s faced a crucial second-round cup match against our rivals, Portlaoise, away from home. This was our third meeting of the season, with a tough record against them, with two previous losses and a narrow two point defeat in the Premier League.

Determined to turn things around, we were eager for a win, and doing it on their turf would make it even sweeter.

The game started evenly, with both packs well-matched. Mullingar had a slight edge in athleticism, using speed and ball movement effectively. Portlaoise struck first, scoring an early try after five minutes, though they missed the conversion. Mullingar responded quickly, leveling the score at 5-5 after 12 minutes.

Portlaoise brought physicality to the rucks, while Mullingar had some minor errors that gave away advantages.

Just before halftime, Portlaoise broke through with a strong line play, scoring in the corner to take a 10-5 lead at the break. Mullingar came out firing in the second half, stepping up the intensity and physicality. A yellow card was shown as the opposition struggled to cope with our aggressive tackling and hard-hitting play.

Our dominance showed, as we rolled in three tries and added a conversion. Strong midfield play created space for the backs, while the forwards powered over for two corner tries and one just outside the posts.

Despite their speed, Portlaoise couldn’t find a way through our defence, as Mullingar held them scoreless in the second half. The final whistle blew with Mullingar securing a well-earned 22-10 victory. A massive away win gives our boys a huge boost as we move into the third round of the cup.

Mullingar U17s edge past Longford

Mullingar U17s claimed a well-earned 17-7 victory over Longford in a fiercely contested Cup clash. Playing against the wind in the first half, Mullingar fell behind 7-0 but responded quickly with a Tiarnan Halpin Murphy try, converted to level the game.

A Ben Smith penalty before half-time put Mullingar ahead 10-7.

With the wind in their favour, Mullingar looked set to dominate, but Longford fought hard. The game remained tight until Eoghan Fallon intercepted a loose pass, leading to a crucial Callum Quinn try. Smith added the conversion to secure the win.

Mullingar will now face Navan in the next round, a repeat of last year’s Cup final.

U16 girls bow out of Cup

Mullingar U16 Girls’ cup journey came to an end after a 41-29 defeat to a strong Athy in a hard-fought battle. After last week’s dominant 70-point win over Naas, this match was a reminder of how quickly things can change in sport.

The girls started well, with Jessica scoring two excellent tries in the first half, keeping the game tight at 17-12 at the break. The second half saw Jessica complete her hat-trick, but some unforced errors allowed Athy to build a lead. Despite the setback, the team showed great determination, with Emma and Carolann crossing the line late on to close the gap.

Jessica was named Player of the Match for her outstanding performance. While the cup run ends here, the focus now turns to the league semi-final on March 15, where this resilient team will look to bounce back stronger than ever.

Mullingar U13s secure quarter-final spot

Mullingar RFC’s U13 team produced a dominant performance to claim a 27-12 victory over Tullow in their latest cup match. After racing to a 22-0 lead at halftime, the team showed great determination to see out the game and book their place in the 3rd round.

This was a statement win, as Tullow were last year’s U13 McGowan Cup champions. Mullingar’s young stars now await the quarter-final with great anticipation.

Mullingar U10 girls shine in Birr blitz

Mullingar RFC’s U10 girls traveled to Birr RFC for an exciting blitz, facing teams from Roscrea, Birr, and Midland Warriors. Despite the wet and cold conditions, the girls showed great courage and skill, putting into practice the rucking and counter-rucking techniques developed in training.

Birr RFC provided a fantastic welcome, with plenty of hot drinks, sandwiches, and treats for all, making for a brilliant day of rugby. Looking ahead, the team is excited to host the next blitz at home in Mullingar, where they will welcome teams from across the Midlands for another great day of rugby.

Senior ladies report

Under overcast skies and with a number of key players sidelined due to injuries, the Mullingar Senior Ladies team showed immense resilience in their clash against league leaders Barnhall. With regular captain Sophie Treanor and vice-captain Susie Burzawa unavailable, Olive Carroll stepped up to lead the side.

The match began evenly, with neither team able to gain an early advantage. However, 10 minutes in, Barnhall found the breakthrough following a penalty against Mullingar, allowing them to quickly capitalize and score the first try. Despite this setback, Mullingar fought back, with standout defensive efforts from Eve Byrne and Clodagh O’Brien keeping Barnhall’s advances in check. Another penalty soon followed, and Barnhall seized the opportunity to score once more.

As the first half progressed, Mullingar mounted several attacks. Olive Carroll led one such charge with a well-placed kick, allowing Jodi Aherne to gather possession and come within inches of scoring. Despite continuous pressure, the Mullingar Ladies struggled to break Barnhall's defense. Barnhall continued to dominate, adding six more tries, and the halftime whistle blew with the score at 54-0.

The second half began with Mullingar determined to hold Barnhall at bay, keeping them largely confined to the middle of the pitch. With strong passes from Orlaith Sheerin and Robyn O’Brien, the team maintained pressure, giving Ciara Wynne a chance to attempt Mullingar’s first try. However, as the game drew to a close, Barnhall managed to score once more, ending the match 59-0.

With just three games left in the season, the ladies still have the chance to reclaim third place in the league standings. Come out and support the team as they take on Naas at Shay Murtagh Park next Sunday.