Leinster League Division 2
Kilkenny 20-24 South East Lions
By Marianne Jordan
In their final match before Christmas, the Kilkenny Women welcomed the South East Lions to Foulkstown for the return fixture of the league. Despite a spirited performance, they narrowly fell short in a gripping encounter.
The game started with the Lions asserting early pressure. After a strong lineout, they tested Kilkenny's defence. Eve Cronin delivered a key tackle to halt an early break down the wing, but the Lions quickly reset. Spotting a gap in the defensive line, their number 11 charged over the try line, giving the visitors an early 5-0 lead.
Galvanized by the setback, Kilkenny responded with determination. Following the restart, they pressed the Lions back, building through the phases to establish a platform on the 5-meter line. Forward Tina Wright powered through the Lions' defence to level the game at 5-5. Unfortunately, the strong winds hampered kicker Emily Kenny’s conversion attempt, which struck the crossbar.
Kilkenny continued to pile on the pressure, with Leah McCarthy delivering a precise kick for distance after a breakdown. Eve Cronin chased the ball down and nearly scored, forcing a 5-meter scrum instead. From the resulting push, Isla Mosse broke away to secure Kilkenny's second try, putting them ahead 10-5.
Building on their momentum, Kilkenny executed a spectacular dummy throw play, allowing Eve Cronin to charge up the wing. However, a high tackle by the Lions stopped her just short, earning Kilkenny a lineout. A handling error briefly handed possession back to the Lions, but Jenny Kirwan showed immense strength to rip the ball back for Kilkenny. The pack continued to dominate, and another massive scrum saw Leah McCarthy dart from the back to score Kilkenny's third try, extending the lead to 15-5.
The second half began with challenging conditions as rain made the ground slippery, causing several resets in the scrum. Despite Kilkenny's dominance in the set piece, the Lions capitalized on a break down the wing to score, narrowing the gap to 15-10.
The Lions struck again shortly after, stringing together quick phases to take a 17-15 lead. But Kilkenny was undeterred—Tina Wright exploited a defensive lapse, surging through to reclaim the lead for Kilkenny at 20-17.
As the clock ticked down, the Lions relied on their forwards to batter their way over the try line. Their relentless drive ultimately paid off, earning them the decisive score. The conversion sealed a hard-fought 24-20 victory for the Lions.
Though the Kilkenny Women showed remarkable resilience and skill, they were left disappointed heading into the holiday break. Their performance, however, promises plenty of potential for the rest of the season.
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