Leinster League Division 1B
Kilkenny 23-19 Mullingar
By Orla Henebry
On a sunny yet windy day in Foulkstown, Kilkenny hosted league leaders Mullingar in a gripping Leinster League Division 1B match that left supporters on the edge of their seats. Kilkenny’s determination and tactical execution ultimately secured them a hard-fought 23-19 victory, keeping their faint promotion hopes alive and giving supporters plenty to celebrate.
The game started with a bang, as Kilkenny's Steve Atkinson continued his try-scoring streak. In just the fourth minute, Atkinson darted through the Mullingar defense to score the opening try, a trademark score for the scrum half. With Axel Montgomery adding the conversion, Kilkenny jumped to an early 7-0 lead. Atkinson's recent form has been a huge boost to Kilkenny, and his performance once again drew plaudits from the home crowd.
Mullingar, however, wasted little time in responding. Just seven minutes later, they capitalised on soft Kilkenny tackling, with two or three missed opportunities to bring down their attacker, leading to a try that split the home defense. Fortunately for Kilkenny, Mullingar’s fly-half missed the relatively easy conversion, keeping Kilkenny ahead by a slender margin at 7-5.
Shortly after, Kilkenny were awarded a penalty for Mullingar's indiscipline, and they seized the opportunity to extend their lead. Opting for the posts, Montgomery successfully added three points to make it 10-5.
However, Mullingar soon struck back with a try almost identical to their first. Once again, missed tackles in Kilkenny's backline allowed Mullingar to exploit gaps and cross the whitewash. This time, the conversion was successful, and the visitors edged ahead 12-10. The momentum swung back and forth, with both teams committing penalties in a tense passage of play. Despite both sides missing penalty kicks, it was Kilkenny who regained control.
Prop Brian Howe powered over the line for Kilkenny’s second try, restoring their lead to 15-12. Montgomery missed the conversion, but a penalty just before halftime saw Kilkenny enter the break with an 18-12 advantage.
The halftime atmosphere in Foulkstown was one of cautious optimism. Kilkenny’s scrum was holding firm and the lineout was back to its best with Carter, Cadlbeck and Devlin a well oiled machine. Out-half Jack Campion was orchestrating the game with precision and confidence. However, Mullingar’s physicality and ability to capitalize on Kilkenny’s defensive lapses remained a concern.
The second half began with Kilkenny pressing hard, buoyed by a yellow card shown to a Mullingar player for a high tackle. The numerical advantage saw Kilkenny camped on Mullingar’s try line for 10 minutes. Yet, their efforts were momentarily thwarted when Brian Howe was penalized for a ruck infringement and sent to the sin bin. Despite the setback, Kilkenny's captain Garry Dunne channelled his frustration into a powerful response, scoring Kilkenny’s third try just minutes later. The conversion was again missed, leaving the score at 23-12.
Mullingar, showing why they are league leaders, refused to fold. A sustained period of possession saw them claw their way back into the game with a well-worked try. The conversion brought the score to 23-19, setting up a tense final 10 minutes.
Kilkenny’s defense was pushed to its limits as Mullingar pressed for a match-winning try. Roared on by the home crowd, Kilkenny dug deep and delivered a heroic defensive effort to keep Mullingar out, securing a vital victory.
The final whistle brought delight to the Kilkenny players and supporters. Although the scoreline didn’t fully reflect Kilkenny’s dominance—having enjoyed 80% of the possession—the win highlighted both their strengths and areas for improvement. The lineouts and scrums were largely solid, while the attack showed marked improvement from previous matches. Defensive lapses and missed kicks, as well as the ability to finish off games, however, remain areas to address.
Kilkenny now sit fourth in the Leinster League Division 1B table, well within reach of promotion. Their next match against Gorey on December 14th in Clonattin promises to be a pivotal encounter. Gorey’s formidable home record will be a significant challenge, but with key players returning and confidence high, Kilkenny will head into the clash with hopes of securing a crucial victory.
Kilkenny (1-20) Brian Howe, Ben Devlin, Josh Evans, Jake Caldbeck, Jay Leahy, Joe Connolly, Wes Carter, Garry Dunne ©, Steve Atkinson, Jack Campion, Neheun Rossetti, Brian McDonald, Podge Mahon, Aaron Askins, Axel Montgomery, Charlie Buckley, Drew Phelan, Liam McWey, Tommy Murphy, Dan O’Neill.
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