The Heifers end the league on top

The Mullingar Heifers, despite the celebrations planned with the top spot secured, had one task in sight when they took to the pitch on Sunday afternoon, March 5, and that was to remain unbeaten at home for the season.

As always the Mullingar women dug deep and secured another bonus point win. These ladies love to score tries and today was no different, with nine tries, four of which Foxey converted.

The girls were slower to get a handle of the game with Clondalkin putting in some big hits and brilliant kicks but it didn’t take long for the women to settle into their own playing style. It was young Swanson who first saw a gap and went over in the left corner, Wynne mirrored this in the right corner less than ten minutes later, both angles were difficult and no conversion was possible.

Clondalkin’s attempted line breaks were stopped by the solid tackles of Gallagher, Finnerty and Scanlon. Mulcahy was over next with a big drive just left of the posts, converted by Foxey’s trusty boot.

Wynne caught the ball off the kick, dodging tackles all the way to the five-metre line, passing to Hayden who went over, but a fumble in the build-up brought it back for a scrum. Mullingar won back the ball and after a series of crashes, McCormack reached for the line mid-tackle to get another five points for the home side. Foxe converted again. Clondalkin had some skillful kicks coming from their out-half and full-back, carefully judged by the fast thinking Kilduff and the youngest O’Brien.

Within the first two minutes of the second half, Foxe decided she wanted a try of her own and touched down between the posts, a clever location to aid her opportunity for conversion. Another line break and quick hands saw the ball make its way down to the right hand corner, where it was Wynne who got her second try of the day.

Burzawa was unlucky not to get a try of her own with some tactical line breaks and quick footwork.

Swanson, nippy on the wing, broke the line and it looked like she was over, however a hand-off was not enough to escape the grasps of Clondalkin. The ball was popped back, an awkward pass saw it bounce backwards off a Mullingar player into the hands of captain O’Brien, who reacted quickly and coolly and went over for a try of her own.

After her move back to the pack this week she put in some massive tackles, but it was clear with some major line breaks COB was itching for a try all day. Hayden broke the line with quick hands to Faulkner and Young, but it was Treanor who got her hands on the ball to get another try for the Heifers.

Returning from injury, Treanor did not shy away, putting in the performance we are used to from the young flanker. Lyons, also returning from injury, made her impact felt, strengthening the pack when she came off the bench.

Clondalkin, determined to deny Mullingar a clean sheet, got their first of the game. However, soon after Liddy, no stranger to the try line, got another for Mullingar and was the last to put her name on the scoreboard with a brilliant finish to another great game by the Heifers.

At the final whistle it was Mullingar who finished the league top of the table, five points clear. O’Brien lifted the Division 2 trophy, the first trophy to be lifted in the brand new supporters stand, one of many records broken by this young team this year.

These girls have scored a massive 491 points in only 12 games, remained unbeaten at home and finished the season with only one loss in the league, what an achievement from this young squad.