U13 EAST MUNSTER LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL. 

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The U13s played Waterpark in their semi-final Sunday morning in Thurles, in what shaped up to be a titanic battle between 2 very competitive teams. Right from the get-go, the 2 teams drove at each other with everything they had with no side giving an inch. Waterpark were pressing hard for the first 5 minutes, and Thurles couldn't get their hands on the ball. Finally, Thurles got possession and started to play their game, and on the 9th minute, it was Sean Ryan who carved up the “park” defence and ran in a super try under the post and Shea Fogarty converted 7-0. The battle continued from the restart, but the Thurles defence was immense from 1-15 tackling like loins. Mason Butler and Tommy Stapleton in particular hit everything that moved and disrupted a lot of Waterpark’s play. With Thurles now slightly in control and the pack pressing forward the Thurles back line moved the ball wide just on half time out to the speedster Danny Corcoran on the wing and he burned 3 defenders to run under the posts to leave it 14-0 at the break to Thurles. 

Back row left to right:
Eoghan Kennedy 
Eamon Quigley
Shea Fogarty 
Mason Butler 
Murt Dillion 
Mark Barrett 
Alex MaCormack (C)
Daniel O'Grady 

FRONT ROW left to right :
Daithi Dunne
Killian Cleary
Harry Carroll
Dylan Delahunty 
Tommy Stapleton 
Sean Ryan 
Danny Corcoran

Thurles came out on a mission in the second half and it took only 4 minutes before Eamon Quigley got over to the right of the post and Fogarty was unlucky with the kick 19-0. Thurles took their eye off the ball from the kick-off and park got on the ball and after some powerful play scored and added the conversion 19-7. The Thurles back row were everywhere and punched holes all day with big carries and after a lot of pressure from the pack Harry Carroll got on to the ball and touched down and again Fogarty was very unlucky with the kick 24-7. The level of intensity for an U13 game was something else with backs and forwards playing out of their skins and with 4 minutes remaining it was player of the match Tommy Stapleton who got in for the final try to leave it 29-7 with the conversion missed. This was a great performance, and we wish the players and coaches all the best going forward.