Well done to the Loreto Mullingar rugby team who progress into the semi final of the senior girls schools cup after a convincing win over Presentation Wexford, final score 52-24. 

Loreto’s rugby coordinator Mervyn Lloyd commends the girls on their win as he comments, “The game was played in very challenging weather conditions throughout and after falling behind early on, Loreto fought back through the sleet and snow to finish out winners”.

This is the first time this Leinster schools senior competition has been played fifteen-aside. This is brilliant to see as it represents the growth of female rugby at this crucial age. The Mullingar girls are having a great time and really enjoying getting to play more rugby outside of the club setting. It’s brilliant for these girls to be able to compete at the sport they love at school level also. It important that girls rugby is represented at school level, the way Gaelic football and camoige are. Two girls have already joined the schools team having never played rugby before. Hopefully with the advertisement of the sport in schools we will see the uptake increase at this age group. 

The Loreto girls have now reached the Semi-Final from the initial sixteen teams who entered. This will take place next Thursday the 22nd of February against The High School. 

Clare O’Brien Mullingar CCRO alongside senior men’s player Matias Pfaff are involved in the girls coaching. Mati from Argentina is playing with Mullingar this year and helping Clare with her schools teams. 

O’Brien says she is delighted to have re-established the connection with Loreto after covid. “The last few years I have been working closely with Therese in the PE department. We have tried to give the TYs a taste of non contact rugby. Its great to see this evolving into contact rugby. The girls are doing wonderfully and it's a pleasure for myself and Mati seeing them develop.” O’Brien adds. 

We wish the girls all the best as they take on The High School next week.