Late Tries from Roisín and Aoibhinn Stone combined with a Beth Roberts conversion, saw Wicklow produce a stunning comeback late on to snatch the Shield Final over Old Belvedere.

It has been looking like the Dublin side would prevail at Ashtown lane, leading 10-0 at half time, they got their third try in the second half and were cruising 17-6 ahead, but as we ticked into the final ten minutes, the Stone sisters and Roberts who had converted two penalties prior to those tries landed the crucial score.

Woes continuing for Belvedere, it looked like they had turned the tide after having a difficult time during this cup campaign, their worst finish in recent memory, but for Wicklow another huge day for a team who began life in the league back in 2021, two pieces of SIlverware secured on their own backyard as they won the conference final at the Ashtown Lane venue at the end of last year.

With the Energia Cup series now at an end, it gives clubs the chance to build in the off season before the Autumn resumption of the league, for Belvedere they will be happy to now focus on their league campaign at the end of the year, while Wicklow could be a dark horse to make it into a top four spot by the end of the campaign.

It was not all smooth sailing from the start however for the home side and indeed the favourite, as Belvedere hit their stride in the opening half, tries from Elise O’Byrne-White and Emma Kelly gave Belvo a 10- lead by the interval.

Wicklow had chances in the opening half but the resilient nature of Belvedere was shining through their pack, a team missing a lot of regular faces, but one that battled hard and showed just why they are such an historic club in the AIL scene.

Better things were on the horizon for Belvedere however as O’Byrne-White pierced the Wicklow defence for a second time to land their third try of the contest, Jemma Farrell landed the conversion, Wicklow would come back into the tie from the boot of Beth Roberts, as the out-half landed two penalties, but the scoreline of 17-6 was in Belvo’s favour.

Defence was strong from the Anglesea Road side, they were limiting Wicklow, but the hosts had done enough as the half wore on to prevent a whitewash at home, as they were bidding to force a comeback.

They would have their day in the end, a remarkable turn of fortune as time did not look on their side, the Stone sisters, not the only family connection within this Wicklow team, both crossed to swinging the momentum, first Roisin crossed the whitewash then it was the turn of Aoibhinn, trailing 17-16, Roberts placed the ball on the tee for what was a crucial conversion attempt, which she absolutely nailed to dissect the posts, the home support into raptures, two trophies for their senior women’s side, a success builder from a terrific season.