Report | Second Half Come-Back Secures Final Spot For Munster Women’s Side

Munster secure yet another place in the Vodafone Interprovincial Final after seeing off a strong Ulster opposition 17-38.

Chloe Pearse opened up scoring in the 10th minute as the vice captain broke off the back of a strong scrum and drove over.

Caitríona Finn added the extras.

But Ulster responded in the 14th minute through centre Siobhan Sheerin as they scored their first converted try of the afternoon.

But this did not phase Munster as Chisom Ugwueru ran in from beyond the half-way line with the conversion that followed rebounding off the cross bar.

A break and off load from captain Maeve Óg O’Leary set up Caitríona Finn perfectly to cruise in over the line in the 22nd minute with Finn also converting her own try.

Ulster were in twice more before the break to bring the half-time score to 17-19.

Captain Maeve Óg O’Leary opened up scoring in the second half as she picked and drove over the line in the 43rd minute. Caitríona Finn nailed the conversion that followed.

Alana McInerney was next on the score sheet as she intercepted a loose ball close to her own 22 and turned on the burners to make it to the try-line.

Captain Maeve Óg added to her tally just before the final whistle with Finn’s conversion all but securing their spot in next week’s final.

It was a third bonus point win in a row for the province as they saw the game out with a score of 17-38.

They will now travel to Energia Park next weekend to face Leinster in a repeat of last year’s final.

Munster: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC), Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC); Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC), Abbie Salter-Townshend (UL Bohemian RFC); Grainne Burke (UL Bohemian RFC), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC), Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC); Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC); Brianna Heylmann (UL Bohemian RFC), Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC); Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC).

Replacements: Alisha Flynn (Ballincollig RFC), Ciara McLoughlin (UL Bohemian RFC), Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC), Emma Dunican (Tralee RFC), Sally Kelly (Ennis RFC), Eve Prendergast (Ballincollig RFC), Lucia Linn (UL Bohemian RFC), Megan Crilly (Loughborough College).

Ulster: Kate Farrell-McCabe; Ciara Fitzsimons, Siobhán Sheerin, Kelly McCormill, Niamh Marley; Abby Moyles, Sophie Meeke; Aishling O’Connell, India Daley, Sophie Barrett; Ellen Patterson, Brenda Barr; Moya Hill, Rebecca Beacom; Stacey Sloan.

Replacements: Megan Simpson, Bronach Cassidy, Sophie McAlister, Lauren Darley, Ciara O’Donnell, Georgia Boyce, Farrah Cartin McCloskey, Katie Gilmour.

Out U18 Girls side got proceedings underway this afternoon with a stellar 5-34 win against a strong Ulster outfit.

It was the home side that got the first points on the board through scrum half Amy McConkey as she crashed over in just the third minute.

But Munster posed a strong retaliation and scored a further six tries through Cora Miller, Abi Kelly, Maria O’Donovan, Elena O’Brien, Ciara O’Driscoll and Julie Finn with Lani O’Donovan adding two conversions.

A strong finish to the competition leaves the side in third going into the finals weekend next Saturday in Energia Park.

Munster: Maria O’Donovan (Clonakilty RFC); Abi Kelly (Ennis RFC), Jo McCaughey (Clonakilty RFC), Lily Byrne (Dolphin RFC), Cora Miller (Waterpark RFC); Lani O’Donovan (Clonakilty RFC), Sophie O’Riordan (Bruff RFC); Aoife Martin (Ennis RFC), Ciara O’Driscoll (Cloankilty RFC), Alice Buckley (Kanturk RFC); Lisa O’Mahony (Ballincollig RFC), Laura Danaher (Scariff RFC); Elena O’Brien (Midleton RFC), Cailinn O’Brien (Garryowen FC); Eliza Wiley Murphy (Scariff RFC).

Replacements: Erin Ridgway (Kinsale RFC/Dolphin RFC), Maya McMahon (Clonakilty RFC), Aine O’Rourke (Mallow RFC), Orlaith Grimes (Shannon RFC), Kiera Murphy (Dolphin RFC), Julie Finn (Clonakilty RFC), Niamh O’Mahony (Ballincollig RFC), Alice O’Donovan (Bantry Bay RFC).

Ulster: Aoibhin Smith; Katelyn Magee, Caitlin Crowe, Emily Irwon, Eunice Adesanya; Grace Bracken, Amy McConkey; Orlaith Maguire, Alanna Scullion, Alanna Corcoran Cusack; Olivia McKinley, Jessica Kingston; Elinor Van Lil, Alana Eadie; Maisie Bowden.

Replacements: Ava Boyle, Alice Seaney, Fianche Higgins, Darcey Smith, Myah Vance, Méabh Hull, Brooke Schoenfeldt, Erin Robinson.