Lyons Try Not Enough As Irish Dreams Go A-Begging

Leah Lyons’ 66th minute try was but a consolation for the Irish Women’s side, who were simply overpowered by England 34-7 in their St Patrick’s Day showdown at Donnybrook.

Tom Tierney’s side were looking to secure a historic grand slam title, to emulate the class of 2013, but on the final weekend came up against an English side who went up several gears after half-time to blow the Irish away.

A 5-0 lead was manageable at the break for Ireland, and in front of a fantastic crowd of 6.105, the chance to cap off a perfect season was still very much alive for the Irish.

However the visitors had other ideas, and tries from Laura Keates (53 minutes), Amy Cokayne (62), Emily Scarratt (69) and Lydia Thompson (74) put the game beyond the Irish.

Lyons barged her way over in amongst the flurry of scores, to grab her second try in what has been a fantastic tournament for the Munster and Highfield flanker.

An encouraging campaign in general, too, for Tierney’s ladies, as their preparations for this summer’s home World Cup continues.

Ireland: Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster); Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster) (capt).

Replacements: Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht) for Muldoon (44 mins), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster) for Molloy (51), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht) for Flood (52), Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster) for Stapleton, Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster) for Peat, Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht) for Egan (all 63), Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht) for Lyons, Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht) for Griffin (both 69).