Munster will meet Leinster in next weekend’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final after Tania Rosser’s side edged out Munster 26-19 in Donnybrook this evening.
Munster’s two bonus-point wins before this third round clash guaranteed a place in the final with Leinster needing to win to secure their spot in the decider.
Leinster started well with territory in the Munster half and an offside infringement gave Leinster’s Hannah O’Connor an opportunity to kick three points but her effort dropped short and Munster cleared.
Niamh Briggs side’s produced a huge maul effort which marched Leinster back into their own half and it was from the resulting penalty advantage that Munster put it through the hands where Maeve Óg O’Leary was on hand to produce a strong fend and power through a gap to score under the posts.
Flannery’s conversion ensured a 0-7 lead after 10 minutes.
Leinster responded well when 10 minutes later, Lisa Callan crashed over from close-range after a good bit of defensive work from Munster on their own line. Hannah O’Connor converted for Leinster to level the game.
Just past the midway point of the first half, Leinster took the lead when Tania Rosser’s side put the ball through the hands where Aimee Clarke was able to use her pace to score in the corner. O’Connor’s conversion was unsuccessful as Leinster took a 12-7 lead.
Munster’s maul was a weapon throughout the first-half and they used it to good effect to get back in the game as a powerful drive saw captain Dorothy Wall get Munster’s second try.
Flannery’s conversion from the touchline was just wide as the game was levelled with less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
Munster came close on two occasions at the end of the first half to go back into the lead but a knock-on from Munster saw the referee blow for half-time with the teams level.
With 10 minutes played of the second-half, Leinster took the lead when Linda Djougang powered over from a metre out. Dannah O’Brien’s conversion put Leinster 19-12 in front.
A try from Ruth Campbell extended Leinster’s lead after some good work from Aoife Dalton sent the second-row racing clear for thee bonus-pointy. O’Brien’s conversion put Leinster 26-12 in front with 20 minutes remaining in the match.
Munster responded well with prolonged periods of possession and territory and it was Wall who got her side back into the game with an important try from close-range. Nicole Cronin, making her first appearance of this season’s Interpros, nailed the tricky conversion to put just seven points between the teams.
Munster continued to push for a try which could level the game but Leinster defended well and saw out the match in Munster’s half.
The sides will meet again next week in the final of this season’s Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship Round 3 Round-Up
Leinster’s Aoife Dalton was awarded the Vodafone Player of the Match
Aoibhe O’Flynn made her senior Munster debut this evening.
Munster and Leinster will meet again in the final in Musgrave Park next Saturday at 4.45pm.
