AN ALREADY-QUALIFIED Munster will move on to the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final in unbeaten form, following a 47-12 win away to Connacht.
Although Leinster’s earlier victory over Ulster ended Connacht’s hopes of reaching next week’s final at Dexcom Stadium, they put in a gutsy display in their first game in front of the fully-completed Clan Stand.
Uillin Eilian had a dream start to her Connacht senior debut, grabbing a third-minute try, but Munster gradually took control of the scoreboard to lead 21-5 at half-time.
Alana McInerney’s intercept effort was followed by Alisha Flynn driving in under the posts, and then Caitríona Finn’s slick 33rd-minute score brought her tally to 11 points.
The defending champions’ third straight bonus point success was rubber-stamped by further tries from player-of-the-match McInerney, who helped herself to a hat-trick, Flynn, and replacement Abbie Salter-Townshend.
Bursting over for a brilliant try on the hour mark, Connacht number 8 Jemima Adams Verling capitalised on Siobhán McCarthy’s sin-binning, but the Reds had the result wrapped up.
Matt Brown’s table-topping side, who are on a seven-match winning streak, will be back at Dexcom Stadium next Saturday, facing familiar foes Leinster as they bid for back-to-back Interpro titles.
The opening play-off clash on finals day will see Craig Hansberry’s young Connacht outfit target a third-place finish against a revenge-seeking Ulster.
Replacements: Emma Dunican, Caoimhe Murphy, Tuathla Ryan, Niamh O’Mahony, Ava O’Malley, Abbie Salter-Townshend, Kate Flannery, Katie Corrigan.
Referee: Alana Kerr (IRFU)
One of Leinster's try-scorers, Katie Whelan (right) with Dannah O’Brien. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
Ulster 5
Leinster 75
WEXFORD PAIR ROBYN O’Connor and Katie Whelan amassed eight tries between them as Leinster routed Ulster 75-5 to advance to the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final.
Needing a bonus-point win to book their place in next Saturday’s Galway decider against Munster, 11-try Leinster proved far too strong for a gallant Ulster team at Affidea Stadium.
Two years on from her try-scoring debut for her province in Belfast, Ireland starlet O’Connor served up an eye-catching trio of tries inside the opening 21 minutes.
Vicky Elmes Kinlan and Whelan also touched down as Leinster led 33-5 by half-time, with Olivia McKinley’s try on her first start raising Ulster’s spirits.
Deputising for Dannah O’Brien in the number 10 jersey, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton impressed throughout, kicking 20 points from the tee and combining well with both Whelan and Alex Connor.
Lively scrum-half Whelan claimed a stylish hat-trick despite Erin King’s 50th-minute sin-binning for interfering with Moya Hill at a line out.
Ulster conceded over 60 points for the second week running, as Player of the Match Ruth Campbell and replacement Nikki Gibson got on the scoresheet, and O’Connor finished with a handsome five-try haul.
The free-scoring performance sets up a fourth Leinster-Munster final pairing in as many years, and gives the Blues, who lost 39-19 to their arch rivals in the opening round, a chance to avenge last year’s final defeat.
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Munster make light work of Connacht to remain unbeaten heading into interpro final
Connacht 12
Munster 47
AN ALREADY-QUALIFIED Munster will move on to the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final in unbeaten form, following a 47-12 win away to Connacht.
Although Leinster’s earlier victory over Ulster ended Connacht’s hopes of reaching next week’s final at Dexcom Stadium, they put in a gutsy display in their first game in front of the fully-completed Clan Stand.
Uillin Eilian had a dream start to her Connacht senior debut, grabbing a third-minute try, but Munster gradually took control of the scoreboard to lead 21-5 at half-time.
Alana McInerney’s intercept effort was followed by Alisha Flynn driving in under the posts, and then Caitríona Finn’s slick 33rd-minute score brought her tally to 11 points.
The defending champions’ third straight bonus point success was rubber-stamped by further tries from player-of-the-match McInerney, who helped herself to a hat-trick, Flynn, and replacement Abbie Salter-Townshend.
Bursting over for a brilliant try on the hour mark, Connacht number 8 Jemima Adams Verling capitalised on Siobhán McCarthy’s sin-binning, but the Reds had the result wrapped up.
Matt Brown’s table-topping side, who are on a seven-match winning streak, will be back at Dexcom Stadium next Saturday, facing familiar foes Leinster as they bid for back-to-back Interpro titles.
The opening play-off clash on finals day will see Craig Hansberry’s young Connacht outfit target a third-place finish against a revenge-seeking Ulster.
Scorers for Connacht
Tries: Uillin Eilian, Jemima Adams Verling.
Conversion: Síofra Hession.
Scorers for Munster
Tries: Alana McInerney 3, Alisha Flynn 2, Caitríona Finn, Abbie Salter-Townshend.
Conversions: Caitríona Finn 6.
CONNACHT: Clara Barrett; Clare Gorman, Anna McGann, Lyndsay Clarke, Emily Foley; Méabh Deely, Aoibheann Reilly (co-capt); Ella Burns, Uillin Eilian, Lily Morris, Faith Oviawe, Poppy Garvey, Emma Kelly, Ailish Quinn (co-capt), Jemima Adams Verling.
Replacements: Jess Keating, Éabha O’Mahony, Hannah Coen, Emma Fabby, Sarah Purcell, Aoife Heaney, Hannah Johnston, Síofra Hession.
MUNSTER: Aoife Corey; Alana McInerney, Lucia Linn, Enya Breen, Chisom Ugwueru; Caitríona Finn, Emily Lane; Siobhán McCarthy, Beth Buttimer, Alisha Flynn, Aoibhe O’Flynn, Jane Clohessy, Clodagh O’Halloran, Sally Kelly, Grace Moore.
Replacements: Emma Dunican, Caoimhe Murphy, Tuathla Ryan, Niamh O’Mahony, Ava O’Malley, Abbie Salter-Townshend, Kate Flannery, Katie Corrigan.
Referee: Alana Kerr (IRFU)
Ulster 5
Leinster 75
WEXFORD PAIR ROBYN O’Connor and Katie Whelan amassed eight tries between them as Leinster routed Ulster 75-5 to advance to the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final.
Needing a bonus-point win to book their place in next Saturday’s Galway decider against Munster, 11-try Leinster proved far too strong for a gallant Ulster team at Affidea Stadium.
Two years on from her try-scoring debut for her province in Belfast, Ireland starlet O’Connor served up an eye-catching trio of tries inside the opening 21 minutes.
Vicky Elmes Kinlan and Whelan also touched down as Leinster led 33-5 by half-time, with Olivia McKinley’s try on her first start raising Ulster’s spirits.
Deputising for Dannah O’Brien in the number 10 jersey, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton impressed throughout, kicking 20 points from the tee and combining well with both Whelan and Alex Connor.
Lively scrum-half Whelan claimed a stylish hat-trick despite Erin King’s 50th-minute sin-binning for interfering with Moya Hill at a line out.
Ulster conceded over 60 points for the second week running, as Player of the Match Ruth Campbell and replacement Nikki Gibson got on the scoresheet, and O’Connor finished with a handsome five-try haul.
The free-scoring performance sets up a fourth Leinster-Munster final pairing in as many years, and gives the Blues, who lost 39-19 to their arch rivals in the opening round, a chance to avenge last year’s final defeat.
Scorers for Ulster
Try: Olivia McKinley
Scorers for Leinster
Tries: Robyn O’Connor 5, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Katie Whelan 3, Ruth Campbell, Nikki Gibson
Cons: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton 10
ULSTER: Niamh Marley; Caitlin Crowe, Leah Irwin, Siobhán Sheerin, Lucy Thompson; Ella Durkan, Rachael McIlroy; Sadhbh McGrath, Maebh Clenaghan, Sophie Barrett, Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, Olivia McKinley, Moya Hill, Rebecca Beacom, Claire Boles (capt).
Replacements: Emily Whittle, Bronach Cassidy, Grace Simati, Christy Hill, Stacey Sloan, Georgia Boyce, Katie Gilmour, Abby Moyles.
LEINSTER: Stacey Flood; Robyn O’Connor, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton, Katie Whelan; Caoimhe Molloy, Sarah Delaney (capt), Linda Djougang, Ruth Campbell, Alma Atagamen, Regan Casey, Kathy Baker, Erin King.
Replacements: Emma Jane Wilson, Hannah Wilson, Hope Lowney, Kate Jordan, Nikki Gibson, Alex Connor, Niamh Murphy, Amy Larn.
Referee: John Purcell (IRFU).
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