UL Bohs 38 – 0 Cooke
By Aisling Crowe at Annacoty
UL BOHS CREATED the perfect ten at Annacotty on Sunday with their tenth win from ten league games so far, extending their lead at the top of the Women’s All Ireland League to ten points.
The Munster side increased their stranglehold on top spot after a comprehensive 38-0 victory over Cooke in the game which was rescheduled from earlier in the season.
The scoreline suggests the game was much more one-sided than in reality with Cooke making life difficult for the home team, who were forced to use their talent out wide to circumvent Grace Davitt’s tenacious team.
Full-back Áine Staunton was quick off the mark for UL Bohs, opening the scoring after ten minutes and Edel Murphy converted for a 7-0 lead. Four minutes later the Robins had their second try courtesy of a fine line break from centre Clare O’Brien.
Staunton, who was on the scoresheet for the third successive match, was denied a second try with the ball dislodged from her grasp before she could touch down, but her team were not to be thwarted.
Second row Chloe Pearse secured the try bonus point before half time, her pair of tries giving the team a 24 – 0 lead at half time.
Edel Murphy, the Kerry goalkeeper as well as UL’s placekicker, added on the conversion after they were awarded a penalty try and despite losing two players to the sin bin around the 55 minute mark, UL still had the wits to add a sixth and final try, Clodagh O’Halloran’s touch down converted by Murphy for a 38 – 0 success.
“This was no walk in the park,” commented John Keane of UL Bohs. “Cooke never once thought of hanging up their boots, we had to work hard to keep them out.”
With four games left to play in the regular league season, Keane was insistent that their large lead would not induce complacency.
“We have four games to go but we are not taking anything for granted. We want to be in the four playoff places at the end of those matches.”
For Cooke’s head coach, Grace Davitt, Sunday’s result was the culmination of a tough month that has taken its toll on her team.
“We were short on numbers and this was our fourth game in a row so it was always going to be a tough slog. We have a lot of injuries, players missing and others on Ireland duty so the constant matches are taking their toll on our squad,” said the Ireland legend, who was quick to praise her team’s efforts and heart.
“Credit to all the girls who traveled, there was a real good spirit about the team today, they kept digging in and put it up to UL, they made life difficult for them. It was a stinking, wet day and I am very proud of how the girls performed.”
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