Exciting finish sees Munster hold out for victory

Munster 29, Ulster 22

A SPIRITED second half by Ulster had the home side clinging to a seven point lead but Munster women held out to get a victory that kicks their season off to a winning start. They went into an early first half lead thanks to tries by Alana McInerney and Chloe Pearse, both converted by Kate Flannery and it was 17-0 after 17 minutes when McInerney added her second try. After the water break Ulster’s centre Tara O’Neill  forced her way over for a try to cut the lead to 12 points but Alana McInerney, who was threatening every time she got possession, jinked over for a hat-trick of touchdoens , Flannery’s conversion attempt coming bck off the upright and it was 22-5 at the break.

Munster were excellent at lineout and maul at that stage of the game and they increased their lead on 51 minutes when Chisom Ugwueru of UL Bohemian’s went on a solo run that saw her out-wit four chasers to go over and Flannery;s conversion pushed the home lead to 29-12 pn 61 minutes. Ulster put in a strong second half with India Daley penetrating the Munster defence go score a well-deserved try, converted by Vicky Irwin to reduce the lead to 22-19 with 16 minutes remaining. Munster conceded another score before the end with Brittany Hogan touching down after a well-worked maul to make it 29-22 but Munster survived in the remaining minutes of play to get a welcome victory.

MUNSTER: Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC); Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC); Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC), Muirne Wall (UL Bohemian RFC); Siobhan McCarthy (Gloucester-Hartpury), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC), Éilis Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC), Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian RFC) Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC), Brianna Heylmann (UL Bohemian RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC) (capt).

Replacements: Emma Dunican (Tralee RFC), Ciara O’Dwyer (UL Bohemian RFC), Ciara McLoughlin (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoibhe O’Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC), Annakate Cournane (Shannon RFC), Abbie Salter-Townshend (UL Bohemian RFC), Lucia Linn (Loughborough Lightning), Maggie Boylan (Blackrock College RFC).

ULSTER: Lauren Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC); Sophie Meeke (Enniskillen RFC), Peita McAlister (Malone RFC), Tara O’Neill (Cooke RFC), Lauren Patterson (MU Barnhall RFC/Blackrock College RFC); Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere RFC) (capt); Gemma McCamley (Cooke RFC), India Daley (Enniskillen RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Railway Union RFC), Brenda Barr (Suttonians RFC), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC), Moya Hill (Enniskillen RFC), Christy Hill (Ballymena RFC), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC).

Replacements: Maebh Clenaghan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC), Bronach Cassidy (Queen’s University Belfast RFC), Megan Brodie (Blackrock College RFC), Cara O’Kane (Cooke RFC), Stacey Sloan (Cooke RFC), Rachael McIlroy (Queen’s University Belfast RFC), Paige Smyth (Ballynahinch RFC), Lucy Thompson (Enniskillen RFC).

Referee: Cathal Roddy (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Alex Aherne, Fionnuala Fay (both IRFU)

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