Munster Women Set Out To Retain Interprovincial Title

Munster Women, sponsored by Keanes Jewellers, will take on Connacht this Saturday, 30th November at the Sportsground (2pm kick-off) in an opening bid to retain the Interprovincial title they claimed last December at Ashbourne.

The side will be captained by Ireland International lock Heather O’Brien for the second consecutive year.

In a squad mixed with youth and experience O’Brien will be flanked by a number of her teammates that recently claimed the Grand Slam title for Ireland aswell as players who have made the transition from the Munster U18 squad.

Munster Cup winners Highfield RFC will be well represented in the starting line-up which includes their club captain O’Brien along with Niamh English, Orlaith Buckley, Laura Guest, Mona Fehily, Ger Rea and Nicola Scully.

Women’s player of the year Niamh Briggs will start at full back, accompanied by her UL Bohemian teammates Fiona Hayes, Kate Sheehan and Mollie O’Donnell.

Tralee’s Ciara Griffin and Siobhan Fleming will start in the back row with Shannon’s Aoife Doyle and Aimee Lee Murphy Crowe from Clanwilliam named in the backs.

This year Munster will host Ulster and Leinster at Clonmel RFC and Thomond Park respectively as the squad bid for an impressive nine Interporvincial titles in eleven years.

Munster XV: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian); Aimee Lee Murphy Crowe (Clanwilliam), Nicola Scully (Highfield), Ger Rea (Highfield), Aoife Doyle (Shannon); Mollie O’Donnell (UL Bohemian), Mona Fehily (Highfield); Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian), Kate Sheehan (UL Bohemian), Niamh English (Highfield); Heather O’Brien (Capt.) (Highfield), Orlaith Buckley (Highfield); Ciara Griffin (Tralee), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee), Laura Guest (Highfield). Replacements: Leah Lyons (Fermoy), Zoe Grattage (Highfield), Leah Barbour (UL Bohemian), Maeve D’arcy (UL Bohemian), Genevive Rowland (Nenagh Ormond), Aine Staunton (UL Bohemian), Fiona O’Sullivan (Highfield).

Fixtures:

Sat, 30th November, Connacht v Munster, Sportsground, kick-off 2pm
Sun, 8th December, Munster v Ulster, Clonmel RFC, kick-off 1pm
Sat, 14th December, Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park Stadium, kick-off 1pm