Munster Women Defeated By Barbarians

The Munster Women’s team, sponsored by Keane’s jewellers, were beaten 19-0 by the Barbarians side in an historic clash in the rain at Thomond Park on Friday night.

In a first-ever game for the Barbarians Women’s team, they named a 23-strong squad with 1,019 international caps between them as seven different nations were represented by the side.

And their star-studded line-up proved too strong for Munster as a first-half penalty try was followed by further tries in the second half as Ireland international Ailis Egan scored off a counter-attack before Georgina Roberts finished off a length of the field move for a third Barbarians try.

With the Interprovincial Championship just three weeks away, the clash was an ideal opportunity for new Head Coach Laura Guest to prepare her squad for the challenge that lies ahead and she played a different 15 in each half.

Both sides were looking to play running rugby but the extremely damp conditions hindered their efforts.

Forward power laid the platform for the Baa-baas as their scrum earned a penalty try just before the half-hour and Barbarian flair clinched the win after the interval as Egan and Roberts touched down.

Munster (First half): Laura O’Mahony (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland 7s); Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (UL Bohemian RFC), Aine Staunton (UL Bohemian RFC), Christine Arthurs (Highfield RFC/Ireland 7s), Syphonia Pua (UL Bohemian RFC); Valerie Power (Shannon RFC), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland & Ireland 7s); Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland), Edel Murphy (UL Bohemian RFC), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland); Nuala O’Connor (Tralee RFC), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland); Dinah O’Mahony (Bandon RFC), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee RFC/Ireland) (C), Anna Caplice (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland & Ireland 7s).

Munster (Second half): Linda McNamara (Highfield RFC); Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemian RFC), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland & Ireland 7s), Rachel Allen (UL Bohemian RFC), Tracy Collopy (Shannon RFC); Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere RFC), Helen McDermott (UL Bohemian RFC); Leah Lyons (Highfield RFC/Ireland), Zoe Grattage (Highfield RFC/Ireland), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland); Eileen Foley (Bandon RFC), Roisin Ormond (Ballincollig RFC); Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian RFC), Siobhan McCarthy (Railway Union RFC), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian RFC/Ireland).