Munster U18 Girls Beaten In Decider

The Munster U18 Girls fell at the last hurdle as they lost 20-8 to Ulster in Dublin on Saturday in the deciding fixture of the inaugural Interprovincial competition.

It has been an outstanding debut campaign for Eugene McCarthy and Denis Stevenson's young side with a number of players eligible to play at this level again next year.

The crunch clash against Ulster, which was played as part of a final day double-header in Westmanstown RFC, was a thrilling encounter with both sides playing some excellent rugby.

Munster took the lead on the half hour as centre Enya Breen slotted over a penalty. Ulster, who had won both of their opening games, hit back with a Claire Boles try just before half-time to make it 5-3 at the interval.

Another try from Neve Jones, this one converted by Lisa Mullen, moved Ulster into a commanding position before their first penalty made it 15-3 with Munster in desperate need of the next score.

And they got it thanks to a try in the corner from winger Stephanie Nunan with the deficit now cut to seven, but a third Ulster try towards the end from Brittany Horgan meant the new trophy was heading north rather than south.

It was a campaign to remember for Munster as they earned a 33-7 opening day win over Connacht and then battled their way to a draw away to Leinster before falling just short in the decider.

Munster U18 Girls
1. Caroline Downey (Bantry Bay RFC)
2. Erica O'Connor (Shannon RFC)
3. Hayley Betts (Listowel RFC)
4. Eimear Perryman (Cobh Pirates RFC)
5. Dearbhla Canty (Listowel RFC)
6. Jane Ryan (Thurles RFC)
7. Mary Hilda Hurley (Bantry Bay RFC)
8. Caolainn Healy (Listowel RFC)
9. Muirne Wall (Listowel RFC)
10. Emily Lane (Mallow RFC)
11. Stephanie Nunan (St Mary's RFC)
12. Enya Breen (Bantry Bay RFC)
13. Dorothy Wall (Fethard & District RFC)
14. Aoife O'Shaughnessy (Rockwell College)
15. Aisling Brosnan (Tralee RFC)

Replacements:
16. Melanie McKnight (St Mary's RFC)
17. Ellen Farrell (Shannon RFC)
18. Ciara Shine (Listowel RFC)
19. Grace Crowley (Bantry Bay RFC)
20. Andrea Stock (Bantry Bay RFC)
21. Holly O'Dwyer (Thurles RFC)
22. Tracy Collopy (Shannon RFC)
23. Laura Cato (Bantry Bay RFC)

Munster U18 Girls Interprovincial Results 2016
Saturday, September 17
Munster 33-7 Connacht, Ballincollig RFC

Saturday, September 24
Leinster 0-0 Munster, Seapoint RFC

Saturday, October 1
Munster 8-20 Ulster, Westmanstown RFC