Munster U18 Girls Clinch Win Over Ulster In Interprovincial Playoff

Connacht and Munster won the U18 Girls Interprovincial series on Sunday. The results respectively in Dubarry Park Athlone, Munster beat Ulster in 3rd/4th place playoff and Connacht beat Leinster in the final.

By Eamon Anthony Donoghue

Munster 31-5 Ulster 

Both Munster and Ulster were after defeats during the week and they both played the game tight through their forwards. The game was physical and the tackling was crunching.

Munster had the bigger and better pack and they used it to the full of their advantage. Aoibheann McGrath was outstanding and she gave a Peter O’Mahony like performance at number six.

Munster started fast and Megan Crilly touched down in the third minute. Caitriona Finn kicked the conversion. Then their speedster winger Niamh Croffy scored another try.

Ulster did have their period of dominance. Grace Simati, Sadhbh Wells and Sophie McAllister all threw their bodies on the line for their team. They finally breached the tough Munster defence in the 19th minute. Their excellent centre Erin McConalogue scored the try and she went close a couple more times in the game.

Munster put on the power in the second half. They could bring in subs like Ella McCarthy and she used all of her size to bulldoze through the Ulster players. They started to run subs on and off and the game went somewhat chaotic.

Munster U18 Girls squad and management celebrate after the win. Photo Credit: Inpho

Ulster were full of bravery and resilience but they just couldn’t make any inroads on the powerful Munster pack. Crotty scored her second try, the winger ran from inside her own half, avoiding a number of desperate tacklers before touching down. Then the excellent Ava O’Malley powered over for try number four and Finn converted both tries. Munster were up 26-0 in the 54th minute.

Credit to Ulster, they kept playing with every ounce of their fibre. But Munster piled on the agony and fittingly McGrath scored their fifth try. Finn failed with the conversion that was out on the sideline.

Munster have the bragging right of third place. They deserved their win and were the dominant side from start to finish. Ulster can have no excuses but they were also winners after playing their part in an excellent day’s rugby from all four provinces.

Scorers:

Munster: N Crotty 2 try’s, M Crilly, A O’Malley and A McGrath 1 try each, C Finn 3 con.
Ulster: E McConalogue 1 try.

Munster: Megan Crilly, Grace Kingston, Lindsay Clarke, Niamh O’Mahoney, Niamh Crotty, Catriona Finn, Mia Hennelly, Tuathla Ryan, Emma Dunican, Niamh McCarthy, Sally Kelly, Aoife Grimes, Aoibheann McGrath, Clodagh O’Keeffe, Ava O’Malley. Subs Fia Whelan, Ella Buckley, Sadie Murphy.

Ulster: Natile Turner, Kaithlyn McMorrow, Erin McConalogue, Leah Irwin, Abi Carson, Amy McConkey, Megan Creighton, Grace Simati, Sadhbh Wells, Sophie McAllister, Lucy Calvin, Ruby Starrett, Jessica Wilkinson, Cara McLean. Subs Amanda Farrell, Elinor van Hill, Sarah Corry, Elise McDermott, Julia Mulligan, Caitlin Crowe, Luighneach Murnaghan.

Referee: Jason Craughwell.