Munster Women Make Perfect Start

The Munster Women’s side made a superb start to their Interprovincial campaign with a convincing 22-0 win over Ulster in Belfast on Saturday.

Munster, sponsored by Keanes Jewellers, raced into an early 7-0 lead thanks to a try from Irish international Fiona Hayes with Ger Rea adding the conversion.

Winger Ashling Hutchings then scored Munster’s second five-pointer to put Munster 12 points to the good after just 15 minutes.

Winger Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird scored a debut try on the half hour mark to push Wayne Falvey’s side further in front.

Munster's fourth try came early in the second half as lock Gerda Coyne, another debutant, broke free of the defence to score in the corner.

Next up for the Munster Women's team is a trip to Leinster, who beat Connacht 15-8 at the weekend, on Saturday at Ashbourne RFC (ko 2pm).

Munster: Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians); Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (Highfield), Ger Rea (Highfield), Nicola Scully (Highfield), Ashling Hutchings (UL Bohemians); Laura O'Mahony (Tralee), Mona Fehily (Highfield); Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians), Amy Desmond (Highfield), Leah Lyons (Fermoy), Gerda Coyne (Highfield), Elaine Anthony (Highfield), Roisin Ormond (Highfield), Ciara Griffin (Tralee), Laura Guest (Highfield) (Capt).

Replacements: Kate Sheehan (UL Bohemians), Maura Collins (Abbeyfeale), Leah Barbour (UL Bohemians), Maeve Darcy (UL Bohemians), Marie Eviston (UL Bohemians), Ayesha Roche (Tralee), Mollie O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), Michelle Barry (Tralee).

Ulster: Vicky Irwin (Ormskirk); Emma Jordan (Queen's University), Pieta McAlister (Queen's University), Claire McLaughlin (Queen's University), Zoe Templeton (Queen's University); Jemma Jackson (Queen's University), Imogen Porter (Queen's University); Ilse van Staden (Belfast Harlequins), Lesley Megarity (Belfast Harlequins), Nikita Armstrong (Cooke) (Capt), Sorcha Chipperfield (Cooke), Lizzie Ballentine (Cooke), Shirelle Wilson (Cooke), Hannah Kilgore (Cooke), Lauren Maginnes (Queen's University).

Replacements: Shannon Heapes (Finn Valley), Janine Mullan (Queen's University), Sabrina Higgins (Carrick), Laura Johnston (Cooke), Rebecca Smyth (Belfast Harlequins), Noreen Nethercot (Enniskillen), Steffi Clarke (Queen's University), Stacey Sloan (City Of Derry).