Munster Women Open Interpro Campaign With Victory Over Ulster
17th August 2019 By The Editor
Munster's Chloe Pearse scored a brace.
Munster Women, sponsored by Keane’s jewellers, opened their 2019 Interprovincial campaign with a six-try 38-12 win over Ulster at Irish Independent Park today.
Co-captain Chloe Pearse bagged a brace while Laura O’Mahony, Clodagh O’Halloran, Kate Sheehan and Niamh Kavanagh all touched down to record a well-deserved victory.
It was Ulster who took an early lead through Maeve Liston, the centre finding space through the middle to race clear before Jemma Jackson converted.
Minutes later, Laura Guest’s side fought back with a score from winger Laura O’Mahony following slick hands from the backs to find space out wide in the 14th minute.
A half break from debutant Ciara O’Halloran set the platform for Rachel Allen and Pearse to come close before second row Clodagh O’Halloran barged over left of the posts.
Niamh Briggs converted in the 25th minute with the home side starting to gain momentum.
An opportunity from the line out resulted in a driving maul metres out and it was hooker Kate Sheehan who made her way over before Briggs added the extras to extend Munster’s lead.
Ulster responded in the dying moments of the half with their second try courtesy of Fiona Tuite in the right corner to go within a score of the hosts.
Half-time | Munster Women 19-12 Ulster Women
After the interval, impressive defensive efforts prevented scoring opportunities for either side.
The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute when Pearse scored her first from close range left of the posts.
A fantastic interchange between Briggs and replacement Nicole Cronin in midfield had the visitors stretched but a loose ball handed possession back to Ulster.
Co-captain Eimear Considine broke through the middle, showing terrific pace to beat several defenders before an injury to Briggs brought a stop to play in the closing stages.
With the experienced Briggs having now left the field, replacement Niamh Kavanagh stepped up to push Munster further in front.
Allen provided the deft pass to Kavanagh who powered through the gap and over the line before Allen converted.
Fiona Hayes then offloaded to replacement Edel Murphy who grounded the ball in the right corner but a foot was deemed in touch.
Deep into injury time, Munster found themselves in the opposition 22 and after several phases it was Pearse who secured her second of the match and Munster’s sixth with Allen adding the conversion.
Full-time | Munster Women 38-12 Ulster Women
Munster Women: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian); Laura O’Mahony (UL Bohemian), Enya Breen (UL Bohemian), Claire Keohane (Railway Union), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian) (C); Rachel Allen (UL Bohemian), Christine Coffey (Thurles); Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian), Kate Sheehan (UL Bohemian), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian); Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian), Ciara O’Halloran (UL Bohemian); Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian) (C), Grainne Fennelly (Thurles), Sarah Quin (UL Bohemian).
Replacements: Edel Murphy (UL Bohemian), Sarah O’Gorman (UL Bohemian), Roisin Ormond (Ballincollig), Sarah Garrett (UL Bohemian), Dorothy Wall (Fethard & District), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemian), Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemian).
Referee: John Flynn (MAR)
Laura Guest’s side will face Connacht next Saturday, 24 August, in their second round fixture at The Sportsground before returning to Irish Independent Park on Saturday 31 August to meet Leinster in round three.
