Munster Women Set-Up Interpro Title Decider

Munster Women recorded a 40-20 victory over their Ulster counterparts at Portadown RFC over the weekend to set-up a winner-takes-all encounter with Leinster at Energia Park this Saturday, 15 September (kick-off 7.30pm).

The well-drilled Munster Women ensured the defence of their Interprovincial title will go right down to the wire after they reeled off six tries to defeat hosts Ulster by 20 points.

Eimear Considine and co-captain Chloe Pearse both continued their try-scoring form from last week’s 24-7 triumph over Connacht in Cork.

Winger Considine marked her first start of the tournament with a well-taken try in the corner after 10 minutes. Niamh Briggs converted and the momentum was behind Munster after number 8, Pearse, crossed to make it 12-0.

However, scores from Vicky Irwin and Emma Jordan ignited Ulster’s challenge by the 25-minute mark.

Munster squeezed in their third try just before half-time. The Munster forwards piled on the pressure close to the line, before lock Roisin Ormond forced her way over.

Two minutes after the restart, Pearse scored again from the back of Munster’s muscular scrum to chalk up the bonus point.

Nicole Cronin then sniped over from a five-metre scrum with Briggs knocking over both conversions.

Briggs, being the recipient of a well-timed offload from Considine, went over after puncturing the home defence in the 58th minute. Ulster then replied with a try out wide from Fiona Tuite.

Claire McLaughlin put her name to Ulster’s bonus point try, the centre-turned-flanker powering over despite the best efforts of Considine and replacement Claire Keohane.

Munster Women: Laura O’Mahony (UL Bohemian); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian), Enya Breen (Bantry Bay), Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian), Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemian); Rachel Allen-Connolly (UL Bohemian), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian); Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian) (co-capt), Kate Sheehan (UL Bohemian), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian), Roisin Ormond (Ballincollig), Siobhan McCarthy (Railway Union), Edel Murphy (UL Bohemian), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian) (co-capt).

Replacements: Andrea Stock (Bantry Bay), Clodagh Cronin (Durham University), Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian), Sarah Quin (Richmond), Aine Staunton (UL Bohemian), Christine Coffey (Thurles), Ciara Scanlan (St. Mary’s), Claire Keohane (UL Bohemian).

Referee: Colm Roche (IRFU)