Perfect Start To Title Defence For Munster

The Munster Women’s team, sponsored by Keanes jewellers, made an impressive start to their Interprovincial title defence with a 16-3 win away to Ulster on Saturday afternoon.

Highfield prop Leah Lyons touched down in the first half with her clubmate Ellen Murphy kicking a penalty to make it 8-3 to the visitors at the interval.

The game was in the balance until the final minutes when replacement Edel Murphy (UL Bohemians) kicked a second Munster penalty to seal the win with UL Bohs winger Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird putting a gloss on the scoreline with a late try.

For the majority of the game there was very little between the sides and it took 24 minutes for the opening score of the game. Munster shifted the ball well from right to left and after several phases Lyons bundled over from close range.

10 minutes later, a Claire McLaughlin break saw Ulster win a penalty 25 metres out, which Jemma Jackson calmly converted. It looked as though Ulster would go in at half-time just two points in arrears but Murphy's penalty put Munster 8-3 ahead at the break.

Ulster started the second half brightly and while the hosts looked threatening throughout, they were unable to transfer the pressure to points.

At 8-3 the next score was vital as the clocked ticked towards 80 minutes and it was Munster who moved further in front through Murphy's penalty with five minutes to go. With time running out, a cruel bounce deceived the Ulster cover to allow Munster's Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird to run in a try in the right corner on what proved to be the final play of the game.

In the other Interprovincial game of the day, Connacht recorded an 8-5 victory over Leinster in Tuam.

Next up for Munster is a home tie against Connacht in Irish Independent Park next Saturday, December 10, at 2.30pm.

Munster: Aine Staunton; Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Niamh Kavanagh, Nicola Scully, Eimear Considine; Valerie Power, Ellen Murphy; Fiona Reidy, Gill Bourke, Leah Lyons; Chloe Pearse, Orlaith Buckley; Siobhan Fleming (C), Anna Caplice, Heather O'Brien.
Replacements: Zoe Grattage, Fiona Hayes, Nuala O Connor, Sara Hartigan, Christine Arthurs, Mona Fehily, Edel Murphy, Laura Sheehan.

Ulster: Maeve Liston; Peita McAlister, Eliza Downey, Claire McLaughlin, Amy Davis; Jemma Jackson, Kathryn Dane; Ilse Van Staden, Lesley Megarity, Sorcha Mac Laimhin; Naomi McCullagh, Hannah Beattie; Storm Cobain, Gemma McCutcheon (C), Lauren Maginnes.
Replacements: Brigid Collins, Shauna Martin, Beth Cregan, Aishling O'Connell, Vicky Irwin, Emma Jordan, Leah McGoldrick, Imogen Porter.