Rea Winner As Munster Regain Interpro

The Munster Women’s team, sponsored by Keanes Jewellers, have regained the Interprovincial title after a nail-biting 9-7 win over Connacht at Tralee RFC on Saturday afternoon.

Munster’s Ger Rea showed nerves of steel to slot the winning penalty in the last play of the game as the hosts recovered from a 7-0 half-time deficit.

Connacht dominated the first half but only had a single try to show for their efforts as the Munster defence, who had conceded a grand total of 0 points in their first two games, just about held out.

The defence was breached in the 14^th minute, however, as Connacht manufactured an overlap on the right wing and Jill Draper showed great speed to finish in the corner. Clare Rafferty kicked the very difficult conversion to make it 7-0.

Munster were struggling to gain a foothold in the game but did make inroads into the Connacht ’22’ midway through the half. Laura O’Mahony made a superb break in midfield and found Ashling Hutchings on the right wing but her grubber was collected by Mary Healy and the Connacht lead remained intact.

Lisa McDonagh nearly scored a second try for Connacht after intercepting a pass in midfield but she decided to pass to Emer O’Mahony instead of going herself and Hutchings recovered to save a certain try.

Munster were fired up from the beginning of the second half with Rea making it 7-3 with a penalty on 45 minutes.

It was all Munster now and they nearly crossed when captain Laura Guest, who led from the front, chipped through for Ciara Griffin but the back-row was bundled into touch just as she gathered the ball just short of the line.

Prop Fiona Hayes was next to come close for Munster but she was held up over the line after more pressure.

When the hosts did finally cross the whitewash, Mairéad Kelly’s effort was ruled out for crossing but Munster had already been awarded the advantage and Rea’s second penalty just about crept over to make it a one-point-game.

Munster maintained the pressure but it looked like their chance had gone when Rea’s late penalty from almost 40 metres dropped just left.

But the centre was handed another opportunity at the death after Connacht went in at the side and she made no mistake to seal a remarkable win.

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), Maeve Darcy (UL Bohemians), Elaine Anthony (Highfield), Roisín Ormond (Highfield), Ciara Griffin (Tralee), Laura Guest (Highfield) (Capt.).

Replacements: Kate Sheehan (UL Bohemians), Maura Collins (Abbeyfeale), Leah Barbour (UL Bohemians), Gerda Coyne (Highfield), Maria Eviston (UL Bohemians), Ayesha Roche (Tralee), Mollie O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), Amy O'Callaghan (Highfield).

Connacht: Mairead Coyne (Galwegians); Jill Draper (Tullamore), Lisa McDonagh (Galwegians), Emma Clery (Galwegians), Emer O'Mahony (Tralee); Clare Rafferty (Galwegians), Mary Healy (Galwegians); Laura Feely (Galwegians), Ciara O'Connor (Tralee), Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians) (Capt.), Rita Breen (NUIG), Catriona Cassidy (Portlaoise), Marion Sheridan (Tuam/Galwegians), Heather Cary (Galwegians), Grainne Egan (St. Mary's College).

Replacements: Jean Moore (Portlaoise), Edel Durkin (Tuam), Christine Arthurs (Tralee), Niamh Dempsey (Tralee), Edel McMahon (NUIG/Galwegians), Nicole Fowley (Sligo), Jacqui Mulligan (Sligo), Rhona Julian (NUIG).