Record-Breaking Women And O’Donoghue Stars For 20s

It was a great weekend for Munster players in representative action as the Irish Women and U20s secured big wins over Scotland.

Five Munster players featured as the Ireland Women's team ran in 11 tries to make a record-breaking start to their Six Nations title defence, as they hammered Scotland 59-0 on Friday night.

There were another five Munster players involved with the Irish U-20s as they powered past Scotland in their opening Six Nations match with man-of-the-match Jack O’Donoghue touching down twice in a 34-7 win.

Tralee’s Siobhan Fleming and Highfield’s Heather O’Brien started for the Irish Women with the UL Bohemians trio of Fiona Hayes, Gill Bourke and Niamh Briggs making an impact off the bench.

O’Brien touched down after 20 minutes in the girls in green's biggest ever international win, eclipsing a 55-0 defeat of Japan from November 2004.

The Philip Doyle-coached side led 32-0 at the break and kept their foot on the pedal to run in five more tries after the break.

The record-breaking win gives the Ireland Women top spot in the Six Nations Championship with France in second place after their win over England. Italy are third after the first round thanks to their 13-12 win in Wales.

Cork Con duo Max Abbott and Rory Burke started in the front-row for the Ireland U-20s alongside UL Bohemians number 8 Jack O’Donoghue in a 27-point win over Scotland at a rain-soaked Dubarry Park.

Young Munster centre Dan Goggin and Bruff scrum-half Jack Cullen both contributed off the bench in a dominant performance.

O'Donoghue injured himself in the act of scoring his second try and had to be replaced after 58 minutes.

The other results in the U20 6 Nations mirrored the senior sides as Wales defeated Italy with France beating England with Ireland leading the Championship on points difference.

Ireland Women are back in action at Ashbourne RFC next Friday at 7:30pm as they host Wales.

The U-20s play Wales on the same night with a 7:35pm kick-off at Dubarry Park.