Victory For Munster Women In Galway

The Munster Women, sponsored by Keanes Jewellers, secured an 8-3 win over Connacht last Saturday as they prepare to face Ulster next week-end in Thomond Park.

Match report courtesy of:- Eileesh Buckley

Connacht Women 3 – 8 Munster Women

Munster Women's inter-provincial title defense got underway last Saturday in changeable conditions at the Galway Sportsground.

The match kicked off with Munster immediately on the attack, pushing the Connacht defense to respond under pressure. The initial attack led to the first scrum of the game give to Munster. As has been the case for the past few seasons the Munster pack were dominant on their put-in.

However Munster did not have it all their own way as Connacht repeatedly forced turn-over penalties in the loose.

By the eight minute of play Munster earned their first penalty scoring opportunity and captain Niamh Briggs duly converted to put the southern province on the scoreboard, 0-3.

Connacht soon earned a penalty opportunity of their own but opted for a tap and go rather than kick to touch or for points. They then earned a further penalty due to a ruck infringement from Munster winger Laura O'Mahony, this time the tactial decision was to opt for a lineout.

The Connacht lineout was immediately shaky as the ball was thrown over all the jumpers, and was ruled not-straight by referee Sue Carty. The lineout set-piece proved promblematic throughout the match for Connacht as Munster No. 8 Heather O'Brien quickly organised her pack to take advantage of Connacht misfires.

A rare mistake from Briggs when clearing the Munster lines led to a profitable attack for Connacht as her kick failed to find touch and fell into the arms of waiting full-back Aine Staunton.

Staunton immediately went on the attack and setup her teammates for their first rolling maul, earning a kickable penalty opportunity which was duly converted by out-half Nicola Fowley bringing the scoreline level at 3-3.
The restart from Briggs bounced away from the waiting Connacht players and found touch at the 22, and her teammates rapid chase ensured there was no opportunity for a quick line-out.

The Connacht lineout then fell prey to a Munster interception in the air, and led to a further penalty for Munster which was kicked to touch for a Munster lineout.

Connacht's pack made up for the mistake on their own line-out to steal the Munster delivery, in the following phases another ruck infringement by Munster earned Connacht the chance to clear their lines but they instead opted for another tap and go.

A fumble from Connacht offered the Munster pack another scrum platform, but despite their dominance in this set piece the phases immediately after were disrupted by Connacht's industrious backs.

The Connacht team's best asset throughout the game was their speed to the breakdown and their ability to turn-over ruck-ball regularly. Munster achieved turn-overs of their own to keep the game in a stale-mate for much of the half.

The referee was kept busy penalising ruck infringements and accidental high-tackles with the resulting penalties usually leading to line-outs which were dominated by Munster regardless of which team had the throw-in.

However Munster's frailties in the loose kept Connacht in the game with regular turn-overs.

Shortly after an injury stoppage in the thirty-second minute, Munster finally strung together a series of set pieces leading to a lineout just five meters from the try-line.

For this lineout the Munster pack kept the ball tight and constructed a powerful rolling maul of their own to get the only try of the game just as the first half ended.

Munster hooker Amy Desmond made sure of her handling and the route to the try line to gain the plaudits of her teammates as just reward for the efforts of the Munster pack.

The conversion attempt was unsuccessful which left the scores 3 – 8 at half-time.

The second half started with an immediate collision which had one of the Connacht players momentarily stunned requiring a stoppage in play as she was assessed by the medics.

Within a few minutes the rain arrived and the slippery conditions led to errors from both teams, this combined with a constant flow of substitutes meant the second half was quite stop-start.

Munster continued to dominate the line-outs but as the substitutions rolled through Connacht gained parity in the scrums, however continuing errors in the loose by both sides meant the second half was scoreless.

Apart from a late stoppage to cautiously untangle Munster captain Niamh Briggs from her Ireland teammate Sene Naoupu there was little other drama in the half.

Briggs played the remainder of the half after an on-pitch assessment by the medics of both Munster and
Connacht, leading her team to a win in their opening fixture for this year's women's inter-provincial series.

Munster's next game is against Ulster in Thomond Park at 2:30pm on Saturday August 29th.

Munster XV: Valerie Power (Shannon); Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Highfield), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohs), Nicola Scully (Highfield), Laura O'Mahony (Tralee); Niamh Briggs (UL Bohs), Ellen Murphy (Highfield); Fiona Reidy (UL Bohs), Amy Desmond (Highfield), Leah Lyon (Highfield); Gerda Coyne (Highfield), Elaine Anthony (Highfield); Siobhán Fleming (Tralee), Ciara Griffin (Tralee), Heather O'Brien (Highfield). Replacements: Zoe Grattage (Highfield), Maura Collins (Abbeyfeale), Niamh English (Highfield), Róisín Ormond (Highfield), Chloe Pearse (Shannon), Mona Fehily (Highfield), Jayne Pennefather (Highfield), Edel Murphy (UL Bohs).

Munster Women's Management Team

Head Coach: Wayne Falvey
Team Manager: Dara O'Tuama
Assistant Coach: Dave Sweeney
Strength & Conditioning: Kieran O'Byrne

Munster Interprovincial Fixtures

Munster v Ulster, Saturday, 29th August, Thomond Park Stadium, Kick-off 2.30pm
Munster v Leinster, Saturday, 5th September, Thomond Park Stadium, Kick-off 2.30pm