Win For Munster U19 Girls

An impressive performance from the Munster U19 women saw them claim a 59-0 victory over Canadian touring side St. Annes.

The opening try came after 10 minutes from UL Bohs hooker Claire Lewis and was converted by out half Nicole Cronin. The girls used the ideal weather conditions to play a great offloading game in both the forwards and backs. The second try of the match came from Nicole Cronin who showed great evasive skills to beat 3 players having been put into space by Fermoy's Louise Buttimer. Cronin slotted the converstion between the post without effort. St. Annes upped their game and began to apply pressure to the Munster defence, however, following a turnover ball on the half way line, Munsters Elaine Anthony who impressed throughout the game crashed over for a try which was converted once again by Cronin. With 5 minutes to go in the first half, Louise Casey came on for Orlagh Scanlon and immediately made her intentions clear and creating space to put Nicole Cronin through for her second try of the game. Moments before the half time whistle, St. Annes first centre recieved a yellow card following a high tackle on the half way line. The Munster girls went in at half time leading 26-0.

With St. Annes starting the second half with 14 players, Munster capitalised and continued to play an offloading game creating an overlap for winger Liz Burke who did well to out run the opposition defence and score in the corner. St. Annes once again felt the loss of their sin binned player when Shannon's Nicole Cronin recieved the ball on the loop from Casey and went over the line for her third try of the evening. Munster's dominance continued throughout the second half with captain Valerie Mitchell and Crosshavens Hollie Pennefather doing well in tight play and at ruck time. Three more tries in the second half from Claire O' Shea, Bridget Cahill and Valerie Mitchell, all converted saw Munster leave CIT with a convincing 59-0 win.

Munster U19: Bridget Cahill (Abbeyfeale), Liz Burke (Clanwilliam), Louise Buttimer (Fermoy/UCC), Orlagh Scanlon (St. Marys), Grace Ni Arrachtain (Chorca Dhuibhne), Nicole Cronin (Shannon, Kelly Dwyer (Thurles), Chloe Keogh (Shannon), Claire Lewis (UL Bohemians), Louise Fitzgerald (Fermoy), Shauna Stapleton (Thurles), Hollie Pennefather (Crosshaven), Hannah Lane (Mallow), Elaine Anthony (Waterford City), Valerie Mitchell, Captain (Thurles) Replacements: Claire O' Shea (St. Marys), Nicola Sweeney (Thurles), Coleen Ryan (Clanwilliam), Laura Magee (Crosshaven), Mona Feehily (Highfield), Jill O' Donnell (Mallow), Louise Casey (Galbally)