Ulster produced stellar final-quarter display to overcome 14-point deficit and earn draw with Connacht

Daire Walsh

Munster moved to the summit of the Women’s Interprovincial Championship table with a magnificent 32-21 triumph over Leinster at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Saturday.

As 29-22 winners at the expense of Ulster in the same venue seven days earlier, Fiona Hayes’ charges have now opened up a five-point gap over Leinster in advance of next weekend’s third round of fixtures in this interpros series.

A member of the Ireland under-20 women’s team that competed in a Six Nations Summer Series in Italy last month – under the watch of her province’s assistant coach Niamh Briggs – hooker Beth Buttimer got on the end of a lineout maul on 12 minutes to propel Munster into an early lead.

There was not any sign of panic within the Leinster ranks, however, and Tania Rosser’s side were in the driving seat just past the first-quarter mark. After she pounced on an overthrow from Buttimer to claim their maiden try in the 16th minute, scrumhalf Ailsa Hughes turned creator for Aoife Dalton’s neat finish over the whitewash.

Even though lock Claire Bennett responded for Munster with a try of her own, a slightly superior return rate off the kicking tee had Leinster 14-12 ahead at the midway point in the tie.

Nonetheless, Munster were well in contention on the resumption and following hot on the heels of Chisom Ugwueru’s second try for her province in as many games, the home team were awarded a penalty try on 53 minutes.

This suddenly propelled them into a 24-14 advantage and despite Leah Tarpey’s converted score offering Leinster a fighting chance in the closing stages of the game, Alana McInerney wrapped up a bonus point success for Munster with her fourth try of this year’s competition in the 78th-minute.

Earlier at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, Ulster produced a stellar final-quarter display to overcome a 14-point deficit and earn a draw with Connacht at the end of an entertaining clash.

Despite Connacht’s Ireland international fullback Meabh Deely racing away for a 23rd minute try, penalties either side of this effort from Abby Moyles had Ulster three points ahead deep into the opening half of the action. Yet Connacht flanker Faith Oviawe was eager to impress after grabbing a brace of tries as a replacement in the western province’s 38-19 defeat to Leinster in the opening round and her converted score had the visitors 10-6 in front at the interval.

Laoise McGonagle and Ulster winger Lucy Thompson proceeded to trade tries on the resumption, before Connacht laid down a marker by registering 10 points without reply during the third-quarter. Having secured her second try of the proceedings in typically clinical fashion, the excellent Deely added a conversion and a penalty to leave Connacht within reach of their first victory of the campaign.

However, Ulster gave themselves a fighting chance when India Daley powered over under the posts for a try on 73 minutes. Vicky Irwin supplied the bonuses to this five-pointer and did likewise for Stacey Sloan’s powerful finish two minutes from time to earn the northern province a hard-earned 25-25 draw.

Munster overcome spirited challenge from Ulster to win 29-22, while Leinster beat Connacht 38-19

Daire Walsh

Defending champions Leinster and Munster recorded home wins over Connacht and Ulster respectively earlier today as the new Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship got up and running amid the Irish sunshine.

While Leinster eventually got their hands on the silverware, last season’s Interpros began with the eastern province falling to a surprise defeat against Connacht at the Sportsground in Galway. There was to be no repeat of that result on this occasion, however, as Tania Rosser’s charges produced a strong attacking display in front of 2,462 spectators at Energia Park and ultimately claimed a 38-19 victory.

Having initially broken the deadlock in the Donnybrook venue with a 10th-minute try from Ella Roberts, Leinster enhanced their cushion with additional converted scores courtesy of Katie Whelan and Aoife Dalton.

Although Connacht finally got under way with a try from replacement Faith Oviawe on 31 minutes, Emma Tilly got over in the closing moments of the first half to ensure Leinster brought a commanding 26-7 buffer into the dressingrooms at the break.

There was just over two minutes gone on the clock in the second period when Caoimhe Molloy joined her fellow Wexford native Whelan in the try-scoring stakes and with Nikki Caughey contributing her fourth conversion of the action, Leinster had moved into an unassailable 26-point lead.

Whelan got through for her second try before the tie reached a conclusion, but Connacht managed to gain some solace either side of this effort. Supplementing an earlier try from Laoise McGonagle off a Nicole Fowley crossfield kick, Oviawe doubled her own tally by crossing over in the final minute of the proceedings.

At Virgin Media Park in Cork, Alana McInerney bagged a hat-trick of first half tries to help Munster overcome a spirited challenge from Ulster on a final scoreline of 29-22.

McInerney had pounced on a loose ball in the seventh-minute to race away for a breakthrough try and after Munster captain Chloe Pearse drove over the whitewash in clinical style, the dynamic left-winger followed up with her second of the game just shy of the first-quarter mark.

Ulster eventually opened their account when Tara O’Neill profited from excellent approach work by Ireland international Brittany Hogan to touch down on her Ulster senior debut, but despite being forced off with an injury before the opening period ended, McInerney had claimed her third try on 34 minutes to propel the hosts towards a 22-5 interval advantage.

Yet Ulster (for whom Kathryn Dane was making her first competitive appearance since suffering a brain haemorrhage in November 2022) subsequently gave themselves a fighting chance after hooker India Daley bagged a converted try just five minutes into the second half.

Even though Munster reinforced their authority with a superb solo try from Chisom Ugwueru on 53 minutes, a determined Ulster responded once more through a Lucy Thompson five-pointer inside the final-quarter.

A late try from the outstanding Hogan raised the possibility of a spectacular comeback triumph for the northern province, but Munster ultimately held out to claim the spoils.