Munster kick-off women's interprovincials with victory over Ulster

MUNSTER opened their Vodafone women's interprovincial championship campaign with an impressive 41-14 victory over Ulster at City of Armagh RFC on Saturday afternoon.

Munster had led 17-7 at the end of a tightly-contested first half, with Ella Durkan’s converted try briefly having the hosts ahead in between two Stephanie Carroll five-pointers. Clodagh O’Halloran crossed in the 36th minute to extend the visitors’ advantage.

The closing 40 minutes saw Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, a real game breaker during last season’s tournament, have the desired impact off the bench for seven-try Munster. They are back at Musgrave Park next Saturday to play Connacht, while Ulster take on Leinster at Energia Park.

ULSTER: Maeve Liston; Niamh Marley, Kelly McCormill, Ella Durkan, Megan Edwards; Abby Moyles, Laura Cairns; Sadhbh McGrath, Beth Cregan (capt), Gemma McCamley, Fiona Tuite, Keelin Brady, Chloe Donnan, Maebh Clenaghan, Sophie Barrett. Replacements used: Taryn Schutzler for Donnan (5 mins), Brenda Barr for Schutzler, Peita McAlister for Edwards, Stacey Sloan for Barrett (all 48), Sarah Roberts for McCamley, Aishling O’Connell for McGrath (both 61), Amber Redmond for Cairns (66), Toni MacCartney for Durkan (74).

MUNSTER: Aoife Corey; Aoife Doyle, Alana McInerney, Stephanie Nunan, Stephanie Carroll; Kate Flannery, Muirne Wall; Roisin Ormond, Ciara Farrell, Fiona Reidy, Gillian Coombes, Clodagh O’Halloran, Dorothy Wall (capt), Maeve Óg O’Leary, Chloe Pearse. Replacements used: Deirbhile Nic a Bháird for Farrell (half-time), Claire Bennett for Coombes (44 mins), Farrell for Reidy (51), Ellen Boylan for Doyle (58), Eilis Cahill for Ormond, Jane Clohessy for O’Halloran (both 61), Abbie Salter-Townshend for M Wall, Brianna Heylmann for D Wall (both 72), Aoife O’Shaughnessy for Nunan (77).

REFEREE: Peter McClure (IRFU)