Munster women's side makes it two-from-two in interprovincial series

HOLDERS Munster advanced to next month’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final after running eight tries in easing past Connacht in a 46-7 victory at Musgrave Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Niamh Briggs’ coached Munster side faced into the wind in the first half but racked up four tries to lead 24-7 at the interval.

Maeve Óg O’Leary scored the hosts’ opening try and had a hand in captain Dorothy Wall’s score, and her subsequent sin-binning was sandwiched by five-pointers from influential pair Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and Kate Flannery.

Connacht, who had high hopes of building on last week’s stirring defeat of Leinster, lost hooker Lily Brady to a yellow card, and their challenge petered out as the table toppers piled on the points.

Vodafone player-of-the-match Nic a Bháird notched a second try and Alana McInerney, Limerick winger Aoife Doyle and Fiona Reidy also crossed the whitewash.

The result means Munster, with two bonus point wins, are guaranteed to finish in the top two and are through to the final with one round still to go.

Munster face an away date with Leinster in next Saturday‘s third round, with the Blues (6 points) and Connacht (4 points) both in contention for a spot in the decider.

MUNSTER: Eimear Considine; Aoife Doyle, Alana McInerney, Stephanie Nunan, Stephanie Carroll; Kate Flannery, Muirne Wall; Róisín Ormond, Ciara Farrell, Fiona Reidy, Dorothy Wall (capt), Clodagh O’Halloran, Chloe Pearse, Maeve Óg O’Leary, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird. Replacements used: Eilís Cahill for Reidy (33 mins), Beth Buttimer for Farrell, Claire Bennett for D Wall (both 59), Abbie Salter-Townshend for M Wall (61), Jane Clohessy for Nic a Bháird, Ellen Boylan for McInerney (both 62), Brianna Heylmann for O’Leary, Heather Kennedy for Carroll, Reidy for Ormond (all 65), McInerney for Nunan (69).

CONNACHT: Méabh Deely; Ava Ryder, Clara Barrett, Kayla Waldron, Laoise McGonagle; Nicole Fowley (capt), Olivia Haverty; Grainne O’Loughlin, Lily Brady, Shannon Heapes, Sonia McDermott, Faith Oviawe, Orla Fenton, Karly Tierney, Shannon Touhey. Replacements used: Stacy Hanley for Fenton (40-47 mins), Niamh O’Grady for O’Loughlin (half-time), Ivana Kiripati for Oviawe (49), Orla Dixon for McGonagle (51), Maria Kelleher for Waldron (53), Dearbhla Canty for Heapes (65), Cliodhna O’Sullivan for Fowley (68), Hanley for Brady, Mollie Starr for McDermott (both 69), McDermott for Fenton (77).

REGEREE: Christopher Lough (IRFU)