Clinical UL-Bohemian celebrate impressive Energia All-Ireland Cup final success

CLINICAL UL-Bohemians RFC produced a highly impressive display to dethrone Railway Union and win their first Energia All-Ireland Women’s Cup title since 2019 on a 34-12 scoreline at Coolmine RFC on Saturday.

UL-Bohs' racked up five tries in all in an impressive win with Rachel Allen helping herself to a brace, while Eva McCormack, Laoise McGonagle and Clara Barrett also dotted down. Éabha Nic Dhonnacha added two conversions and a penalty, while Rachel Allen kicked a conversion for the Red, Red Robins.

Railway went into half-time leading 12-5 at Dundalk RFC thanks to tries from Aoife Doyle and Rhiann Heery. However, UL Bohs, who included former Ireland captain Ciara (Griffin) O’Sullivan at number 8, came out all guns blazing in the second half.

Adding to McCormack’s earlier try, replacement McGonagle, Allen (2), and Barrett all touched down as Fiona Hayes’ side impressively scored 29 unanswered points to run out 22-point winners.

UL-Bohs also came out the right side of a tight league game between the teams earlier in the season. A Kate Flannery penalty proved the difference in a 10-7 home victory. 

SCORERS: Railway Union: Tries: Aoife Doyle, Rhiann Heery; Con: Dani Franada
UL Bohemian: Tries: Eva McCormack, Laoise McGonagle, Rachel Allen 2, Clara Barrett; Cons: Rachel Allen, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha 2; Pen: Éabha Nic Dhonnacha.

RAILWAY UNION: Aoife Doyle, Rhiann Heery, Niamh Byrne (capt), Maddy Aberg, Alaïs Diebold; Dani Franada, Claire Keohane; Gráinne O’Loughlin, Meabh Keegan, Kirstie Stevenson, Salome Trauth, Patricia Doyle, Katie O’Dwyer, Deirdre Roberts, Lindsay Peat. Replacements: Michelle Nadine, Rebecca Draper, Lauren Cooper, Alice Mills-Hicks, Isobel Clerk, Sarah Browne.

UL-BOHEMIAN: Clara Barrett; Aoibhe O’Flynn, Stephanie Nunan, Rachel Allen, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha; Aoife O’Shaughnessy, Muirne Wall; Chloe Pearse (capt), Ciara O’Dwyer, Fiona Reidy, Ciara Monahan, Sarah Garrett, Eva McCormack, Clodagh O’Halloran, Ciara (Griffin) O’Sullivan. Replacements: Nicola Sweeney, Niamh Brodie, Emma Daly, Karly Tierney, Aisling Stock, Rebecca Bradshaw, Nina Mathastein, Laoise McGonagle.