A winning start for Munster under Fiona Hayes, but Ulster fought back impressively to put two points on the board.
Munster 29 Ulster 22 Alana McInerney’s first-half hat-trick of tries ensured a winning start for Munster under Fiona Hayes, but Ulster fought back impressively in this Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship opener to earn two bonus points.
This was Ireland scrum-half Dane’s first competitive match since suffering a brain haemorrhage in November 2022. Her side had some regrouping to do at half-time, trailing 22-5 with teenage centre Tara O’Neill their only scorer. Nonetheless, McInerney stung them with a seventh-minute intercept try. A Dane pass went loose off Gemma McCamley’s hand, and the Munster winger swooped to break away from Peita McAlister and Sophie Meeke, racing home from over 60 metres out.
Despite that, Houston’s charges were able to keep the pressure on and opened their account, 25 minutes in. Nice hands from prop McCamley had Hogan surging back into the Munster 22, and she popped the ball up off the ground for O’Neill to crash over from close range. Early on the resumption, the bad run of injuries continued, with Ulster suffering this time when Suttonians’ Farrell McCabe went off with her right arm in a makeshift sling.
Flannery’s right boot restored the 17-point buffer for Hayes’ side, and Ulster’s execution was just off at crucial stages. Irwin narrowly missed touch from a penalty, and Munster were able to keep them out of scoring range during a scrappy spell.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Munster look to UL Bohs stars for opening inter-pro against UlsterOut-half Kate Flannery and scrum-half Muirne Wall retain their half-back partnership following their year-long superb showing at the club
Read more »
Ulster name six debutants for Munster gameCooke-based teenager Tara O'Neill will be of particular interest not least as there is a suggestion she is on the brink of being fast-tracked to the international set-up.
Read more »
Remembered from the Principia: a short story by Lisa McInerneySummer Fiction: Griffin had successfully presented the calling-in of another man’s labour as a thing responsible fathers did
Read more »
Crowning final glory proves the sweetest reward for Clare’s dogged years of persistenceAfter several Munster final and All-Ireland semi-final defeats, Banner veterans like Tony Kelly, John Conlon and David McInerney grasped the opportunity to add to their 2013 medals
Read more »
Ulster Bank wipes out customers’ credit card bills as it exits RepublicBank takes a financial hit as it looks to finish shutting down Irish business, with no credit rating damage for cooperating customers
Read more »
Ulster Rugby facing multi-million deficitNewly permanent CEO Hugh McCaughey expects the province to break even by 2027.
Read more »