Women out to get back on track in Garryowen
THE Munster women’s team, sponsored by Keane’s jewellers, are back in interprovincial action tomorrow as Ulster visit Garryowen FC in their second clash of the campaign (3pm).
It was a tough start to the interpro campaign last weekend as Laura Guest’s side fell to a narrow defeat to Connacht at the Sportsground.
Munster led 10-0 at the interval thanks to a Laura O’Mahony try after 13 minutes with Edel Murphy landing the conversion and a penalty.
Niamh Kavanagh, Chloe Pearse, Ciara Griffin, Rachel Allen and Aine Staunton caught the eye early on for the visitors as Guest’s charges were well positioned at the interval.
Connacht were much improved when they emerged for the final 40 minutes and scored 19 unanswered points by the 72nd minute.
Edel McMahon’s smart tap penalty led to Connacht’s first try before Alison Miller, Laura Feely and the ever-present Ciara O’Connor combined for Connacht’s second after 67 minutes.
Lock Amelie Roux’s bullocking twist from two metres out notched up the hosts’ third.
Munster tried hard to come back into the game and UL Bohemians skipper Fiona Hayes scored a try from a lineout maul but the conversion was missed by Ellen Murphy and there was no denying Connacht in the dying embers of the game.
Stand-out performers for Munster were Staunton, who was superb in both attack and defence, along with try scorer Hayes in the forwards who put in amazing shift, while Niamh Kavanagh and Gillian Bourke also stood out, but it was Connacht’s day.