Kerry quintet wear Munster red against Barbarians

IT was a historic occasion for the Munster women’s team when they took on the Barbarians for the very first time in the rain at Thomond Park on Friday night.

Kerry was well represented on the Munster side by Siobhan Fleming of Tralee RFC, captaining the team. Fleming was joined by Kerry natives Christine Arthurs, Edel Murphy, Nuala O’Connor and Ciara Griffin. Although Munster suffered a 19-0 defeat, Fleming was delighted to have the chance to be the first team to take on the recently formed Barbarians. “It was a very historic occasion really. We enjoyed it down to the ground. The result didn’t matter, we were told to go out and enjoy ourselves, and we did,” Fleming, a Six Nations winner with Ireland, said. “To play for Munster and to represent your province is something special and unique and it’s fantastic to have so many girls from Kerry involved. We had two separate teams in the first half and the second half and everyone acquitted themselves quite well. It was a chance for the newer girls to go out and to be a part of that experience.”

With the inter-provincial championship kicking off in December, Fleming is excited about Munster’s chances of winning the competition. “We have a very exciting December ahead. We are away to Connacht on December 2 and then we have Ulster at home in Garryowen on December 9. We have a squad of 30, a lot of girls put their hands up last night for the jersey so it’s going to be tough for the management to whittle the squad down to 23, not to mind 15. It’s all very positive for the inter pros though, and we will give it our best shot.”

FIXTURES

Saturday, November 18 Munster U-15 Girls Conference C Listowel v Shannon, 12pm Tralee v Abbeyfeale, 12pm Munster U-18 Girls Conference C Listowel v Shannon Girls, 12pm Sunday, November 19 Munster Junior League Division 2 Castleisland v Crosshaven, 2.30 2017/18 IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship

Round 1

Connacht v Munster, The Spor tsground, Saturday, December 2, 2.30pm

Ulster v Leinster, Dromore RFC, Sunday, December 3, 2pm

Round 2

Leinster v Connacht, Donnybrook, Saturday, December 9, 5pm

Munster v Ulster, Garryowen FC, Saturday, December 9, 3pm

Round 3

Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, Saturday, December 16, 2.30pm

Ulster v Connacht, Belfast Harlequins RFC, Saturday, December 16, 3pm