McDermott gets second Irish cap

AOIFE McDermott got her second start and also her second cap for Ireland on Sunday as they took on Scotland in the Six Nations in Donnybrook.

The 27-year-old second row had an impressive debut in their victory over Wales two weeks previous and Head Coach Adam Griggs was keen to keep the former Irish basketball star on his starting side.

It was a narrow defeat for the hosts after Sunday’s encounter with large crowds coming out to cheer on the ladies in green.

Scotland had not defeated Ireland in 12 years and the Scots arrived for Sunday’s game with a losing bonus point after 3 rounds.

Griggs’ Ireland were going into this game having won two in a row with impressive victories over Italy and Wales.

The first half was an extremely low scoring affair with Scotland ahead by 3-0 at the break with Helen Nelson converting a penalty for the visitors.

It was Nelson who scored the first try of the match shortly after the resumption. From here Ireland began to settle and were dominating on the attack and were awarded a penalty try on 50 minutes.

When Scotland were reduced to 14 it looked like Ireland could claim the win. However Chloe Rollie got Scotland’s second try which was converted before Ireland got their second through Paula Fitzgerald. The winner didn’t come for the hosts who now play England this Friday in Coventry.

Sligo RFC’s own Thérèse Cosgrove and Anne O’Toole were awarded their international caps during the Ireland v Scotland team dinner last Sunday, following Ireland’s final home match of the Women’s Six Nations campaign at Donnybrook.

Thérèse was first capped in 1996 and Anne in 1999. It was a fantastic day of recognition for past players, including the very first women’s team of 1993 and recognised the efforts of those players in bringing Irish women’s rugby to where it is today.