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Joy Neville: capped 70 times for Ireland before turning her hand to refereeing (file photo). Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Joy Neville made her latest piece of Irish rugby history yesterday

Grand Slam winner becomes the first woman to referee a UBL Division 1A fixture.

CORK CON’S WIN over Clontarf on Saturday afternoon was unremarkable in most respects — but it is a game which will go down in the Irish rugby history books.

Irish Grand Slam winner turned referee Joy Neville marked another milestone at Temple Hill as she became the first woman to take charge of an Ulster Bank League Division 1A game.

Limerick’s Neville, who captained Ireland and made 70 appearances before her retirement in 2013, already broke new ground this season when she was named assistant referee for the European Challenge Cup game between Bath and Bristol last season, making her the first female official in European rugby.

Yesterday’s game largely passed off without incident as Cork Con came from behind to win 24-17 and record their fourth straight win in Division 1A.

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    Mute Dublin Dweller
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    Nov 10th 2014, 10:14 AM

    He definitely swung a club, and quite a number of times, to win this.

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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Nov 10th 2014, 8:05 AM

    Lay off the St Tropez Rory.

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    Mute neeneee
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    Nov 10th 2014, 8:36 AM

    Jealousy is an awful thing

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    Mute Keaneland
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    Nov 10th 2014, 12:15 PM

    So is umpa lumpa paint on faces

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    Mute Trevor Weafer
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    Nov 10th 2014, 12:28 PM

    Lay off your attempts at being witty. It’s absolutely shite.

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    Mute Paul O'Shaughnessy
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    Nov 10th 2014, 9:20 PM

    Bless his little pixie head :-)

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