HANNAH TYRRELL SAID Ireland felt like they had put a long six months behind them with their impressive 45-0 defeat of Wales in Cardiff today.
Despite some concerns Ireland might be a little match rusty given the six-month gap since their last competitive outing, Adam Griggs’ side blew Wales away with a blistering first-half display, wrapping up the bonus point before half-time with a dominant performance full of attacking intent.
Ireland fell off the pace in an error-ridden second half but scored two late tries to put further gloss on the scoreboard ahead of next weekend’s highly-anticipated meeting with France in Donnybrook.
And out-half Tyrrell, who kicked five conversions and scored a last-minute try, said the win more than made up for her postponed wedding, which was pushed back due to Covid regulations.
“I was supposed to get married (on Friday), but unfortunately Covid put an end to that and we pushed it out a little bit, but I’m out here doing what I love with my teammates. What else could I ask for?,” Tyrrell told RTÉ.
HIGHLIGHTS: Ireland put in a superb performance in Wales, with Beibhinn Parsons, Eimear Considine and Player of the Match Hannah Tyrell among the standout performers.#WomensSixNations pic.twitter.com/gcNCrujC1U
— Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 10, 2021
“We waited a long time to play this game, it’s been a long six months for us, working hard, so it’s nice to reap the rewards and get a few points on the board.
“We were raring to go to be honest, it was a long wait to play, and I think we thankfully got the nerves out in the first few minutes. Happy out.”
Captain Ciara Griffin said Ireland will now head into next Saturday’s meeting with France – who thumped Wales 53-0 last weekend – full of confidence.
“Completely. We saw there, we got three new caps, extra depth in the squad, really good phases put together, we can’t wait for the French,” Griffin said.
“It was a good team performance there, we came out here wanting to win and get points, and to put that many tries and that many phases together, that’s a positive for us. So we’re happy with that.
“You want to play Test rugby, you want to play in the green jersey, so we’ll relish every chance we get.”
Griffin also praised the role of 19-year-old superstar Beibhinn Parsons, who continued her phenomenal rise with a brace of first-half tries, including a wonderful solo effort.
“Beibhinn’s brilliant. She’s an old head on young shoulders. A very good attitude and she works hard, you can see that.”
Glad to see both managers talking sense. I know Antrim got to the final of the U21 few years back but in general ulster teams got a hiding in all ireland semi finals.
Saturday’s mismatch was no Benifit to anyone. Ok as the Derry manager said his players want to play in Thurles etc. They can’t have enjoyed the Thurles experience on Saturday.
Try an open draw as Eddie said, and a proper B grade competition with ulster trans included with the final on the same day as the A final.
@Diarmuid: there already is a b competition and the final is played before the a final
@Noel Kelly: i realise that Noel but as the Derry manager said the B grade should be restructed to include the ulster champions as well. They are out of there depth at the A level
@Diarmuid: and too good for the B Championship.
Completely agree with Eddie Brendan. This year’s semi finals illustrated the serious issues facing hurling. The Kilkenny Derry game is self explanatory. No way should both teams be on the same pitch. It hinders rather than helps both counties. On the other side we had probably the best u21 team in the country playing their first championship match against a battle hardned side. Very unfair on Galway. Tom Fahey
All about bloody funding,the love for hurling in Derry(parts of)is there,was involved in schools in the 80s,all funded , introduced hurling,football camphor,to kids who wouldn’t have even seen it before,funding ran out(cross border funding) after 2 years,so a lot of kids who weren’t in Gaa clubs finished being interested in our national games,we were full time in primary/secondary schools,do when the scheme finished,most of our work came to nothing,(all coaches were badged)feel something like this initiative needs to happen in Ulster
@billy Dorney: excuse the misspelling,camogie,i meant
@billy Dorney: There is a lot more to it than that, there are many counties and county boards throughout Ireland that refuse to promote hurling as it should as it eat up all resources that Gaelic Football uses, it is so pathetic that there are many counties that do not even put forward a B U21 team, the big ball is king.
@ktsiwot: agree
@ktsiwot: yes,and it’s not going to change anytime soon,so hurling loses
why is the solution always to throw them into Leinster? Wexford Dublin and even westmeath would have hammered that Derry team. why just devalue Leinster and leave precious Munster alone? if ya want to get rid of the provinces, then they all have to go and open up to a group
@Ger O’Meara: devalue leinster by adding Galway u must be joking look how much they have added to the senior hurling.
Galway should go into Leinster and then winners of Leinster and Munster go straight to the final. Big mistake to let go of the Munster Championship if it happens.
All this absolute shite talk about the “Munster championship” what’s so sacred about it. Limerick and Clare have won loads of Munster U21 in last decade and are currently way off the pace required at senior level..There will always be an asterix beside the 2013 AIF. The Munster SHC has been quite poor for years, take out Tipp and the rest are average enough, except for a few bubble performances here and there.. They dont like to hear that in Munster, but thats a fact..It’s not all that!
@Lord Clanricarde: I don’t get this asterix thing about 2013. Why is there an asterix about it. Clare beat everyone put before them and won the all Ireland. End of story. It’s not like Kilkenny, Tipp and Galway didn’t enter the championship that. Same teams started out as every year so I think people need to give Clare the respect they deserve and stop downgrading their all Ireland. If Kilkenny had won in 2013 instead of Clare there’d be no talk of asterix’s. Cork won 2010 football all Ireland beating down. Tipp beat Antrim in an all Ireland in 89 I think. Why no asterix’s against them???
@Lord “up me own hole from Galway”Please stop blowing your own pipa you clown.
@John Carroll: Nice to see neither if ye argued with me on the fact that Munster hurling is not all it’s cracked up to be.. It’s a competition full of sentimentality and old farts scared of change in case it effects the “magical” Munster championship!..Nevermind that Tipp win it whenever they decide to get the lead out!!
Galway should go into Leinster and the winners of Leinster and Munster then play in All Ireland Final. Big mistake if we lost the Munster Championship