LAST UPDATE | 2 Sep 2023

Munster 14

Leinster 33

Two-try centre Leah Tarpey starred as three unanswered second half tries gave Leinster a runaway 33-14 final win over Munster and their first Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship crown since 2019.

Tarpey touched down either side of half-time in the Musgrave Park decider, before experienced duo Hannah O’Connor, the captain, and Elise O’Byrne-White, on her 27th appearance in blue, made it a five-try triumph in the end.

Deirbhile Nic a Bháird was at her inspirational best for three-in-a-row hopefuls Munster, darting over for an opening 15th-minute try before helping to set up Chloe Pearse’s effort that had the hosts back in front.

However, Leinster squared things up at 14-all for half-time with a timely Tarpey score which supplemented the penalty try which had seen Munster prop Róisín Ormond yellow carded.

Having beaten their arch rivals 26-19 in Donnybrook last week to reach the final, Tania Rosser’s charges struck again through Tarpey, the Vodafone player-of-the-match, and fellow Ireland international Dannah O’Brien began to exert more control from out-half.

Leinster hammered home their dominance in the scrum for O’Connor to score from the base in the 63rd minute, and replacement O’Byrne-White finished off a Natasja Behan break to confirm title number seven for her province.

It was only Munster’s second defeat in 11 Interprovincial matches, but despite the home support, they fell short against a Leinster side that, having being stung by Connacht in the first round, saved their best for last.

Munster's Chloe Pearse and Muirne Wall. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Head coach Rosser had given nine debuts in this season’s tournament, and only O’Byrne-White, Sene Taiti-Fanene, Ailsa Hughes, Linda Djougang, O’Connor and Christy Haney remain from Leinster’s matchday squad that clinched the 2019 Championship in the most recent Interpro final to take place.

The play-offs were brought back this year to extend the series to four rounds, giving the players more high-level game-time leading into the start of the Energia All-Ireland League and Ireland’s first WXV3 campaign under new head coach Scott Bemand.

Scorers for Munster:

• Tries: Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Chloe Pearse.
• Cons: Nicole Cronin 2.

Scorers for Leinster:

• Tries: Penalty try, Leah Tarpey 2, Hannah O’Connor, Elise O’Byrne-White.
• Cons: Pen try con, Dannah O’Brien 3.

MUNSTER: Eimear Considine; Aoife Doyle, Alana McInerney, Stephanie Nunan, Stephanie Carroll; Nicole Cronin, Muirne Wall; Róisín Ormond, Ciara Farrell, Fiona Reidy, Dorothy Wall (capt), Clodagh O’Halloran, Chloe Pearse, Maeve Óg O’Leary, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird.

Replacements used: Eilís Cahill for Reidy (34 mins), Beth Buttimer for Farrell, Aoife Corey for Considine (both 46), Kate Flannery for Cronin, Reidy for Ormond (both 55), Cronin for Nunan (63), Jane Clohessy for O’Halloran (70), Claire Bennett for Wall (75), Brianna Heylmann for O’Leary, Ellen Boylan for Doyle (both 78).

LEINSTER: Natasja Behan; Aimee Clarke, Aoife Dalton, Leah Tarpey, Anna Doyle; Dannah O’Brien, Katie Whelan; Linda Djougang, Lisa Callan, Christy Haney, Ruth Campbell, Eimear Corri, Aoife Wafer, Molly Boyne, Hannah O’Connor (capt).

Replacements used: Aoife Moore for Campbell (10-22 mins), Elise O’Byrne-White for Doyle (24), Ailsa Hughes for Whelan (half-time), Sarah Delaney for Callan (53), Whelan for Clarke (61), Moore for Djougang (66), Caoimhe Molloy for Haney (75), Nikki Caughey for O’Brien, Katelynn Doran for Boyne, Sene Taiti-Fanene for Tarpey (all 78).

Referee: Stuart Douglas (IRFU).

The victorious Ulster team after their win over Connacht. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

******

Ulster 36

Connacht 14

THERE WERE JOYOUS scenes at Musgrave Park as Ulster won their first Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship match since 2012, beating Connacht 36-14 to finish third overall for this season.

Leading this play-off tie from start to finish, Ulster built a 14-0 interval lead as Rachel McIlroy crossed early on and India Daley added a second try, showing exactly why she has been called up to train with the national squad.

Despite Taryn Schutzler picking up a yellow card, Ella Durkan’s intercept try just after the restart kept Ulster on course. Lily Brady opened Connacht’s account but Cregan responded with a 54th-minute bonus point effort.

Niamh Marley’s terrific individual try preceded a consolation score from Connacht replacement Orla Dixon, but first-year head coach Houston watched on with great pride when Aishling O’Connell crashed over in the final minute.

Connacht scorers

• Tries: Lily Brady, Orla Dixon
• Cons: Nicole Fowley 2

Ulster scorers

• Tries: Rachael McIlroy, India Daley, Ella Durkan, Beth Cregan, Niamh Marley, Aishling O’Connell

• Cons: Ella Durkan 3

Connacht: Méabh Deely; Ava Ryder, Clara Barrett, Shannon Touhey, Laoise McGonagle; Nicole Fowley (capt), Olivia Haverty; Grainne O’Loughlin, Stacy Hanley, Niamh O’Grady, Sonia McDermott, Eva McCormack, Orla Fenton, Lily Brady, Karly Tierney.

Replacements: Faith Oviawe for McCormack (9 mins), Dearbhla Canty for O’Grady, Poppy Garvey for Hanley (both half-time), Orla Dixon for Haverty (49), Cliodhna O’Sullivan for Ryder (53), Mollie Starr for Fenton (58), O’Grady for O’Loughlin (60), Mairead Kelleher for McDermott (66), Niamh Corless for Garvey (68).

Ulster: Ella Durkan; Maeve Liston, Peita McAlister, Kelly McCormill, Niamh Marley; Abby Moyles, Rachael McIlroy; Ava Fannin, Beth Cregan (capt), Aishling O’Connell, Keelin Brady, Taryn Schutzler, India Daley, Maebh Clenaghan, Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Megan Brodie for O’Connell (29 mins), Stacey Sloan for Hogan (half-time), O’Connell for Fannin, Laura Cairns for McIlroy (both 52), Toni Macartney for Moyles (66), Brenda Barr for Sloan, Megan Simpson for Brodie, Bronach Cassidy for Cregan, Megan Edwards for Liston (all 71).

Referee: Barrie O’Connell (IRFU)

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