Women’s All-Ireland League — Round 4 review
Galwegians 16-17 Railway Union, Crowley Park
FOURTH-PLACED GALWEGIANS were left kicking themselves after losing a match they should have won, according to head coach Fraser Gow. Railway Union had scored 95 points in their opening two games and travelled west with a squad heavy on international experience, including half-backs Claire Keohane and Ailsa Hughes.
However, ‘Wegians drew first blood with two early penalties from number 8 Denise Redmond and her third kick had them 9-5 to the good at half-time. Centre Niamh Byrne’s unconverted try got Railway on the board, but they fell further behind when the inspirational Redmond claimed a pushover try from a dominant five-metre scrum on the hour mark.
Railway’s bench had the desired impact, particularly Siobhan McCarthy who was introduced up front, and they managed to edge ahead with crucial tries from winger Susan Vaughan and flanker Emma Taylor, the first one being converted by Nikki Caughey. Try as they might, the Blue Belles were unable to respond despite outstanding performances from Redmond and centre Orla Dixon who, Gow said, made ‘a ridiculous amount of tackles’.
St Mary’s 0-53 Old Belvedere, Templeville Road
Old Belvedere dished out a nine-try 53-0 beating to bottom side St. Mary’s to move to the top of the table. A first half hat-trick from out-half Jemma Jackson set Josh Brown’s charges on the way to their third win of the campaign.
From the kick-off at Templeville Road, Belvedere dominated possession and it took just six minutes for instrumental winger Elise O’Byrne White to run in the first of her two tries. They opened up a well-earned 27-0 lead with prop and captain Fiona O’Brien and Jackson both crossing the whitewash from a series of potent attacks.
Mary’s failed to capitalise on their spells of possession before the break, unable to find touch from penalties and fumbling the ball under pressure from a ‘Belvo defence that had also kept Blackrock scoreless in the last round. Leinster’s Emma Hooban continued to have a big influence for Mary’s up front, with their well-drilled lineout maul making encouraging ground.
Dazzling footwork from O’Byrne White and slick handling from hooker Jennie Finlay were some of the best elements of Belvedere’s dynamic play. The Mary’s defence came under further pressure and ‘Belvo boosted their points-for column considerably as O’Byrne White and O’Brien added their second tries and Nora Stapleton, off the bench, and Claire McLaughlin, on her debut, also dotted down.
Blackrock 33-40 UL Bohemians, Stradbrook
UL Bohemians defeated Blackrock 40-33 in a classic 11-try encounter which was part of a lively All-Ireland League Men’s and Women’s double header at Stradbrook. A flying four-try start inside the opening 20 minutes was key to Bohs’ bonus point success, with the sharpshooting Niamh Briggs standing out as their player-of-the-match.
Prop and captain Fiona Hayes, full-back Eimear Considine, centre Rachel Allen-Connolly and Ireland skipper Ciara Griffin (2) all touched down to set the Red Robins up for 33-7 interval lead. Ever-impressive play-maker Michelle Claffey responded with Blackrock’s first try, aided by some sharp play from Mullingar native Ellen Taite and former international Jackie Shiels, on her debut.
Head coach Philip Doyle’s half-time words saw ‘Rock made further improvements, and they were awarded a penalty try after a high tackle from the scrambling Bohs defence had denied flanker Grace Kelly a score off the back of a scrum. But a Chloe Pearse try – the visitors’ sixth in all – had already pushed the visitors onto 40 points.
Lifting the pace, Blackrock scrum half Niamh Griffin wasted no time in firing out quick ruck ball to her team-mates. Tania Rosser made her return from injury and the excellent Claffey broke through for two more tries. A Taite effort, in the 76th minute, cut the gap to just seven points.
Indeed, Bohs, who had a vital 10-point contribution from out-half Briggs with five successful conversions, were relieved to hear the final whistle after Leinster winger Eimear Corri was denied a breakaway try in a nail-biting finish.
Women’s All-Ireland League tables are available here.
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€85. Rip off Ireland alive and well.
I have a AB’s 2003 World Cup top that I paid €100 for back then.
Still in great condition and I wear it all then time.
Canterbury make good quality and it will last.
@Dave Sherman: Adidas have been making the All Blacks jersey since 1999
@Dave Sherman: did you get it off the African man on the beach in Spain
@Dave Sherman: I’ve ‘France 98′ underpants. 99p. Only worn on super-special occasions.
Why has it taken this long for them to be on sale to the public?
@Seán O’Sullivan:
Potentially market demand wasn’t there?
@Seán O’Sullivan: I have no idea but I’m sure a man somewhere is to blame for it.
@Government Sachs:
Are you sure it is not Leo’s fault :)
@Seán O’Sullivan: wait till you see the price, your sympathy will likely evaporate
Wonderful news.
My wardrobe is now complete.
Suit men with moobs too!!!! Skin tight jerseys ain’t for everyone!!!!!
Are they going to go the way of Dublin GAA and patronize women by offering it in pink?
@Bar Bar Drinks: Not just Dublin who do that (Donegal, Kildare, Mayo, Cork, Meath etc)
Obviously women don’t believe it to be patronising as plenty on show at matches.
@Bar Bar Drinks: Those pink jerseys are everywhere, and they’re awfully popular for something so “patronising”
@Bar Bar Drinks: Every county has a pink ladies jersey.
@Bar Bar Drinks: actually I think Cardiff still have a pink third kit that they play in for breast cancer awareness
What?? Why now instead of before?
P/S Before anyone asks, I’m not interested…..
Let the bandwagon begin
Hopefully comes in more sizes than ‘too tight’
@john Appleseed: or not
Provinces have done it for a while now surprised it took this long
@Dave O Keeffe: no province have men’s jersey as women’s not the jersey the women wear for the province
@Ollie Watson: apologies, you’re correct
Only €85, you could fly anywhere in Europe and back for that. They will be sold out quick. Better get two and one for everyone in the family.
If Irish people weren’t so over weight the jerseys could be cheaper. We’d also have a cheaper health service.
@6ljJQRRU: What a load of rubbish. You pay the same price for an xs size.