Ulster Women came up short against Connacht to record their 21st game without a win in this competition.

Connacht kicked off and for the next 10 minutes Ulster worked their way up the pitch from a series of breaks and pick and goes. Eventually from a driving maul Stacey Lee Kennedy broke and hit the whitewash in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Almost immediately Connacht were back in the game from a close range penalty by Maebh Deely. It was nip and tuck for the majority of the rest of the half with Ulster shading territory and possession.

Ulster had a try disallowed for a knock forward but responded with a break, followed by quickly recycled ball, which allowed Stacey Lee Kennedy to drive over under the posts. Jemma Jackson was successful with the conversion.

A loose kick from Ulster deep into the Connacht half was fielded and run back allowing Mairead Coyne to score to leave Ulster leading 12 – 8 at the break.

The second half was all Connacht with Aoibheann Reilly and Laura Feely scoring, Deely converting one, to give the visitors a 12 – 20 lead.

Ulster’s Lauren Maginnes crossed late on, Vicky Irwin converting, to give Connacht a one point win.

ULSTER: Holly Brannigan (Malone), Ella Durkan (Malone), Kelly McCormill (Cooke), Vicky Irwin (Cooke), Emma Jordan (Malone), Jemma Jackson (Old Belvedere), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere); Megan Brodie (Exile), Stacey-Lea Kennedy (City of Derry), Ilse van Staden (Cooke), Chloe McIlwaine (Malone), Keelin Brady (MU Barnhall), Katie Hetherington (Cooke), Neve Jones (Malone) (capt), Lauren Maginnes (Malone). Replacements: Emma Kearney (Cooke), Shannon Heapes (Cooke), Aishling O’Connell (Cooke), Storm Cobain (Exile), Peita McAlister (Malone), Maeve Liston (Cooke), Lucinda Kinghan (Ireland Sevens), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere).

CONNACHT: Mairead Coyne (Galwegians), Aoibheann Reilly (Ballinasloe), Catherine Martin (Suttonians), Shannon Touhey (Galwegians), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere); Meabh Deely (Ballinasloe), Mary Healy (Galwegians), Laura Feely (Galwegians), Moya Griffin (Tullamore), Anne-Marie O’Hora (Galwegians), Tara Buggie (Galwegians), Denise Redmond (Galwegians), Ciara Farrell (Tullamore), Edel McMahon (Galwegians), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians) (C). Replacements: Elizabeth McNicholas (Tuam), Katie Murray (Tullamore), Aifric O’Brien (Suttonians), Alex O’Brien (Tullow), Shannen Lane (Galwegians), Rebecca Gavin (Westport), Orla Dixon (Galwegians), Aisling Brosnan (Co. Carlow).

Gallery Below

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Picture credit Bob Given Photography and Helen McGhee.