Ulster U18 met Munster U18 on Saturday at MU Barnhall RFC in the final of the Girls Interprovincial Championship.

Ulster had beaten Munster in Cork earlier in the Round Robin section of the championship, but yesterday seemed overawed by the occasion.

Munster kicked off and put the ball dead. From the resultant scrum on halfway Ulster were shunted backwards and that set the scene for the game.

Report and photo credit – Bob Given Photography

Munster exerted relentless pressure but the Ulster defence held firm conceding only an unconverted try from Chisom Ugwueru in the first 20 minutes. 

An interception on the halfway allowed Mya Alcorn to run in unopposed. Lucy Turkington converted to give Ulster an unlikely 7 – 5 lead.

However Munster turned the screw again and Emma Connolly converted her own try for a 12-7 at the break.

Early in the second half Munster increased their lead with a penalty goal and, with Ulster managing only occasional forays into the Munster half, their dominance in territory and possession paid dividends, with a further 3 converted tries from Ugwueru, Eilis Cahill and Meabh McElligott to leave the final score 36 – 7.

After their performance the previous week in their comeback with over Connacht, Ulster Girls will be disappointed in their performance, particularly in the set piece.

MUNSTER U18: Aoife Corey (Ennis), Chisom Ugwueru (Ennis), Meabh McElligott (Listowel), Saskia Morrissey (Kilrush), Alana McInerney (Ennis), Emma Connolly (Skibbereen), Courtney Duhig (St. Mary’s), Eileen Gleeson (Nenagh), Sarah Murphy (Kanturk) (C), Erika Kiely (Carrick On Suir), Eilish Cahill (Ennis), Aine Enright (Listowel), Allaiah Tepau (Shannon), Faye Dowling (Fethard), Eimear Minihan (Ennis). Replacements: Rebecca Collins (St. Mary’s), Marea Walsh (Shannon), Chloe Ann O’Driscoll (Skibbereen), Aoife Costello (St. Mary’s), Alex O’Sullivan (Skibbereen), Clodagh McMahon (Kilrush), Marlese Flynn (Carrick On Suir), Abbie Salter Townsend (Skibbereen).

ULSTER U18: Lucy Turkington (Dungannon), Sophie Kinghan (Dundalk), Zara Flack (Enniskillen), Mya Alcorn (Letterkenny), Farrah Cartin McCloskey (Enniskillen), Toni Macartney (Larne), Sarah Shrestha (Dungannon), Ella Garland (VC) (Queen’s University), Aoife Cahill (Malone), Ava Fannin (C) (Virginia), Kim Johnston (Dungannon), Taryn Schutzler (Malone), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen), Erin Carson (Malone), India Daley (Enniskillen). Replacements: Cara O’Neill (Malone), Hannah Cooney (Malone), Delyth Cook (Ballyclare), Rachel McGee (Ballyshannon), Lauren Kilfedder (Enniskillen), Moya Hill (Enniskillen), Amanda McQuade (Virginia), Lucy Thompson (Enniskillen).

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