Old Belvedere returned to D4 with an Energia All Ireland Cup Semi Final place in their back pocket after a first half blitz against Cooke at Shaw’s Bridge on Sunday afternoon. 

The visitors were quick out of the block as Kathryn Dane sent Fiona Tuite under the posts after four minutes for Jemma Jackson to convert. 

Three minutes later left wing Vanessa Hullon rounded the Cooke defence out wide to grab the visitors second with Jackson again adding the extras. 

Cooke started to work their way into the game but a break out by Belvo was taken on by Tuite who passed to Ali Miller for the veteran to finish in spectacular style and when the restart was returned by Miller and Linda Djougang for Alannah Rogers to score it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for Cooke who had shipped 24 points in 15 minutes. 

The onslaught continued as Tuite ran in her second score on the 20 minute mark with Jackson converting to extend the visitors lead to 31. 

The home side finally got some traction in the game with Hannah Kilgore going over for a try, converted by Vicky Irwin to pull back seven. 

However, a powerful run by Djougang ended with a score for the athletic prop and the teams turned round with Cooke trailing 7 – 38. 

The Belfast side recovered somewhat in the second half to outscore their opponents 3 tries to 2 as Aishling O’Connell, Dolores Hughes and Kelly McCormill all crossed for unconverted tries in a spirited fightback.

However, it was too little too late as Belvo responded with a hat trick try from Tuite and a second from Miller, both converted by Jackson. 

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