Munster’s defence, and their capacity to take chances, won the game, and with it, back-to-back Interprovincial Championship titles.
Leinster dominated possession, territory and opportunity, but time and again they pursued the wrong option or were undone by poor execution. They can have regrets, but no complaints.
When Munster got within touching distance of the Leinster line, they were ruthless. Hooker Beth Buttimer crossed for a brace of tries, one converted by Catriona Finn, the other by the brilliant Enya Breen. The Munster centre was a standout in every respect, while Grace Moore and Sally Kelly superb, the yin and yang of their team’s defence and carrying game.
It was a strong team display, but a word too for scrumhalf Emily Lane, who chivvied her side around the pitch with intelligent direction.
RM Block
Both teams had to ride out the vagaries of the officiating. The lack of consistency infuriated and perplexed all in equal measure.
Munster led 7-5 at the interval having taken their one opportunity while Leinster spurned several chances. It could partially be attributed to Munster’s brilliant scramble defence, but also Leinster’s lack of ruthlessness and accuracy at crucial times.
Buttimer burrowed over from close range, the rest of the pack having softened up the Leinster fringe defence, and Finn converted. It was the one clear piece of attacking play, aside from Lane’s superb break, one of two quality moments from Chisom Ugwueru, and the Kelly’s powerful carrying.
Leinster, in contrast, played with good width and tempo and were able to get into the Munster backfield through Robyn O’Connor. But as soon as they got inside their opponents’ 22, they were stymied by a mixture of poor decisions and execution. Discipline and patience could have been a little more stringent too.
It was only when flanker Kathy Baker raced over in the corner a minute before half-time that Leinster got any purchase on the scoreboard. They should have got more in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, but robust Munster defending, and another superb breakdown penalty forced by Breen, ensured that Leinster again came away with nothing.
O’Connor’s chip-and-chase saw Munster concede a penalty in their 22, with Dannah O’Brien kicking to the corner. Munster’s defence once again came up with a super set and when Leinster number eight Erin King tapped another penalty, she was collared and her attempted offload went astray.
Another rare Munster foray then culminated in a second try for Buttimer, the Munster hooker driven over off the back of a maul. At 14-5 with a little over 10 minutes remaining, it was the reigning champions’ match to lose, and based on their defence, that was never going to happen. Munster, unbeaten all tournament long, right to the end.
In the third-place playoff earlier in the day, Ulster took a convincing 29-10 win over Connacht to seal third.
Connacht winger Aoife Heaney showed some nice footwork to score their opening try, made a little easier by some brittle tackling. But Ulster showed great character to strike back emphatically, Olivia McKinley claiming their first try of the afternoon before hooker Maebh Clenaghan added a brace.
In between Clenaghan’s two tries, outhalf Méabh Deely clawed back a score for Connacht. But before the break, former Armagh footballer Niamh Marley added Ulster’s fourth, giving them a 24-10 interval lead.
Connacht may rue how narrow they set-up, hindered by poor kicking and an overreliance on Aoibheann Reilly to dictate their shape in attack. Only Faith Oviawe had the vision to look beyond the orthodox.
Ulster dominated the gain-line and Sophie Barrett’s introduction after the break gave them an edge in the scrum, which they invariably turned into penalties, although the odd one was puzzling.
Replacement Siobhan Sheerin ensured an Ulster win on last try despite appearing offside from the cross-kick. No one had the wind or the heart to quibble. Ulster were deserving winners.
Women’s Interpros results
Third-place playoff: Connacht 10 Ulster 29
Final: Munster 14 Leinster 5
