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The 42
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'It's frustrating for us because we're finding there's a lack of communication'
UL BOHEMIAN HEAD Coach Fiona Hayes has expressed her frustration at how Ireland's Six Nations clash with Scotland over the weekend impacted her team who were competing in the women's AIL final against Railway Union. The Limerick-based side were forced to line out in their decider at the Aviva Stadium without key players Aoife Corey and Jane Clohessy, who were both called up to make their debuts with the international squad for the final game of the Six Nations championship on Saturday. Corey started at full-back in the 26-19 defeat while Clohessy came on in the first half. On Sunday, UL Bohs were crowned AIL champions for the second year in a row after an 82nd-minute try from Éilís Cahill. Their AIL final opponents Railway Union were also impacted by the fixture clash, as Claire Boles was included in the Ireland squad for the trip to Edinburgh. While Hayes was delighted to see her players make their international bows, she is disappointed over how their selection on the Irish squad was handled. 'It's frustrating for us because we're finding there's a lack of communication around players that are being brought in. Aoife Corey was never on the [Ireland] panel in the first place and they brought her in. We had no clue that they were being included in the matchday squad. They had been available up to that, and that's fine, I understand that they [Ireland] want to keep the team in house as well. 'If it was pushed out or there was anyway around it, maybe the girls would have had a a chance to play both, especially Jane. She came on early in the game with the HIA and Dorothy [Wall] got injured but if Jane had played three minutes [instead], she would have been able to play in the AIL final.' Advertisement Hayes also mentioned UL Bohs player Beth Buttimer who was a travelling reserve with the Ireland squad, and says that they received 'no communication' from the IRFU regarding her availability for the AIL final. Elaborating on how the decision to call up Clohessy and Corey was communicated to UL Bohs, Hayes adds: 'It would have been great for the club to get a heads up or any contact. We sent Aoife in for media duty for the cup on Tuesday so she didn't have an idea. So, then she finds out when everyone else finds out. That can be a little bit frustrating. But I do understand that it is international rugby and that's their focus. 'You have the core contracted players that might never play [AIL] and I understand that. But there are an awful lot of fringe players that would have played AIL. For them to be able to play in that final that they worked so hard all year round to be part of, would have been unbelievable for them.' Following an inquiry from The42, the IRFU released a statement on the matter, saying that a season plan for the 2024/2025 AIL season was communicated to clubs last June. Celtic Challenge weeks and women's Six Nations fixtures were highlighted in the plan along with the date of the final. The statement continues by saying that 'clubs were aware from June of last year that they would be impacted if players were called on for international duty. 'For the finals last year, the IRFU ran a double header for the first time ever which was hugely appreciated and welcomed by all clubs in terms of giving visibility to both league finals and we were fortunate to have the support of TG4 to broadcast both games yesterday. 'Unfortunately moving finals to another weekend was not an option due to the unavailability of Aviva Stadium. 'We are very mindful also it is a long season and clubs deserve to finish in enough time to give players adequate downtime.' Responding to the points made in the IRFU statement, Hayes said that her side were aware of the season plan 'but that doesn't mean we can't disagree with it.' When asked if she would be willing to have their AIL final played a venue other than the Aviva Stadium in order to accommodate the postponement, Hayes replied: 'I suppose that is the carrot. They've done the double-header for the last two years and it would never have been an option before. The final would have been on a good few weeks after the women's Six Nations so it's a tough one because I've experienced it twice now and it is unbelievable.' Along with losing Boles for the AIL final, Railway Union are also represented by Irish stars Amee-Leigh Costigan, Stacey Flood and Eve Higgins. Hayes says that facilitating the contracted players to be available for the AIL would bring a welcome boost to the competition, and feels that the IRFU is too preoccupied with using the international team to improve the profile of women's rugby in Ireland. '100%. 'I've no issue in saying that, definitely. The AIL is there, it needs to be invested in a little bit more and the majority of players have started at AIL. It's huge for Irish rugby to have that there. They're so focused on the Irish team and it's the AIL they have to come to and they forget that.'
Irish Times
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Women's AIL final: UL Bohemians stun Railway Union with last play of game
Energia Women's All-Ireland League final: UL Bohemian 29 Railway Union 22 UL Bohemians and Railway Union served up another richly entertaining reprise of last year's Energia Women's AIL final which went down to the wire, with the Limerick club scoring two minutes into overtime with the last play of the game to win the title for a 15th time. Coming after last year's defeat in the decider, Railway Union were left crestfallen after topping the regular season table with 18 wins out of 18, including a double over UL Bohemian. Led by the tireless Lindsay Peat, they had more of the game in this final and will rue chances they left behind. But there was no doubting the defiance of the Fiona Hayes-coached side, and it could also be argued they kept their defensive shape and scrambled better. Initially, a vengeful Railway Union set up camp in the Bohs' 22, and were finally rewarded when they worked rightwinger Laura Sheehan into a one-on-one with space for her to finish wide out. By contrast, when UL Bohs worked her counterpart Laoise McGonagle into some space she was able to round the posts, enabling Kate Flannery to land the conversion. The talismanic Raily Union number '8' Lindsay Peat, now 44, then used her footwork to score her 23rd try of the season from close-range before the UL Bohs left-winger Chisom Ugwueru beat three players to score in the corner for a 12-10 lead at half-time. READ MORE On the resumption the packs traded lineout maul tries, Chloe Pearse scoring for UL Bohs before a penalty try drew Railway level. Ignited by Leah Tarpey's brilliant break, Railway Union applied prolonged pressure, featuring big carries by Peat and Meabh Keegan before Katie O'Dywer scored from close range, Caoimhe McCormack's conversion making it 24-22. But UL Bohs responded in kind through Grainne Burke's unconverted try and the Limerick club then retained possession for minutes on end with an attack from deep. This led to a close-range penalty and power play which culminated in Eilis Cahill burrowing over to earn a dramatic victory. Scoring sequence: 17 mins Sheehan try 5-0; 26 mins McGonagle try, Flannery con 5-7; 31 mins Peat try 10-7; 36 mins Ugwueru try 10-12; (half-time 10-12); 44 mins Pearse try 10-17; 47 mins penalty try 17-17; 63 mins O'Dwyer try, McCormack con 24-17; 69 mins Burke try 24-22; 82 mins Eilis Cahill try, Flannery con 24-29. RAILWAY UNION: Caoimhe McCormack; Laura Sheehan, Niamh Byrne (capt), Leah Tarpey, Rhiann Heery; Hannah Scanlan, Aailsa Hughes; Kirstie Stevenson, Meabh Keegan, Meg Collis; Poppy Garvey, Aoife McDermott; Mira Brooks, Molly Boyne, Lindsay Peat. Replacements: Katie O'Dwyer for Collis (37 mins), Patricia Doyle for Stevenson, Siobhán McCarthy for Garvey (both 45 mins), Claire Keohane for Scanlan, Aimee Clarke for Sheehan (both 64 mins), Faith Oviawe for Brooks (75 mins). Not used: Keelin Brady, Mary Healy. UL BOHEMIAN: Aabby Moyles; Laoise McGonagle, Eabha Nic Donnacha, Steph Nunan, Chisom Ugwueru; Kate Flannery, Abbie Salter-Townshend; Ciara McLoughlin, Lily Brady, Eilis Cahill; Claire Bennett, Sarah Garrett; Rachel Allen, Aoibhe O'Flynn, Chloe Pearse (capt). Replacements: Grainne Burke for McLoughlin, Clara Barrett for McGonagle (45 mins), Ciara O'Dwyer for Garrett, Muirne Wall for Salter-Townshend (all 52 mins), Caitríona Finn for Nunan (64 mins), Mady Kushner for Nic Donnacha (76 mins). Not used: Aoibheann Hahessy, Niamh Bordie. Sinbinned: Eabha Nic Donnacha (47-57 mins). Referee: Jonathan Erskine (IRFU)
Irish Examiner
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Late Cahill try secures back-to-back Women's AIL titles for UL Bohemians
Energia Women's All Ireland League final: Railway Union 24 UL Bohemian 29 UL Bohemian retained their Energia Women's All Ireland League title in dramatic fashion with a late, late try from Eilis Cahill to edge out Railway Union for the second year in a row in Dublin on Sunday. In a repeat of the previous year's final, the Limerick club coached by Fiona Hayes came up with the big plays when they mattered most and having trailed 24-22 with the clock past 80 minutes, they won a scrum penalty 10 metres from their own tryline and worked the ball upfield for Cahill to score the winner from close range to break the Dubliner's hearts yet again. Bohs had won the 2024 clash 48-38 and just as last year's final had been on a knife-edge with Bohs leading 22-21, the Limerick side edged the opening period as the 2025 decider followed a similar pattern. Railway, though, will be regretting not making the most of some relentless early pressure inside the champions' 22 until the 17th minute, when right wing Laura Sheehan finally broke through to open the scoring. After so much possession to earn their first five points, their hard-earned lead was coughed up all too quickly for their liking, as UL Bohs eked a scrum from their first incursion into the opposition 22. That was converted to a penalty at the set-piece and laid the foundation for a reply, though not before Railway try-scorer Sheehan had rescued her side with an intercept five metres from her own line, denying Chisom Ugwuero a first opportunity to add to her hat-trick of 12 months earlier. UL Bohs would not be denied though, Laoise McGonagle levelling ]on 25 minutes after Railway failed to break out of their own half, with Kate Flannery's conversion pushing the defending champions into 7-5 lead. Back came Railway, former Ireland international Lindsay Peat claiming a try for the second year in a row from No.8, finishing from short-range to give her club a 10-7 lead. Yet UL Bohs finished the first 40 minutes on top as Ugwuero finally made it onto the scoresheet four minutes before the break. Flanker Rachel Allen had made a strong break towards the posts and when her fellow forwards were thwarted there, the ball was moved left, finding Ugwuero on the edge with the wing needing to beat three RU defenders to score in the corner. It was a fine finish and enough to send UL Bohs into the break with a 12-10 lead. The half-time leaders maintained their momentum into th second half, McMonagle finding a gap in midfield to send full-back Abby Moyle on her way with a big carry to the Railway Union line, though from there the ball was recycled and lost forward short of the tryline. Bohs had lost McMonagle to a serious leg injury in the move, the wing leaving the field on a stretcher cart following lengthy treatment. Yet her team-mates did not miss a beat, mauling from a close-range lineout soon after with captain Chloe Pearse grounding the ball to open up a 17-10 lead after 43 minutes. The advantage was short-lived, though, as Railway Union met fire with fire and used their own driving maul to earn a penalty try just three minutes later, leaving the scores level at 17 apiece, with UL Bohs centre Eabha Nic Donnacha earning a yellow card for the collapsed drive. Bohs survived the 10-minute sin-bin without concession but their resistance to another long period of pressure from Railway eventually wilted on 63 minutes when replacement front-rower Katie O'Dwyer touched down, full-back Caoimhe McCormack's conversion hading her side a 24-17 lead with just over a quarter of an hour to play. Last year's final suggested this would not be the end of the contest and so it proved as Bohs promptly went up the other end and scored through replacement Grainne Burke, though Flannery's conversion was missed, leaving Railway with a two-point lead at 24-22. Bohs were running out of time and Railway managed the endgame exceptionally well to camp in their opponents half but a scrum penalty won inside their own 22 gave hope with two minutes remaining, the Limerick side getting the ball from edge to edge where Ugwuero carried over halfway. A trademark Flannery Crossfield kick to the right wing found replacement Clara Bennett and Bohs worked the ball back across the width once more with Ugwuero tackled 15 minutes out and earning a penalty at the subsequent ruck. Bohs tapped it and reached the try line with the clock past 81 minutes and after two one-out carries, prop Eilis Cahill grabbed the winning try. Flannery's conversion with the last kick of the game sealed a distraught Railway Union side's fate as UL Bohemian celebrated back-to-back final victories. RAILWAY UNION: C McCormack; L Sheehan (A Clarke, 64), N Byrne (C), L Tarpey, R Heery; H Scanlan (C Keohane, 64), A Hughes; K Stevenson (P Doyle, 45), M Keegan, M Collis (K O'Dwyer, 37); P Garvey (S McCarthy, 45), A McDermott; M Broeks (F Oviawe, 75), M Boyne, L Peat. Replacements not used: K Brady, M Healy. UL BOHEMIAN: A Moyles; L McGonagle (C Barrett, 43), E Nic Donnacha (M Kushner, 76), S Nunan (C Finn, 64), C Ugwueru; K Flannery, A Salter-Townshend (M Wall, 51); C McLoughlin (G Burke, 51), L Brady, E Cahill; C Bennett, S Garrett (C O'Dwyer, 51); R Allen, A O'Flynn, C Pearse (C). Replacements not used: A Hahessy, N Brodie. Referee: Jonathan Erskine (IRFU).
Irish Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Famous name from famous rugby family, Clohessy, in Ireland squad for Scotland
Scott Bemand has brought in UL Bohs full-back Aoife Corey to make her debut in the last of the Six Nations outings, against Scotland at The Hive in Edinburgh (Sat 2.30pm). There will be a second debut should second-row Jane Clohessy - a daughter of former Ireland and Munster prop Peter - come from the bench to the fray. The Girls in Green have won two from four Six Nations outings to here, against Italy and Wales, and are aiming for a third victory for the first time since start comes as Stacy Flood, who had the no15 jersey for the first four games, drops down to the bench with speculation this in order to give her a tilt at out-half later in the promotion comes as Fiona Tuite steps up from the bench to the second-row as Dorothy Wall moves to no6 in place of Brittany Hogan shifting to no8 to replace the injured Aoife have won 15 of their last 17 Six Nations outings against Scotland, although the last of those Scottish wins was as recently as 2023 in this venueWafer's absence will most likely deny her the chance of topping the Six Nations try-scoring charts. The no8 has scored four to here and is level with England's Ellie Kildunne and Abby the stat to watch is with hooker Neve Jones who has made the most tackles of any front-row in the tournament, 51, and leads the category for tackles made by those with an 100 percent success Aoife Corey (UL Bohs); Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow), Aoife Dalton (Belvedere), Enya Breen (Blackrock), Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway U); Dannah O'Brien (Belvedere); Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster)(21)Niamh O'Dowd (Belvedere), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Linda Djougang (Belvedere), Ruth Campbell (Belvedere), Fiona Tuite (Belvedere), Dorothy Wall (Exeter), Edel McMahon (Exeter) capt, Brittany Hogan (Belvedere)Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney (Exeter), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke), Christy Haney (Blackrock), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohs)*, Claire Boles (Railway U), Emily Lane (Blackrock), Eve Higgins (Railway U), Stacey Flood (Railway U).
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Niamh Byrne to captain Railway Union for fifth Women's AIL Division 1 final
While she admits it still feels 'a little bit surreal', this Sunday will see Niamh Byrne captaining Railway Union in a Women's All-Ireland League Division One final for the fifth time. After leading the south Dubliners to glory against UL Bohemians and Blackrock College in AIL showpieces at Energia Park in the 2018/19 and 2021/22 seasons, Byrne was also the skipper when Railway lost out to Blackrock at the same venue in a 2022/23 decider. She also led the Sandymount side into battle when they lost out to UL Bohs in a final held at the Aviva Stadium a little under 12 months ago. Byrne is set to be joined in the Railway ranks by experienced figures like Lindsay Peat and Aoife McDermott when they renew acquaintances with UL Bohs at Irish Rugby HQ this weekend, but there will also be a youthful look to their set-up. 'A little bit surreal. I think it's something [captaincy] I've gotten a bit more confident with over the past few years. Still a bit nerve wracking especially when you think of some of the people that you're trying to captain,' Byrne said. 'We have a good balance now. We have a few experienced girls who played international, interprovincial, all those levels. Also a good mix of younger talent coming in. A few 18 year olds scattered in there, who bring the excitement and the wow factor.' Despite crossing the whitewash for one of their six tries on the day, Byrne and Railway Union ultimately fell to a 48-38 defeat at the hands of UL Bohs in last season's final. While there will be a clear motivation to regain their crown on Sunday, Byrne also recognises how important it will be to put on a good spectacle in what will be just the second Women's AIL showpiece to take place at the Aviva. 'I hope it's just an exciting game, because obviously from a Railway point of view and from the captain, you want to win. You have put in a lot of work this year, you'd like to see your season end on a high,' Byrne added. 'I also think for the broader picture of women's rugby, another exciting game where people are actually interested and it's a one-try game for most of it, will be the best outcome. I think it will be really good if we can bring that energy and excitement to the Aviva again this year.'
