Latest news with #VodafoneWomen'sInterprovincialChampionship
The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
New-look Leinster open three in a row bid with win over Ulster, Munster down Connacht
Leinster 37-21 Ulster A MUCH-CHANGED LEINSTER began their bid for a third straight Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship title with a 37-21 home win over Ulster, giving new head coach Ben Martin a positive start in the process. Two of Leinster's 13 debutants, Kathy Baker and Emma Brogan (two), contributed tries as they built a 22-14 half-time lead at Energia Park. Ireland Under-20 captain Jane Neill also scored from the base of the scrum. After defending for much of the first half, Ulster were clinical with a couple of scoring chances approaching the interval. Siobhán Sheerin marked her first appearance at this level with a fine try, and also converted captain India Daley's follow-up effort. Jade Gaffney and Baker, the Vodafone Player of the Match, both crossed during the third quarter, with Ulster losing Brenda Barr to the sin bin not long after a Sophie Barrett try. Murray Houston's improving side had enough possession to bag a bonus point or two of their own, but the excellent Baker teed up Brogan's hat-trick score as Leinster quickly turn their attention to next Saturday's visit of arch rivals Munster. Leinster scorers Tries: Kathy Baker 2, Emma Brogan 3, Jane Neill, Jade Gaffney Con: Nikki Caughey Ulster scorers Tries: Siobhán Sheerin, India Daley, Sophie Barrett Cons: Siobhán Sheerin 3 Advertisement Leinster's Maggie Boylan on the charge. Dan Clohessy / INPHO Dan Clohessy / INPHO / INPHO LEINSTER: Caoimhe McCormack (Railway Union RFC); Emma Brogan (MU Barnhall RFC), Kathy Baker (Blackrock College RFC), Cara Martin (Blackrock College RFC), Maggie Boylan (Blackrock College RFC); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC), Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere RFC); Aoife Moore (Blackrock College RFC), Lisa Callan (Old Belvedere RFC), Katie Layde (Old Belvedere RFC), Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair (Blackrock College RFC), Kate Jordan (Blackrock College RFC), Ciara Short (Wicklow RFC), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC) (capt), Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC). Replacements: Méabh Keegan (Railway Union RFC), Kelly Burke (MU Barnhall RFC), Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere RFC), Rosie Searle (Navan RFC), Emma Kelly (Old Belvedere RFC), Erin McConnell (Wicklow RFC), Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere RFC), Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC). ULSTER: Niamh Marley (Cooke RFC); Lucy Thompson (Enniskillen RFC/Cooke RFC), Siobhán Sheerin (Clogher Valley RFC), Tara O'Neill (Cooke RFC), Paige Smyth (Ballynahinch RFC/Cooke RFC); Lauren Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC), Georgia Boyce (Cooke RFC); Sarah Roberts (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Maebh Clenaghan (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC), Lauren Darley (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Brenda Barr (Suttonians RFC), Ruby Starrett (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Katie Hetherington (Clogher Valley RFC), India Daley (Enniskillen RFC/Blackrock College RFC) (capt). Replacements: Megan Simpson (Cooke RFC), Cara McLean (Larne RFC), Ava Fannin (Blackrock College RFC), Rebecca Beacom (Enniskillen RFC), Moya Hill (Enniskillen RFC), Rachael McIlroy (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Kelly McCormill (Cooke RFC), Stacey Sloan (Cooke RFC). Referee: Cian Aherne (IRFU) ********** Munster 22-5 Connacht Munster's Chisom Ugwueru and Megan Collis of Connacht. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO Munster had too much pace and power for a young Connacht team in Cork, as Chisom Ugwueru helped herself to a hat-trick of tries in a runaway 44-5 victory. With Matt Brown back as head coach for the first time since 2021, and Maeve Óg O'Leary taking on the captaincy, Munster comfortably won their only home game in this season's Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship. Ava Ryder's 29th-minute try was the sole score for a gallant Connacht, who trailed 22-5 at half-time after Munster debutant Gráinne Burke, Ugwueru (2), and Aoife Corey had all touched down. Ugwueru, the Ennis flyer, took care of the bonus point with a brilliant effort from inside her own half. Vodafone Player of the Match Caitríona Finn pulled the strings at out-half, having a hand in most of Munster's best moments. Connacht, who host Ulster next Saturday, lost Poppy Garvey to a 52nd-minute sin-binning, and Ugwueru and replacement Kate Flannery both scored while she was off. Stephanie Nunan and Brianna Heylmann bookended the second half with well-taken tries. Munster scorers Tries: Gráinne Burke, Chisom Ugwueru 3, Aoife Corey, Stephanie Nunan, Kate Flannery, Brianna Heylmann; Cons: Caitríona Finn 2 Connacht scorers Try: Ava Ryder Munster's debutants. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO MUNSTER: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Lyndsay Clarke (Ennis RFC), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC); Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC), Abbie Salter-Townshend (UL Bohemian RFC); Gráinne Burke (UL Bohemian RFC), Saoirse Crowe (Shannon RFC), Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoibhe O'Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC), Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC), Brianna Heylmann (UL Bohemian RFC), Maeve Óg O'Leary (Blackrock College RFC) (capt), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC). Replacements: Aoife Fleming (Ballincollig RFC), Ciara McLoughlin (UL Bohemian RFC), Lily Morris (Ballincollig RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC), Annakate Cournane (Shannon RFC), Eve Prendergast (Ballincollig RFC), Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC), Orna Moynihan (Ennis RFC). CONNACHT: Clara Barrett (UL Bohemian RFC); Emily Foley (Galwegians RFC), Orla Dixon (Galwegians RFC), Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (UL Bohemian RFC) (capt), Ava Ryder (Blackrock College RFC); Siofra Hession (Creggs RFC), Gráinne Moran (Galwegians RFC); Ella Burns (Tuam/Oughterard RFC/Galwegians RFC), Lily Brady (Westport RFC/UL Bohemian RFC), Megan Collis (Railway Union RFC), Poppy Garvey (Railway Union RFC), Grace Browne Moran (Galwegians RFC), Beibhinn Gleeson (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Lesley Ring (Old Belvedere RFC), Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs RFC). Replacements: Stacy Hanley (Galwegians RFC), Hannah Coen (Creggs RFC), Roisin Maher (Galwegians RFC), Ailish Quinn (Galwegians RFC), Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey (Ennis RFC), Karly Tierney (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Sinead O'Brien (Galwegians RFC), Fódhla Ní Bhraonáin (Tuam/Oughterard RFC). Referee: Euan O'Riordan (IRFU).
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Leinster off to winning start as they see off Ulster
Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship: Leinster 37 Ulster 21 A much-changed Leinster began their bid for a third straight Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship title with a 37-21 home win over Ulster, giving new head coach Ben Martin a positive start in the process. Two of Leinster's 13 debutants, Kathy Baker and Emma Brogan (2), contributed tries as they built a 22-14 half-time lead at Energia Park. Ireland U20 captain Jane Neill also scored from the base of the scrum. After defending for much of the first half, Ulster were clinical with a couple of scoring chances approaching the interval. Siobhán Sheerin marked her first appearance at this level with a fine try, and also converted captain India Daley's follow-up effort. Jade Gaffney and Baker, the Vodafone Player of the Match, both crossed during the third quarter, with Ulster losing Brenda Barr to the sin bin not long after a Sophie Barrett try. Murray Houston's improving side had enough possession to bag a bonus point or two of their own, but the excellent Baker teed up Brogan's hat-trick score as Leinster quickly turn their attention to next Saturday's visit of arch rivals Munster. New Leinster full-back Caoimhe McCormack unfortunately had to come off early with her left arm in a sling, her debut lasting barely six minutes. Handling errors from both teams made for a stop-start opening. The game caught fire in the 14th minute when Maggie Boylan broke menacingly down the left wing, using a couple of powerful fends, before Paige Smyth and Niamh Marley got across to deny her in the left corner. However, Leinster soon worked the ball across to the right where Ireland Sevens international Baker burst over to make it 5-0. Nikki Caughey did well in the build-up, linking with Cara Martin and replacement Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton to create the opening. Highly-rated No. 8 Neill then showed her class with a bustling break and brilliant offload, Leinster flooding forward again with Kate Jordan up in support but prop Aoife Moore was unable to hold onto her pass. The Ulster defence was now under sustained pressure. When the hosts put pace on the ball to set up an overlap on the right, the centres released teenage winger Brogan who cut inside Marley's attempted tackle to double the lead to 10 points. Ulster's maul defence got them out of trouble, and better work at set-piece time led to a strong run from newcomer Sheerin. The attack broke down, though, and Leinster were finding it easier to make yards, particularly with Boylan's running threat out wide. Having taken the scrum option from a 32nd-minute penalty, Neill had a cut herself from 15 metres out and stormed her way over, leaving both Katie Hetherington and Lauren Farrell McCabe in her wake. Caughey's conversion made it 17-0. Stung into action by that try, Ulster opened their account in style with Sheerin's smartly-crafted score. She used scrum possession to exploit a gap, aided by Lucy Thompson's decoy run, and was there to take Farrell McCabe's well-timed offload off the deck to touch down. The Clogher Valley centre tagged on the conversion for good measure, and Ulster soon added a second seven-pointer. Hetherington won a turnover penalty, Farrell McCabe sent Tara O'Neill motoring through midfield, and Brenda Barr timed her pass to perfection to send Daley in behind the posts. Nonetheless, there was still just enough time for Leinster to squeeze in a late bonus point try. Boylan's counter-rucking helped Ciara Short to pounce on possession, and Ulster were caught for numbers on the right again as Baker ran into space before sending Brogan over. Inside five minutes of the restart, the gap was out to 13 points after vice-captain Gaffney had squeezed over. Leinster used their power up front to win a scrum penalty and press from a maul, Moore also going close before the scrum half took her opportunity. Back came Ulster, using their own pack to batter their way up close. Talented prop Barrett, a real star for the Ireland U20s in recent seasons, was held up, but was unstoppable on a second occasion having scooped up a loose ball. Sheerin's extras cut Leinster's lead to 27-21. Frustratingly for the visitors, they then lost Barr to the sin bin as referee Cian Aherne punished them for repeated infringements. They held Leinster out until Baker caught them out wide, getting past Marley and barrelling through Sheerin's challenge for a classy finish. As Ulster sought a swift reply, Marley did all the hard work on a superb slashing break only to knock on at the crucial moment. Houston's charges were held onto the territory, save for a Katie Corrigan run that was pulled back for a forward pass. It took a turnover from Leinster's new skipper Molly Boyne to break up Ulster's momentum, which came from piercing carries from Sheerin and their replacement front rowers amid a quick-witted set of attacking phases. Into the closing stages, the otherwise impressive Sheerin kicked a penalty dead. A few minutes later, Kelly Burke used an overthrown Ulster lineout to launch a kick chase, with Corrigan getting the ball back, and it was Baker's floated pass that sent Brogan over for her third of the day. LEINSTER: Caoimhe McCormack (Railway Union RFC); Emma Brogan (MU Barnhall RFC), Kathy Baker (Blackrock College RFC), Cara Martin (Blackrock College RFC), Maggie Boylan (Blackrock College RFC); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC), Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere RFC); Aoife Moore (Blackrock College RFC), Lisa Callan (Old Belvedere RFC), Katie Layde (Old Belvedere RFC), Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair (Blackrock College RFC), Kate Jordan (Blackrock College RFC), Ciara Short (Wicklow RFC), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC) (capt), Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC). Replacements: Méabh Keegan (Railway Union RFC), Kelly Burke (MU Barnhall RFC), Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere RFC), Rosie Searle (Navan RFC), Emma Kelly (Old Belvedere RFC), Erin McConnell (Wicklow RFC), Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere RFC), Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC). ULSTER: Niamh Marley (Cooke RFC); Lucy Thompson (Enniskillen RFC/Cooke RFC), Siobhán Sheerin (Clogher Valley RFC), Tara O'Neill (Cooke RFC), Paige Smyth (Ballynahinch RFC/Cooke RFC); Lauren Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC), Georgia Boyce (Cooke RFC); Sarah Roberts (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Maebh Clenaghan (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC), Lauren Darley (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Brenda Barr (Suttonians RFC), Ruby Starrett (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Katie Hetherington (Clogher Valley RFC), India Daley (Enniskillen RFC/Blackrock College RFC) (capt). Replacements: Megan Simpson (Cooke RFC), Cara McLean (Larne RFC), Ava Fannin (Blackrock College RFC), Rebecca Beacom (Enniskillen RFC), Moya Hill (Enniskillen RFC), Rachael McIlroy (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Kelly McCormill (Cooke RFC), Stacey Sloan (Cooke RFC). Referee: Cian Aherne (IRFU)
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ugwueru scores hat-trick as Munster power past Connacht
Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship: Munster 44 Connacht 5 Munster had too much pace and power for a young Connacht team in Cork, as Chisom Ugwueru helped herself to a hat-trick of tries in a runaway 44-5 victory. With Matt Brown back as head coach for the first time since 2021, and Maeve Óg O'Leary taking on the captaincy, Munster comfortably won their only home game in this season's Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship. Ava Ryder's 29th-minute try was the sole score for a gallant Connacht, who trailed 22-5 at half-time after Munster debutant Gráinne Burke, Ugwueru (2), and Aoife Corey had all touched down. Ugwueru, the Ennis flyer, took care of the bonus point with a brilliant effort from inside her own half. Vodafone Player of the Match Caitríona Finn pulled the strings at out-half, having a hand in most of Munster's best moments. Connacht, who host Ulster next Saturday, lost Poppy Garvey to a 52nd-minute sin-binning, and Ugwueru and replacement Kate Flannery both scored while she was off. Stephanie Nunan and Brianna Heylmann bookended the second half with well-taken tries. Munster immediately got on the front foot, and it was Chloe Pearse, their ever-influential No. 8, who went close early on to opening the scoring. She was held up under the Connacht posts, with Garvey and Clara Barrett receiving the defensive plaudits. Ailish Quinn, fresh from her Ireland debut at the same venue last week, was sent on early by Connacht for the injured Lesley Ring. Munster threatened to make the breakthrough off a lineout maul, but were pinged for crossing. The hosts got the points that their fast start deserved when young prop Burke drove over in the 10th minute, rewarding a strong series of carries sparked by Eilís Cahill's lineout steal, and a midfield surge from the lively O'Leary. Ireland U20 international Finn missed the conversion, hitting the right hand post, but it was her well-judged kick out of hand that created a quick-fire second try for Munster. The Tipperary youngster found grass near Connacht's 10-metre line, and a favourable bounce saw Ugwueru burst onto the ball, beating two defenders and staying clear of the chasing Siofra Hession to cruise in behind the posts. Finn's left boot made it 12-0. Connacht's back-line finally got a chance to stretch their legs on the 20-minute mark, with the roaming Ryder sweeping across to the left side of the pitch. Munster forced a subsequent error, though, and Finn brought play back towards halfway. There was further frustration for Emer O'Dowd's youngsters, who followed up a scrum penalty with a knock-on from Quinn. Likewise, Munster's execution was slightly off at times, and a mistake by full-back Corey when retrieving a kick gave Connacht an inviting scrum platform. Despite a Burke turnover, Munster could not find touch and they were made to pay. Debutant out-half Hession did really well to spin out of a tackle and float a pass out to Ryder who stepped inside Corey for a textbook finish. Brown's side wrestled back control nearing the interval, upping the intensity and pace of their attack. Finn slipped Corey over from a few metres out, rewarding the big dent her forwards had put in the Connacht defence. Ugwueru, who had been denied by a try-saving tackle from Barrett, was in unstoppable form just two minutes later. The 22-year-old took off down the left touchline from 70 metres out, via Finn's dangled pass, and evaded two tackles for an excellent unconverted score. Connacht's hopes of responding early on the resumption were ruined by a sacked maul. Their defence soon came under further pressure, yet Orla Dixon, the westerners' Player of the Year for 2024/25, lifted them by keeping Finn out in the right corner. Munster kept probing and try number five fell to centre Nunan in the 49th minute. Some lovely interplay between props Cahill and Burke sent their onrushing UL Bohemian club-mate darting over to the right of the posts. Finn converted for a 29-5 scoreline. It got worse for Connacht when Finn deftly collected her own kick and put boot to ball again, drawing a penalty which O'Leary took quickly. Garvey was caught offside and saw yellow, and after a couple of phases, Finn's arcing pass had Ugwueru dotting down out wide. Dixon tried to inspire Connacht once more, yet they were unable to make much headway against a well-organised Munster defence. When the home side came hunting on the hour mark, Orna Moynihan's stop-start run and well-timed pass played in Flannery for the penultimate score. Even though two scrum penalties offered Connacht encouragement, Munster were creating all the opportunities. Ennis starlet Lyndsay Clarke needed a kinder bounce when trying to ground a Flannery kick, and the ball also evaded Moynihan's grasp on the opposite wing. Last year's beaten finalists, who are Dublin bound to face defending champions Leinster in the second round, signed off with a barnstorming seventh score in the 78th minute. Dovetailing well with replacement Flannery, Finn sent Heylmann haring through a gap from over 40 metres out, and the busy flanker outmuscled Barrett and held off Ryder to deservedly get on the scoresheet. MUNSTER: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Lyndsay Clarke (Ennis RFC), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC); Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC), Abbie Salter-Townshend (UL Bohemian RFC); Gráinne Burke (UL Bohemian RFC), Saoirse Crowe (Shannon RFC), Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoibhe O'Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC), Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC), Brianna Heylmann (UL Bohemian RFC), Maeve Óg O'Leary (Blackrock College RFC) (capt), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC). Replacements: Aoife Fleming (Ballincollig RFC), Ciara McLoughlin (UL Bohemian RFC), Lily Morris (Ballincollig RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC), Annakate Cournane (Shannon RFC), Eve Prendergast (Ballincollig RFC), Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC), Orna Moynihan (Ennis RFC). CONNACHT: Clara Barrett (UL Bohemian RFC); Emily Foley (Galwegians RFC), Orla Dixon (Galwegians RFC), Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (UL Bohemian RFC) (capt), Ava Ryder (Blackrock College RFC); Siofra Hession (Creggs RFC), Gráinne Moran (Galwegians RFC); Ella Burns (Tuam/Oughterard RFC/Galwegians RFC), Lily Brady (Westport RFC/UL Bohemian RFC), Megan Collis (Railway Union RFC), Poppy Garvey (Railway Union RFC), Grace Browne Moran (Galwegians RFC), Beibhinn Gleeson (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Lesley Ring (Old Belvedere RFC), Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs RFC). Replacements: Stacy Hanley (Galwegians RFC), Hannah Coen (Creggs RFC), Roisin Maher (Galwegians RFC), Ailish Quinn (Galwegians RFC), Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey (Ennis RFC), Karly Tierney (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Sinead O'Brien (Galwegians RFC), Fódhla Ní Bhraonáin (Tuam/Oughterard RFC). Referee: Euan O'Riordan (IRFU)
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Leinster and Munster off to perfect start in women's interpros
Last year's champions Leinster and runners-up Munster got their 2025 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship campaigns off to perfect starts courtesy of home bonus-point wins over Ulster and Connacht respectively. Leinster debutant Emma Brogan and Munster flyer Chisom Ugweru each crossed for a hat-trick of tries to leave the provinces level on points at the top of the round robin table ahead of next Saturday's clash. LEINSTER 37-21 ULSTER A much-changed Leinster began their bid for a third straight Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship title with a 37-21 home win over Ulster, giving new head coach Ben Martin a positive start in the process. Two of Leinster's 13 debutants, Kathy Baker and Emma Brogan (2), contributed tries as they built a 22-14 half-time lead at Energia Park. Ireland Under-20 captain Jane Neill also scored from the base of the scrum. After defending for much of the first half, Ulster were clinical with a couple of scoring chances approaching the interval. Siobhán Sheerin marked her first appearance at this level with a fine try, and also converted captain India Daley's follow-up effort. Jade Gaffney and Baker, the Vodafone player-of-the-match, both crossed during the third quarter, with Ulster losing Brenda Barr to the sin bin not long after a Sophie Barrett try. Murray Houston's improving side had enough possession to bag a bonus point or two of their own, but the excellent Baker teed up Brogan's hat-trick score as Leinster quickly turn their attention to next Saturday's visit of arch rivals Munster. Leinster: Tries - Emma Brogan (3), Kathy Baker (2), Jane Neill, Jade Gaffney Con: Nikki Caughey Ulster: Tries - Siobhán Sheerin, India Daley, Sophie Barrett Cons: Siobhán Sheerin (3) MUNSTER 44-5 CONNACHT Munster had too much pace and power for a young Connacht team in Cork, as Chisom Ugwueru helped herself to a hat-trick of tries in a runaway 44-5 victory. With Matt Brown back as head coach for the first time since 2021, and Maeve Óg O'Leary taking on the captaincy, Munster comfortably won their only home game in this season's Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship. Ava Ryder's 29th-minute try was the sole score for a gallant Connacht, who trailed 22-5 at half-time after Munster debutant Gráinne Burke, Ugwueru (2), and Aoife Corey had all touched down. Ugwueru, the Ennis flyer, took care of the bonus point with a brilliant effort from inside her own half. Vodafone player-of-the-match Caitríona Finn pulled the strings at out-half, having a hand in most of Munster's best moments. Connacht, who host Ulster next Saturday, lost Poppy Garvey to a 52nd-minute sin-binning, and Ugwueru and replacement Kate Flannery both scored while she was off. Stephanie Nunan and Brianna Heylmann bookended the second half with well-taken tries.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Munster v Connacht watch LIVE stream of women's interprovincial clash
Munster take on Connacht this afternoon in the opening round of the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship. Today's game kicks-off at 4:15pm, with coverage available on the Sport TG4 YouTube channel. You can catch the live stream of the game at the top of this article. Maeve Óg O'Leary (Munster): 'I feel delighted and very privileged to lead such an incredible team, alongside Chloe (Pearse) and Steph (Nunan). I'm just so happy to be back (from injury), and so happy to be back in a Munster jersey. 'Just a few weeks ago we sat down with some former players, and hearing their stories and how far that they've come, and how far they've brought this jersey and this team, so it's an absolute privilege and an honour, and the goal as a squad is just to leave the jersey in a better place. 'We're really focusing on ourselves. The Interpros is a short enough window, we've been training as a squad since June 10. I can't wait to get on the field and show what we've been working on. The key thing for us will be to get performances and string them together.' Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (Connacht): 'I felt honoured to be picked as captain, and happy that they thought that I could do the job. Proud to be able to do the job. We're buzzing (to start the Interprovincial campaign), I think there's a really good buzz in the group. 'We can really put it up to Munster and the other teams this year. We have amazing depth from the younger ones coming up to the people that were here. The success at age-grade has come from the unbelievable coaching we got from a fairly young age. Coaching and analysis from 16 onwards. 'These girls know how to win, they love to win, and they bring a competitiveness and a buzz to training that we might not have had. I think bringing that up to senior (level), we just need to up the physicality, up the leadership, and keep driving forward.'
