‘Belvo Starlet Corrigan Claims Hat-Trick Against Former Club Tullow

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE WOMEN’S DIVISION:

Saturday, November 8 –

TULLOW 0 OLD BELVEDERE 79, Blackgates
Scorers: Tullow: –
Old Belvedere: Tries: Amy Larn, Robyn O’Connor 2, Hannah Clarke 2, Eilis Doyle, Ivana Kiripati, Katie Corrigan 3, Katie Whelan 2, Brooke Gilroy; Cons: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton 4, Éadaoin Murtagh 3
HT: Tullow 0 Old Belvedere 33

Fiona Hayes’ side secured back-to-back Energia All-Ireland League wins for the first time this season, but their 13-try victory was marred by injuries to Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton, Hannah Clarke, and the returning Jane Neill.

Kiwi prop Eilis Doyle’s score on the stroke of half-time gave Old Belvedere a 33-0 lead, with a late flourish bagging their bonus point against an improving Tullow team that deserved to be closer on the scoreboard.

The pace of Amy Larn, Robyn O’Connor (2), and Clarke was the hosts’ undoing for the opening four tries, and Belvedere added eight more after the break as Corrigan and Katie Whelan, who switched to scrum half, took centre stage.

The result has moved ‘Belvo back into the top four, ahead of their home clash with Ballincollig next Saturday. Tullow, who had their moments during a tighter first half, will regroup for a trip to Blackrock College.

Tullow’s reinforced defence stood up well to the task during the early stages, with a couple of big tackles from half-backs Hilary Fitzgerald and Lana Brennan showing how up for the game they were.

Knock-ons also thwarted Old Belvedere’s progress, and O’Sullivan Sexton overcooked a penalty kick to touch. Following up on a good Fitzgerald kick, the hosts got their maul going from Katie Ann O’Neill’s accurate lineout throw.

A tap penalty move had Tullow’s returning captain Grace Kelly gaining ground towards the ‘Belvo posts, her fellow forwards making further inroads until the ball went loose in the 14th minute. Corrigan retrieved it after twice getting her right boot to it.

The Dubliners duly unleashed their threatening back-line, full-back Larn showing her finishing skills from near halfway as she shrugged off a couple of tackles and turned on the afterburners to open the scoring from the left wing.

Alex O’Brien won the breakdown battle to foil another speedy ‘Belvo attack, which was sparked by Larn. Lesley Ring fired back with a lineout steal, and there was a near miss when Clarke had a try ruled out after the ball had gone forward from Ivana Kiripati.

There was no denying O’Connor, who exploited a gap to scamper in behind the posts in the 29th minute. O’Sullivan Sexton’s straightforward conversion made it 14-0, and Belvedere enjoyed a dominant spell up to the interval with three more tries.

With Ring continuing to hoover up lineout ball, Kiripati carried up close before O’Connor sliced through to complete her brace. The try scorer swiftly turned provider, her skip pass releashing Clarke who coolly beat four defenders on a surging 70-metre run-in.

Following O’Sullivan Sexton’s fourth successful conversion, Belvedere very much ended the opening 40 minutes with their tails up. Tighthead Doyle bounced up out of a tackle to extend the lead further after Tullow had conceded a couple of penalties.

Ireland Under-20 captain Neill made her seasonal debut for ‘Belvo as a half-time replacement, and O’Connor’s dazzling dart from deep immediately had them pressing. Tullow held out, and their centres Emma Carroll and Chloe Farrell linked up well for a fine break downfield.

Nonetheless, jour minutes in, Clarke collected an O’Sullivan Sexton kick, haring down the right wing and then taking Brooke Gilroy’s return pass to touch down. Kiripati crashed over in the 53rd minute, the well-crafted score marred by an unfortunate injury to O’Sullivan Sexton.

Éadaoin Murtagh took over the kicking duties, splitting the posts three times in all as Hayes’ outfit pushed further ahead. Neill’s physicality around the pitch stood out, the 22-year-old driving players back in the tackle and also carrying forcefully.

Despite losing Clarke to injury and Neill to the sin bin, ‘Belvo kicked on with a series of superb scores as Steven Hogg’s home side were left to rue some defensive lapses and missed tackles.

Back on the wing, Corrigan, who played for Tullow all the way up at underage level, really came into her own, a wonderful weaving run from just outside her own 22 opening her account.

Murtagh converted from the left, and also added the extras to Whelan’s 63rd-minute effort, a brilliant sidestepping surge from halfway. It was tough for Tullow to take, especially after Kelly had shown her turnover-winning ability again.

The versatile Whelan, taking over at scrum half from Jade Gaffney, was becoming an increasingly central figure. It was her break that led to Corrigan crossing in the 66th minute, bringing the score to 64-0.

Whelan supplied a second assist soon after, with the ‘Belvo pack winning a scrum against the head, allowing the Wexford woman to kick downfield. A leaping Corrigan collected the bouncing ball, accelerating clear to complete her quickfire hat-trick.

Tullow were opened up out wide for Whelan to double her tally, scoring from Emma Kelly’s smart offload. Australian Gilroy, on as a replacement, scored in the final play, dotting down after possession from a tap penalty had come her way.

TIME LINE: 15 minutes – Old Belvedere try: Amy Larn – 0-5; conversion: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton – 0-7; 29 mins – Old Belvedere try: Robyn O’Connor – 0-12; conversion: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton – 0-14; 35 mins – Old Belvedere try: Robyn O’Connor – 0-19; conversion: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton – 0-21; 37 mins – Old Belvedere try: Hannah Clarke – 0-26; conversion: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton – 0-28; 40 mins – Old Belvedere try: Eilis Doyle – 0-33; conversion: missed by Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton – 0-33; Half-time – Tullow 0 Old Belvedere 33; 44 mins – Old Belvedere try: Hannah Clarke – 0-38; conversion: missed by Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton – 0-38; 53 mins – Old Belvedere try: Ivana Kiripati – 0-43; conversion: Éadaoin Murtagh – 0-45; 55 mins – Old Belvedere yellow card: Jane Neill; 57 mins – Old Belvedere try: Katie Corrigan – 0-50; conversion: Éadaoin Murtagh – 0-52; 63 mins – Old Belvedere try: Katie Whelan – 0-57; conversion: Éadaoin Murtagh – 0-59; 66 mins – Old Belvedere try: Katie Corrigan – 0-64; conversion: missed by Éadaoin Murtagh – 0-64; 68 mins – Old Belvedere try: Katie Corrigan – 0-69; conversion: missed by Éadaoin Murtagh – 0-69; 71 mins – Old Belvedere try: Katie Whelan – 0-74; conversion: missed by Éadaoin Murtagh – 0-74; 80 mins – Old Belvedere try: Brooke Gilroy – 0-79; conversion: missed by Éadaoin Murtagh – 0-79; Full-time – Tullow 0 Old Belvedere 79

TULLOW: Leanne Savage; Destiny Moses, Chloe Farrell, Emma Carroll, Molly O’Gorman; Hilary Fitzgerald, Lana Brennan; Grace Kelly (capt), Katie Ann O’Neill, Gabby Cuddy, Angela Viciano, Nicola Kilcoyne, Orla Hanlon, Leah Browne, Alex O’Brien.

Replacements: Anna O’Neill, Jess Nolan, Diana Kabi, Lauryn Faulkner, Jane O’Neill, Lisa O’Toole, Catherine Dempsey, Emma Byrne.

OLD BELVEDERE: Amy Larn; Hannah Clarke, Katie Corrigan, Robyn O’Connor, Katie Whelan; Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton, Jade Gaffney; Hannah Wilson, Lisa Callan, Eilis Doyle, Éadaoin Murtagh, Zara Martin, Emma Kelly, Lesley Ring (capt), Ivana Kiripati.

Replacements: Shana Murphy, Katie Layde, Hannah Rapley, Grace Tutty, Julia O’Connor, Jane Neill, Brooke Gilroy.

Referee: Christopher Bonnie (IRFU)