VODAFONE WOMEN'S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP 3RD-4TH PLACE PLAY-OFF:
Saturday, August 29 –
CONNACHT 10 ULSTER 29, Dexcom Stadium
Scorers: Connacht: Tries: Aoife Heaney, Méabh Deely
Ulster: Tries: Olivia McKinley, Maebh Clenaghan 2, Niamh Marley, Siobhán Sheerin; Cons: Abby Moyles 2
HT: Connacht 10 Ulster 24
Having conceded 21 tries in the last two rounds, this was a terrific turnaround from Murray Houston's Ulster side, who were driven on by player-of-the-match Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan.
Their third place finish was richly deserved on the day given the influence of Abby Moyles and two-try hooker Maebh Clenaghan, who were both part of that 2023 play-off victory.
It took just 78 seconds for Claremorris teenager Aoife Heaney to score on her first Connacht start, but Olivia McKinley and Clenaghan had Ulster leading 12-5 by the 10-minute mark.
Although Méabh Deely replied, Clenaghan and Niamh Marley both crossed during Ailish Quinn's sin-binning to give the noticeably-improved visitors a 24-10 half-time lead.
Connacht's most recent two losses to Ulster were in 2012 and three years ago, and try as they might, they were unable to reel their opponents in during a rain-hit second half.
Replacement Siobhán Sheerin's 75th-minute try made it a five-try triumph for Ulster, who had lost 15-10 to the westerners at the start of the campaign, and 37-30 in the corresponding play-off fixture last year.
Connacht had a dream start to this latest encounter, and Heaney in particular, as the Ireland Under-18 starlet announced herself on the senior stage with an electric opening try.
Anna McGann released the young winger from 60 metres out, and she expertly shrugged off Claire Boles before dancing down the right touchline, exposing a couple of poor tackles to finish with aplomb.
Ulster answered back within three minutes, though, as they took advantage of a run of penalties. Sadhbh McGrath went close, presenting the ball back quickly for McKinley to burrow over.
It was a second try in as many games for the impressive Banbridge lock, who played in this year's U-18 Six Nations Festival alongside Heaney. Moyles' crisp conversion made it 7-5.
Ulster's lineout was much tidier than previous weeks, with Ireland international Tuite-O'Sullivan to the fore. It provided the platform for Clenaghan to plunge over from a well-controlled maul.
The tit-for-tat scoring continued with Deely swiftly claiming a second unconverted effort for Connacht, who built on co-captain Aoibheann Reilly's initial sniping runs.
A knock-on then denied Clenaghan a second try, following a short lineout move. Nonetheless, the penalties were beginning to cost the hosts, and Quinn saw yellow for slapping a pass down.
Ulster immediately capitalised with Clenaghan crossing from a strong lineout drive in the 24th minute. They were 17-10 to the good, as their forwards continued to go the direct route and gain yards.
One such spell of carrying on the half-hour mark led to numbers on the left, and Moyles put Marley over for try number four, despite Emma Kelly's attempts to hold her up.
A classy conversion from Moyles, fresh from landing a fine 50:22 kick, left two converted scores in it, and a Tuite-O'Sullivan lineout steal added to Connacht's frustrations.
The westerners were inches away from beginning the closing 40 minutes with a bang. Stacy Hanley and Clare Gorman both went close, the latter knocking on replacement Síofra Hession's low-slung pass.
A tight third quarter was scoreless, Connacht holding firm despite coming under pressure at scrum time. Sophie Barrett brought impact off Ulster's bench, helping to win three set-piece penalties.
With the rain coming down, there was an increase in handling errors, one such fumble spoiling a promising run from Connacht's Ireland-capped full-back Clara Barrett.
Further knock-ons from Hession and Barrett prevented Craig Hansberry's charges from getting into scoring range, and Ulster, despite losing Ella Durkan to injury, soon wrapped up the result.
Just over five minutes from the end, Moyles' clever cross-field kick bounced up for Sheerin to go over untouched from the left wing, sealing a 19-point winning margin.
TIME LINE: 2 minutes - Connacht try: Aoife Heaney - 5-0; conversion: missed by Méabh Deely - 5-0; 5 mins - Ulster try: Olivia McKinley - 5-5; conversion: Abby Moyles - 5-7; 10 mins - Ulster try: Maebh Clenaghan - 5-12; conversion: missed by Maebh Clenaghan - 5-12; 13 mins - Connacht try: Méabh Deely - 10-12; conversion: missed by Méabh Deely - 10-12; 23 mins - Connacht yellow card: Ailish Quinn; 24 mins - Ulster try: Maebh Clenaghan - 10-17; conversion: missed by Abby Moyles - 10-17; 30 mins - Ulster try: Niamh Marley - 10-22; conversion: Abby Moyles - 10-24; Half-time - Connacht 10 Ulster 24; 75 mins - Ulster try: Siobhán Sheerin - 10-29; conversion: missed by Abby Moyles - 10-29; Full-time - Connacht 10 Ulster 29
CONNACHT: Clara Barrett; Aoife Heaney, Anna McGann, Lyndsay Clarke, Clare Gorman; Méabh Deely, Aoibheann Reilly (co-capt); Ella Burns, Stacy Hanley, Lily Morris, Faith Oviawe, Poppy Garvey, Emma Kelly, Ailish Quinn (co-capt), Jemima Adams Verling.
Replacements: Kara Mulcahy, Evie Kennedy, Hannah Coen, Róisín Power, Emma Fabby, Síofra Hession, Sarah Purcell, Emily Foley.
ULSTER: Ella Durkan; Katie Gilmour, Caitlin Crowe, Leah Irwin, Niamh Marley; Abby Moyles, Rachael McIlroy; Sarah Roberts, Maebh Clenaghan, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Olivia McKinley, Moya Hill, Rebecca Beacom, Claire Boles (capt).
Replacements: Emily Whittle, Sophie Barrett, Ava Fannin, Ellen Patterson, Stacey Sloan, Georgia Boyce, Siobhán Sheerin, Rebecca Mann.
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Jonny Quinn, Shane Gaughan (both IRFU)
