VODAFONE WOMEN'S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 2:
Saturday, August 15 -
LEINSTER 36 CONNACHT 21, Energia Park
Scorers: Leinster: Tries: Maggie Boylan 2, Hannah Wilson, Emma Tilly, Stacey Flood, Niamh Murphy; Cons: Dannah O'Brien 3
Connacht: Tries: Aoibheann Reilly 2, Stacy Hanley; Cons: Méabh Deely 3
HT: Leinster 17 Connacht 14
Having failed to pick up a point against Munster, this was a must-win game for Leinster at Energia Park, and they prevailed thanks to closing scores from Maggie Boylan and replacement Niamh Murphy.
Craig Hansberry's young Connacht side led early on, and twice closed the gap to three points, but they are now a point behind second-placed Leinster, in the table, heading into the final round.
Leinster's improved performance in front of their home support had them 17-14 ahead at half-time, with Maggie Boylan, Hannah Wilson, and Emma Tilly all touching down.
Narrow winners over Ulster, Connacht were right in the hunt thanks to two slick sniping efforts from co-captain Aoibheann Reilly, who doubled her tally just before the interval.
Returning to action, Ireland star Stacey Flood bagged Leinster's bonus point, and although Stacy Hanley hit back for the westerners, Sana Govender's charges had the stronger finish.
Leinster, who had Ireland captain Erin King as their player-of-the-match, can book their place in the August 29 final with a win away to Ulster next Saturday. Connacht entertain Munster in the day's second clash.
A minute's silence was held before kick-off for Philip 'Goose' Doyle, Ireland's 2013 Grand Slam-winning head coach, who sadly passed away in June at the age of 61.
Méabh Deely won the initial kicking battle, and Faith Oviawe pilfered the first lineout, to give Connacht all the encouragement they needed to take an early lead.
The timing from Reilly was perfect as she broke clean through off the back of a midfield ruck, fending off Flood at the edge of the Leinster 22 and darting clear for a try which Deely converted.
Connacht remained on the front foot thanks to Deely's accurate kicking, and a speedy attacking game which highlighted Jemima Adams Verling's powerful carrying. Ruth Campbell answered back with a muscular maul turnover.
A Boylan-led breakout got Leinster into scoring range for the first time, and they stayed there with pressure put on Deely's clearance kick, and Flood prominent on the counter.
The hosts knocked on the door, with the lively King carrying twice in quick succession, and space was created in the 18th minute for King to release Boylan for the right corner.
Leinster began the second quarter with a smart break involving King and Aoife Corcoran, and Aoife Dalton's well-won penalty at the breakdown put a second try within reach.
The resulting maul, from 10 metres out, was well controlled for loosehead Wilson to get the grounding to the left of the posts. Dannah O'Brien's conversion made it 12-7.
The margin was widened to 10 points just after the half-hour mark. Leinster used another penalty to make inroads, with two inviting offloads from Shona White and debutant Nikki Gibson keeping the attack going, and it ended with Tilly dashing over from 10 metres out.
However, Ballinasloe native Reilly lifted her team again in the 37th minute, exploiting space around the side of a ruck to scamper over on a 35-metre run-in. Deely's extras left three points in it.
As this exciting content began to open up further on the restart, props White and Ella Burns put in a couple of eye-catching bursts, while Anna McGann was seeing more of the ball as Connacht raised the tempo.
A break by the newly-introduced Regan Casey was spoiled by a Katie Whelan knock-on, but Leinster's attack clicked in the 55th minute. Flood slipped through to score near the posts, using a clever dummy and a hand-off to get away from Reilly.
O'Brien converted the bonus point try, restoring the 10-point gap. Connacht owned possession for the next while, and produced one of their most incisive attacks with 15 minutes remaining.
Deely used quick scrum ball to send Clara Barrett and McGann charging through midfield, with Deely and co-captain Ailish Quinn taking the move to within metres of the try-line.
The westerners' determined pack used a tap penalty to edge closer, and hooker Hanley displayed impressive strength to find a way over from a ruck. Deely's conversion reduced the arrears to 24-21.
Crucially, Leinster were able to hit back within a couple of minutes. After strong carries from Linda Djougang and Campbell, Higgins used an overlap on the right to send Boylan over in the corner.
Higgins increased her influence as the Blues settled the issue, with the international centre's turnover penalty, and subsequent short pass, a few phases later, releasing Murphy on a nicely-angled run in behind the posts.
TIME LINE: 3 minutes - Connacht try: Aoibheann Reilly - 0-5; conversion: Méabh Deely - 0-7; 18 mins - Leinster try: Maggie Boylan - 5-7; conversion: missed by Dannah O'Brien - 5-7; 24 mins - Leinster try: Hannah Wilson - 10-7; conversion: Dannah O'Brien - 12-7; 32 mins - Leinster try: Emma Tilly - 17-7; conversion: missed by Dannah O'Brien - 17-7; 37 mins - Connacht try: Aoibheann Reilly - 17-12; conversion: Méabh Deely - 17-12; Half-time - Leinster 17 Connacht 14; 55 mins - Leinster try: Stacey Flood - 22-14; conversion: Dannah O'Brien - 24-14; 67 mins - Connacht try: Stacy Hanley - 24-19; conversion: Méabh Deely - 24-21; 70 mins - Leinster try: Maggie Boylan - 29-21; conversion: missed by Dannah O'Brien - 29-21; 80+2 mins - Leinster try: Niamh Murphy - 34-21; conversion: Dannah O'Brien - 36-21; Full-time - Leinster 36 Connacht 21
LEINSTER: Stacey Flood; Maggie Boylan, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Emma Tilly; Dannah O'Brien, Alex Connor; Hannah Wilson, Sarah Delaney (capt), Linda Djougang, Ruth Campbell, Nikki Gibson, Aoife Corcoran, Róisín Kinch, Erin King.
Replacements: Emma Jane Wilson, Caoimhe Molloy, Shona White, Regan Casey, Kathy Baker, Katie Whelan, Niamh Murphy, Robyn O'Connor.
CONNACHT: Clara Barrett; Alanna Fitzpatrick, Anna McGann, Lyndsay Clarke, Emily Foley; 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: Jess Keating, Éabha O'Mahoney, Hannah Rapley, Emma Fabby, Olivia Tallon, Gráinne Moran, Síofra Hession, Clare Gorman.
Referee: Morgan McCartney (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Gary McCormack, Seán Stanley (both IRFU)
