Ulster absolutely brought the hammer down on Connacht last night, snatching a dominant 29-10 victory at Dexcom Stadium in Galway to wrap up their Women’s Interprovincial Championship campaign. We’re talking a high-flying finish that secured them a hard-fought third place, and honestly, you love to see it. This wasn’t just another win, it was a statement. After a tough 15-10 defeat to the western province earlier in August, Murray Houston’s squad came out determined to set the record straight, and they did it with a vengeance.
First Half Blitz and Unstoppable Momentum
Connacht tried to get cute right from the start, with Aoife Heaney racing through multiple defenders after just a minute, following a quick pop pass from Anna McGann, to grab the first try. But Ulster hit back almost immediately. Olivia McKinley crashed over from close range after a patient spell of possession, bagging her second senior try, and Abby Moyles nailed the conversion. That’s how you respond, right? Ulster kept the pedal down, extending their lead through a powerful maul that saw Maebh Clenaghan dot down for her first score of the night. Connacht tried to rally, with Maebh Deeley scoring at the 13-minute mark, but she missed her own conversion, and things started to unravel for them. Ailish Quinn got sent to the sin bin after a series of penalties, and Ulster capitalized big time. Clenaghan powered over for her second try, then a superb 50:22 from Moyles set up Niamh Marley to finish a fantastic line-out move. Ulster went into the break up 24-10, and it felt like the game was already in the bag.
Cementing Third Place with Second Half Grit
The second half was a scrappier affair, no doubt about it. The intensity was still there, but the scoring slowed down. Connacht just couldn’t seem to find their rhythm, and Ulster’s defense held strong. The only score of the entire second period came five minutes from time, and it was a beauty. Siobhan Sheerin collected a perfectly placed crossfield kick from Moyles, cementing an impressive 29-10 victory. This win not only sealed third place for Ulster in the Women’s Interprovincial Championship, but it completely rectified that earlier August loss. Murray Houston’s side showed incredible resolve and executed their game plan brilliantly, especially in that dominant first half.
What a way to finish out the Championship. Ulster has secured third place, and after tonight’s performance, they should be feeling incredibly proud. Those two tries from Maebh Clenaghan, the clutch conversions and game-changing kicks from Abby Moyles, and the sheer determination from the entire squad were something special. It was a proper statement game to end their campaign on a high, and that’s something to celebrate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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