O’Loughlin gives Munster early edge
Having watched the favoured duo play out a dour scoreless draw in the afternoon, Munster eventually found their feet in the second half to see off the westerners.
The visitors took a shock lead on eight minutes, as Irish international Louisa Moore scrappily finished off Audrey McCormack’s cross.
Munster subsequently laid siege to the Connacht goal for the duration of the half, as vice-captain Julia O’Halloran orchestrated a series of openings.
Áine Connery and Hollie Moffett were both guilty of misses but Jen O’Loughlin showed them how it was done nine minutes after the break, driving home O’Halloran’s cross.
The UL forward repeated the trick four minutes later, finishing off a slick team goal to edge Munster in front.
And they all but secured the result on 51 minutes, when Audrey O’Flynn was first to react to a rebound.
Meanwhile, a first-half blitz helped a Stephen Butler-inspired Leinster oust Munster 4-2 in the opening game of the men’s event.
John Jermyn had given the hosts a 12th-minute lead against the run of play with a pinpoint drag-flick, only for Gareth Watkins to tap home inside 60 seconds after Butler and Peter Blakeney had done the hard part.
Butler planted a drag past David Harte on 16 minutes to put them in front, and Alan Giles gave them a psychological fillip a minute before half-time, volleying home after Butler’s drag was half-blocked.
Butler turned provider once more for Peter Blakeney on 42 minutes to put the result beyond doubt, but as Leinster eased off, Munster began to strut their stuff.
Jermyn somehow shot wide with the goal gaping on 58 minutes, before Jonny Bruton forced a superb stop from Leinster keeper Iain Walker.
But Jermyn pulled one back for Munster late on, rifling home after Alec Moffett had done superbly to mug a visiting defender on the endline.
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