ALISON DONNELLY: Now to take next step

Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan is probably still smiling, having become the first Irish skipper to lift the Women’s 6 Nations title in Italy yesterday.

Coghlan is a 10-year veteran of this Irish side, and having come through the bad old days of heavy defeats, she, and fellow veterans Lynne Cantwell and Joy Neville, deserve all of the accolades and success that come their way.

What happens next is now vital for the growth of the women’s game in this country.