Late rally does trick for Highfield

Highfield 18 UL Bohemian 14

Highfield had to defend for long periods, but great tackling kept them in the game and a try by Niamh English after 10 minutes gave them a 5-0 interval lead.

Two tries in a four-minute period by UL Bohemian’s Ashling Hutchins, both converted by Niamh Briggs, gave the Limerick side a 14-8 lead after 54 minutes. Norita Duggan kicked a penalty for Highfield in between both trys.

Having been on the back foot for most of the second-half a drive by the Cork girls pack resulted in a try by Karen Casey and Duggan converted for a single point lead with eight minutes remaining.

Highfield had to put in some big hits as the Limerick side did everything to rescue the game and deep in injury time Geraldine Rea kicked a penalty to complete a remarkable victory.

HIGHFIELD: E Foley; N Aherne, N Scully, G Rea, F O’Sullivan; N Duggan, F O’Keeffe; D Hughes, C Fanning, N English; O Buckley, K Casey; L Guest, D Lynch, H O’Brien (capt).

Replacements: Z Grattage, K McGuinness, A Desmond, D Fahy, B Kenny, M Fehily, C Bracken, O O’Neill.

UL BOHEMIAN: N Briggs; O Stapleton, A Hutchings, M O’Donnell, L Burke; N Fitzgerald, C Barter; D O’Brien, A Caplice, M Eviston; V Mitchell, S McCallan; F Hayes, K Sheehan, L Barbour.

Replacements: F Coghlan, G Bourke, J Neville, J O’Leary, S J Coady, M Walsh, N Kavanagh.

Referee: D O’Flynn (IRFU).