Ugwuero hat-trick helps UL Bohs to women's AIL title in Aviva thriller

Chisom Ugwueru of UL Bohemian is tackled by Ava Ryder of Railway Union during the Energia All-Ireland League Women's Division 1 final match between UL Bohemian and Railway Union at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Women's AIL Final: Ul Bohemian 48 Railway Union 38 

A Chisom Ugwuero hat-trick of tries helped UL Bohemians claim their first Energia Women’s All Ireland League title since 2019 on a historic afternoon for the Irish game as they saw off Railway Union in the first ever female final at Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

The Limerick side edged a free-flowing, 13-try spectacle as the IRFU staged its first double header of Energia AIL finals at the Aviva, consigning Railway Union to a second successive defeat in a decider after losing to Blackrock last season at nearby Energia Park in Donnybrook.

UL Bohemians' Chisom Ugwueru scores her team's fourth try despite Maddy Aberg of Railway Union

Right wing Ugwuero’s outstanding performance led the way for the 2023-24 champions capped by her three tries, full-back Aoife Corey adding two more with one apiece from Aoife O’Shaughnessy, Eabha Nic Dhonnacha and Brianna Heylmann while fly-half Kate Flannery kicked three conversions in addition to an influential display at number 10.

For Railway Union the evergreen Lindsay Peat led the Railway scoring with a try in each half with further tries from Kayla Waldron, Madison Aberg, captain Niambh Byrne and Ailsa Hughes.

Yet it was Chloe Pearse who lifted the trophy for a UL Bohs side coached by Fiona Hayes to end a five-year wait for the Women’s AIL title.

UL BOHEMIAN: A Corey; C Ugwueru, S Nunan (R Allen, 67), A McInerney (É Nic Dhonnacha, 9), A O’Sahughnessy; K Flannery, M Wall (A Salter-Townsend, 78); C O’Dwyer (C McLoughlin, 78), B Buttimer, F Reidy (N Sweeney, 78); C O’Halloran, C Bennett (E McCormack, 78); J Clohessy (L Brady, 59), B Heylmann (S Garrett, 63); C Pearse – captain.

Yellow card: C Bennett 35-45 

RAILWAY UNION: A Clarke (L Tarpey, 56); M Aberg, N Byrne – captain, K Waldron (C Keohane, 65), A Ryder; N Caughey (D Franada, 70), A Hughes; G O’Loughlin (S Barrett, 48), M Keegan (E Gavin, 48), M Collis; K Brady (P Doyle, 48), F Oviawe; K O’Dwyer; M Boyne, L Peat.

Replacements not used: K Stevenson, S Trauth Referee: Stuart Douglas (IRFU) end