Munster clinch superb bonus-point win over Leinster in thriller

It's a trip to Galway next up for the southern province. 

Munster's Dorothy Wall in full flight. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane

MUNSTER 32 LEINSTER 21

Alana McInerney's 79th-minute try sealed a powerpacked 32-21 bonus point win for Munster, as they got the better of arch rivals Leinster in a high-quality Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship clash in Cork.

It was try for try during the first half, as Beth Buttimer's early maul effort was cancelled out by converted scores from Ailsa Hughes and Aoife Dalton. Claire Bennett, Munster's player-of-the-match last week, closed the gap to 14-12 by half-time.

Fiona Hayes' charges gained key momentum during the third quarter, moving into a 24-14 lead thanks to a Chisom Ugwueru five-pointer and a maul-led penalty try which landed Leinster's Aoife Moore in the sin bin.

Munster's superior maul work was a big factor in the result, in windy conditions at Virgin Media Park, but Leinster profited from Aoife Corey's yellow card to send replacement Leah Tarpey over in the 65th minute.

The defending champions were right back in the hunt, yet a Lucia Linn interception saw Munster launch themselves downfield late on. A further turnover was expertly used, as Kate Flannery's skip pass put McInerney stepping in off the left wing for her fourth try of the tournament.

Having lost twice to Leinster last season, including a 33-14 loss in last September's final on Leeside, this was a statement of intent from Munster who, with 10 points pocketed, have booked their place in the August 31 decider at Kingspan Stadium.

Leinster are in second place in the table on five points, just a point clear of Ulster ahead of their final round encounter in Belfast next Saturday. Connacht, who have three points so far, entertain table toppers Munster in Galway.

Scorers: Munster: Tries: Beth Buttimer, Claire Bennett, Chisom Ugwueru, Penalty try, Alana McInerney; Cons: Kate Flannery, Penalty try con; Pen: Kate Flannery 

Leinster: Tries: Ailsa Hughes, Aoife Dalton, Leah Tarpey; Cons: Nikki Caughey 2, Jemma Farrell

MUNSTER: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC); Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC), Muirne Wall (UL Bohemian RFC); Siobhan McCarthy (Gloucester-Hartpury), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC), Éilis Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs) Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC), Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC) (capt).

Replacements used: Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC) for Flannery (50 mins), Ciara McLoughlin (UL Bohemian RFC) for Cahill, Lucia Linn (Loughborough Lightning) for Nunan (both 60), Flannery for Breen (64), Ciara O’Dwyer (UL Bohemian RFC) for McCarthy, Annakate Cournane (Shannon RFC) for Bennett (both 69), Emma Dunican (Tralee RFC) for Buttimer, Aoibhe O’Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC) for Clohessy, Maggie Boylan (Blackrock College RFC) for Ugwueru (all 76).

LEINSTER: Emma Tilly (MU Barnhall RFC/Old Belvedere RFC); Aimee Clarke (Railway Union RFC), Aoife Dalton (Tullamore RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Cara Martin (Navan RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC); Nikki Caughey (Malone RFC/Railway Union RFC), Ailsa Hughes (Tullamore RFC/Railway Union RFC); Linda Djougang (Wanderers FC/Old Belvedere RFC), Sarah Delaney (PortDara Falcons RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC), Ruth Campbell (Naas RFC/MU Barnhall RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Eimear Corri (Portlaoise RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Hannah O’Connor (CYM Terenure RFC/Blackrock College RFC) (capt), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC), Caoimhe Molloy (Gorey RFC/Wicklow RFC).

Replacements used: Aoife Moore (Carrick-on-Suir RFC/Blackrock College RFC) for Haney (37 mins), Leah Tarpey (Tullamore RFC/Railway Union RFC) for Martin (45), Robyn O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC) for Clarke (53), Jemma Farrell (Old Belvedere RFC) for Caughey, Jade Gaffney (Navan RFC/Old Belvedere RFC) for Hughes (both 60), Jane Neill (Arklow RFC/Galwegians RFC) for Molloy (64), Clodagh Dunne (Gorey RFC/Old Belvedere RFC) for Corri (76). Not used: Kelly Burke (Mullingar RFC).

Referee: Shane Gaughan (IRFU)