Munster's McInerney hoping to make Ireland breakthrough
BREAKTHROUGH: Munster's Alana McInerney makes a break during the Interprovincial Series game against Ulster. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Alana McInerney has been one of the standout players for the Munster in this year’s Women’s Interprovincial Series. The 23-year-old winger has scored four tries in two games, including a hat-trick in Munster’s opening round win against Ulster and another in their revenge win against Leinster at the weekend. Revenge as Leinster had beaten them in the 2023 final.
“I was just in the right position,” McInerney said modestly about her scoring exploits.
“I just stood out by the wing, all the forwards and backs were doing the work for me and all I had to do was catch the ball and run forwards. It shows how good we are at pulling the trigger and that we are well able to play ball when we want to.
“The form this year. I was lucky enough to be involved with the NTS, the National Talent Squad, so I’m getting good quality training. The coaches there are unbelievable, Niamh Briggs, S&C Lorna Barry.
“We’re training three or four times (a week) in the gym, so probably just being disciplined and the extra work I’ve been putting in. I’ve been playing for UL Bohs and we’ve had good form there so thank God, I’ve hopefully brought it through to this interpros but at the moment I am really enjoying my rugby.
“I love playing under Fiona Hayes, our head coach for Bohs and Munster. I love her style, she’s big into themes. For Bohs we had the ‘Rocky’ theme, and I don’t know if we are allowed say it, but this year our theme is Frank Sinatra and his song, ‘My Way’. So we want to do it our way and the Munster way. So hopefully that will lead into it.”
Hayes believes McInerney has found “a little bit of speed from somewhere”.
“I don't know where she found that! She's flying up and down that wing,” Hayes added.
“She's been just a really good player for us and it was the same in the club season last year. Alana, when her confidence is high, she's played some of her best rugby.”
McInerney only got into rugby in 2017. Coming from a Gaelic football family – her father Francis won a Munster title with Clare and her brother Mark is a current Banner panel member – rugby wasn’t on her radar until a friend suggested they join Ennis RFC to prepare for the football season. “Once I started rugby it overtook the football,” she explained.
On Monday, she will graduate from UL with a degree in Industrial Biochemistry. An interesting career lies ahead, and should her form with Munster continue its upward curve, perhaps also one with Ireland.
“I’d love to be involved,” McInerney said about the possibility of getting a call-up from Ireland head coach Scott Bemand.
“Luckily, I’ve been involved before. I’ve been in the training squads for the 15s in 2021 for the autumn internationals. At the start of the summer, I was involved with the Sevens, so I’ve been exposed to top quality players, top quality training up at the HPC. At the moment I’m free if Scott wants call me up! If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t.“
The interprovincial competition comes at a good time for those hoping to catch the eye of the Ireland management team. Next month, Ireland face Australia and then play New Zealand, Canada and USA in the WXV1 competition in Vancouver.
“That's what we're saying to these girls,” said Hayes, “maybe you're not contracted but hopefully they're watching these games because the standard has been very good over the last couple of seasons in particular and it's also a chance for him to see those high intensity games, how players perform because it is up another level from the AIL. It's a good chance for a couple of the players to push on and hopefully we'll see a few more Munster players up there.”
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