UL Bohs players gunning to prove themselves after Munster disappointment
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: Kate Flannery of UL Bohemian during the 2023/24 Energia All-Ireland League Women's Division 1 final against Railway Union. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Energia Women’s All Ireland League champions UL Bohemian will get their title defence up and running at Blackrock on Saturday evening (5:00pm, live on IrishRugby+) with fly-half Kate Flannery hoping her side can bring the hurt of an interprovincial final loss with Munster into play against their Leinster rivals at Stradbrook.
The Limerick side brought the AIL title back to Munster from Aviva Stadium as they secured the trophy at Railway Union’s expense in an excellent league play-off final on April 28. There would be disappointment four months later, however, with Munster, fielding 12 UL Bohs players in their starting line-up and six more on the bench fell short in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final, losing 27-7 in Belfast having topped the league table.
Ireland Under-20 fly-half Flannery experienced both sides of the coin alongside many of her clubmates and she told the there were positives to take for Bohs from both outcomes.
“There was a huge amount of UL Bohs representatives (for Munster) and it’s good that we’re going in off a lot of good form, while coming off the final they’ll be a lot of hurt there so the majority of the girls are going out to prove ourselves in the AIL,” Flannery said. “It’s definitely a good set-up going into it.
“It’s always competitive when you go up to Dublin and play those teams because they’re the top teams in it and you always want to beat them, 100 per cent.
“We’re starting off strong as we mean to go on as we have Railway Union in week two (at the University of Limerick). It will be a good challenge to start but it’s exciting for sure.”
Flannery will definitely be excited if this season lives up to last, and the out-half said Bohs were targetting a repeat of the campaign that produced such heroics in a 48-38 final win over Railway, spearheaded by Flannery’s excellent all-around game and a stunning hattrick of tries from wing Chisom Ugwueru.
“It was amazing, one of the best days of my life,” the number 10 said of that decider at the Aviva.
“Last season we went into it and we mightn’t have been favourites and we just got a run of good games and were in good form, so hoping to go back into the AIL this season and become back-to-back champions, for sure.”
If any team can do that it is this UL Bohs side coached by Fiona Hayes, with Flannery pulling the strings behind a strong pack and the twin wing threats of Alana McInerney and Ugwueru.
According to the fly-half, it is backed by a club machine harnessed by Hayes to bring out the best in its players.
“It’s class. The club has been growing for a few years. In my first year we got to the cup semi and lost but then we just seemed to really get good form last year. It’s such a good set-up.
“It’s just such a good environment that’s been created. If you ask any of the girls on our team it’s just so positive and everyone is really enjoying themselves and we’ve said we play our best when we’re enjoying ourselves and playing for each other.
“I think the positive environment that’s been created has definitely contributed a lot to our success, being able to express yourself without fear of making mistakes.
“Our head coach Fiona Hayes tells us to play what’s in front and she backs us to do that. That style suits us when you have standout players like Chisom, just get the ball to her to do damage.
“When you have a winger of that capability you just want to get the ball to her and he’s such a joy to watch. I’d say she’s the most defenders beaten in the world!
“Her pace is just incredible and if you can get it out to her anywhere on the pitch you know she’s a potential tryscorer.”
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