Connacht U18 Girls denied by Leinster

Leinster 38-22 Connacht

The Connacht U18 Girls fell to a 38-22 defeat to Leinster in their final Interpro of the campaign last weekend despite an excellent performance at MU Barnhall.

Connacht started very well and led 10-0 after 25 minutes. Having dominated early possession, Béibhinn Parsons scored two tries, in the sixth and 25th minutes, to give the visitors a perfect start.

Leinster gained the upper hand late in the opening half and Connacht conceded two tries through Tess Meade and Orla Molloy with Natasja Behan landing both conversions to give Leinster a 14-10 half-time lead.

Connacht started the second half on the front foot with some excellent tackles and their offloading game was working very well. Full-back Aine Galvin scored an outstanding individual try when she chipped the ball over the Leinster defensive line, showed impressive speed and pounced on the ball to score.

Connacht now led 15-14 but Leinster fought back once again and tries from Bethany Sharpe, Molly Fitzgerald and Megan Burns moved the hosts 33-15 in front.

Galvin scored Connacht’s fourth try after picking the ball from the back of the ruck and scoring a great forwards try with Meabh Deely converting but Leinster ran out 38-22 winners.

Connacht

15 Aine Galvin (Ballinasloe)

14 Aoibheann Reilly (Ballinasloe)

13 Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe)

12 Shona Kennedy (Westport)

11 Niamh Kenny (Ballinasloe)

10 Meabh Deely (Ballinasloe)

9 Muireann Cawley (Westport)

1 Claire Coghlan (Westport)

2 Mia Fahy (Galwegians)

3 Kayley Mannion (Galwegians)

4 Vanessa Finnan (Buccaneers)

5 Jordan Hopkins (Galwegians)

6 Lily Brady (Westport)

7 Sarah Dent (Ballinasloe, Capt)

8 Sarah Walsh (Westport)

Replacements

16 Claudia McNicholas (Galwegians)

17 Mary McLoughlin (Westport)

18 Sarah O’Rourke (Buccaneers RFC)

19 Rachel Cox (Westport RFC)

20 Rian Callaghan (Buccaneers)

21 Chloe Staunton (Westport)

22 Eleanor McMahon (Ballinasloe)

23 Aisling Murphy (Ballinasloe)

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